How blessed I am to be
in Arriajan, I love this zone, this ward and these people. My favorite day is
Tuesdays at lunch. We have a member named Linda who owns a private school.
Usually, twice a week she lets us come over to the cafeteria and she will give
us a plate of food which always tastes good. The Science teacher is a member by
the name of Hermano Vallerino. We enjoy spending time with him talking and
learning more about the scriptures. This usually only happens when we are free
or he is around and we usually don't have too much time. I do love how he
always tries to guide us to the scriptures with responses to questions. He has
helped build my passion for studying and searching the scriptures. On rainy
days he will share with us a little bit more within the Book of Mormon and the
Bible. I have grown to realize that I have never really studied the scriptures.
How many prophets and apostles have talked about the importance of diving into
scripture study? I have found that it easy to read them at this time in my life
but when I was younger is was not so. I think that people take the word study too
lightly. If you were told you had to study for your Final Exam in History, you
would spend time rewriting the notes from the teacher. You would probably spend
time creating flash cards, timelines, and maps. You may try to teach what you
know to someone else to make sure you know it. Why don't we study the
scriptures in the same way? In the way you would as if your future depended on
this test.
I've seen so many people’s
lives changed from reading the scriptures. Reading the Book of Mormon is truly
a book from God. This book has mysteries of God.
Alma 37: 3-4
And these plates of
brass...which have the records of the holy scriptures upon them...they should
be kept and handed down from one generation to another, and be kept and
preserved by the hand of the Lord until they should go forth unto every nation,
kindred, tongue, and people and they shall know of the mysteries contained
thereon.
D&C 61:7, 11
Seek not for the riches
but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you,
and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is
rich.
If thou shalt ask, thou
shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou
mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things-that which bringeth joy, that
which bringeth life eternal.
If you do not have a
copy, go to LDS.org and they will send one to you for free. Your local Mormon
Missionaries can too. If you read, study, ponder and pray, you will find
happiness in your life.
This week my companion
and I got creative and we made a cork board and painted old milk cans to put
some plants in them. (The powdered milk is the best here unless you like half
cheese/half milk.) We also headed to a USA import clothing store to find some cheap
shirts with logos. Our goal is to make it into a table cover or just something
to hang up in our room to give it color. Apparently you can get shirts here as cheap
as 25 cents. They also have some ties so I’m crossing my fingers that I can
find one because this week I designed a mola for a tie. I'll update you when it
gets done.
My neighbors across the
street are members and are so nice. Every night we come home and stop by their
house and talk with them. They often give us some food to eat and the mother
has helped us out with laundry because she has a washing machine. They provide
us with a spare mattress when we have another missionary stay the night. They
even told me that they have a niece that I could date after my mission. They
have such a fun sense of humor and Christ like love for us. They want to help
out anyway they can, I LOVE them.
