Heyyyyy hope you're all enjoying the snow or whatever is dropping from
the sky. When we got here we were told it would rain a ton but it
hasn't...until we bring it up then it randomly pours and we get
drenched lol.
Alright about my week! So I was with the greenie this week because our
companions were in Madrid. Holy cow, I'm so glad I'm not training, my
patience was soooooo thin. First thing I did when I got my comp back
was apologize for being difficult and he told me I acted like I
already had 1 year under my belt and wasn't even bad so that's cool.
Speaking of which, I'm staying with Elder Jones in Vigo! I'm his first
companion he's had longer than two transfers! We're really really
excited.
So the greenie and I taught a lesson Tuesday to an investigator of
mine, then his investigator randomly showed up so we taught them about
The Plan of Salvation.
We talked to this lady on the bus and had a nice conversation then she
got off and we said bye. We got off the next stop and walked to an
appointment which fell through which wasn't anything new. When this
happens we turn around and contact the first person we see because we
figure it failed for a reason. Guess who it was? The lady from the
bus! It was super cool and we got her number and she was a sweetheart.
But she doesn't want anything to do with us which wasn't surprising.
Oh well.
What else... Let's see. We talked about emergency plans on Thursday
with the zone and we all got really scared because we talked about
what to do if your comp dies.. Terrifying stuff.
I can't remember hardly anything else about the week... But we hit up
the main square here with all the Christmas stuff and it was awesome.
It felt like temple square and they were playing the same songs as
when Meleah, Kelsey, TWelch and McKayla took me, Austin, Taylor, and
Emmett to temple square on a scavenger hunt so that was exciting.
Pictures to follow.
So I studied a lot about eternal families and temple work this week,
as well as service. It brings so much comfort knowing what happens to
our loved ones after death. Reminded me of he talk from conference
from President Eyring and I got this part from it
Finally, Dad said quietly, “A little girl has gone home.”
He shed no tears. That was because the Holy Ghost had long before
given him a clear picture of who she was, where she came from, what
she had become, and where she was going. The Spirit had testified to
him many times of a loving Heavenly Father, of a Savior who had broken
the power of death, and of the reality of the temple sealing he shared
with his wife and family. The Spirit had long before assured him that
her goodness and faith had qualified her for the return to a heavenly
home where she would be remembered as a wonderful child of promise and
be welcomed home with honor. For my dad, that was more than a hope.
The Holy Ghost had made it a reality for him.
We know what happens because of the Holy Ghost and I'm ever so
grateful to have Him in my life. We also need to have Charity because
without charity, we are nothing.-1 Corinthians 13:2
Verse 13 says it's more important than faith and hope so take that for
what it's worth.
Also a friend told me that if you smile, everything else is much
easier and I tried it more this week, and it's true! So smile people!
Until next week.
White-less winter
Elder Gearig
we got two member referrals this week, which is two more than we have gotten in the past 12 weeks...so that was awesome. We taught one of them The Restoration and the Spirit was incredibly strong. His two sons, 11&8, bore incredible testimonies! The other referral we actually met with THREE times yesterday
in the morning we showed up at our District Presidents house to make cookies with the YSA (4 girls actually) and she was there so we used it as an ice breaker. We went to her house three hours later so her mom could teach us how to make Peruvian food, then an hour after that she had dinner with us with a different family. So we shall see where this goes with her! She loves doing things with the YSA so that's awesome. K spiritual thought. This Christmas we've decided to challenge people to give a gift to Jesus Christ. Because birthdays are a time of giving to the person whom we're celebrating (even though his birth was in the month of our Dear Lord (like mine) of April). As I've pondered what gift I personally want to give Him, I came across quite a few choices. I noticed a trend of topics in conference about being Disciples of Christ, and also keeping his commandments. What better gift could we give him then to be obedient to the things he's asked of us? Many people think commandments are there to restrict, or think one of them is so small that it doesn't hurt to not follow it. Well when you break even the smallest commandment, you move closer to Satan. You may not even realize it until you're already on the slippery slope. Samuel Johnson said "The chainz of habit are too small to be felt, until they are too strong to be broken." RT of the week. We can't afford to fall into bad habits. "Eat, drink, and be merry. For tomorrow we die" is the attitude of some. Have fun now, break the commandments, then repent at the last day, because God is merciful and will forgive you. But we should Keep the Commandments, constantly repent, and strive to do good. Why? Well...because tomorrow we die. Carole M. Stephens said "His laws are a manifestation of His love for us and obedience to His laws is an expression of our love for Him." We show love and appreciation to him by obeying his rules. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." It's not complicated. If you keep falling back into the same transgressions, go read the story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehites starting in Alma 23. Once they were murderers and did very bad things, but through repentance and love for God, they turned into some of the best examples I can think of. Literally they buried their weapons in the earth just to refrain from being tempted to use them. We all should "bury our weapons" per se, and avoid and not do anything to rekindle those things again. I prooooooommiiissseee you all that commandments are not to hold us back, but following them will bring us more happiness and joy than we would have had if we broke them, and more than we could possibly imagine. President Monson said "May we realize that our greatest happiness in this life will come as we follow God’s commandments and obey His laws!" Just Trust in God and in His timing especially. Jesus gave us The Atonement, and we should not let it go to waste. Use the Atonement every day. Y'all are the best and I hope you remember the reason why Christmas is a thing! Be safe traveling, it's better to be late than to never make it at all. Much love! Living in a White-less Wonderland Elder Gearig Christmas in Spain>>Christmas in Florida
