Good Morning!
Hi guys.
First off. Happy Anniversary (belated) to my wonderful parents. Happy Birthday (belated) to my baby Soapy. (I vote we change her nickname to baby Siopao [show-pow] because that's one of my favorite foods here.) also, Happy Birthday to Jared, I hope you've all had wonderful days!
Some funny stuff:
My arm hairs have been pretty bleached with the sun here. VJ noticed the other day and now tells me my arms are like sheep. Ahaha. So that's cool.
I will never be free of 70's music. The house next to ours loves to do Karaoke... Sometimes I hear the warbling strains of "... Been through the desert on a horse with no name..." coming from next door. Thanks mom ;)
This week was good. Nothing too special, except for F. Our 72 year old. I love this guy. He passed his baptismal interview yesterday and I'm so excited to see him baptized on the 5th. He understands the gospel so well. He's actually been taught by tons of missionaries, for almost 2 years. He has definitely strengthened my testimony that long time investigators do have a happily ever after. When F. bears his testimony to us, I know he's sincere.
I've seen a lot of the devil's influence in our investigators this week. I always learn a lot from getting to observe their lives from the outside. Being on a mission gives you a clearer perspective. Some things I've been taught this week:
1. In this war with Satan we either conquer or be conquered. There are no sidelines. If we aren't firmly planted on the Lord's side, we're already in the Devil's territory.
2. Evil is stepping up it's game. Instead of throwing sin in your face, he gradually makes you passive and complacent... lazy.
3. Halfhearted soldiers never conquer. Take a look at the Nephites at the end of the Book of Mormon. If we are only half dedicated, half devoted, half faithful, we will never win.
The solution to these sneaky attacks? For me, it's putting our relationship with our Heavenly Father very first in our lives. That means we never do anything to offend the Lord. It means we know our individual worth, that we are important to God when we feel abandoned by others. We keep the commandments because we understand our divine nature.
Sister Ann M. Dibb shared this in a young women conference, and I love it:
One of my favorite books is the British classic Jane Eyre, written by Charlotte Brontë and published in 1847. The maincharacter, Jane Eyre, is a penniless, teenage orphan who exemplifies what it means to be true. In this fictionalaccount, a man, Mr. Rochester, loves Miss Eyre but is unable to marry her. Instead, he begs Miss Eyre to live withhim without the benefit of marriage. Miss Eyre loves Mr. Rochester as well, and for a moment she is tempted, askingherself, “Who in the world cares for you? or who will be injured by what you do?”
Quickly Jane’s conscience answers: “I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustainedI am, the more I will respect myself. I will keep the law given by God. … Laws and principles are not for the timeswhen there is no temptation: they are for such moments as this. … If at my individual convenience I might break them,what would be their worth? They have a worth—so I have always believed. … Preconceived opinions, foregonedeterminations, are all I have at this hour to stand by: there I plant my foot.”
Love that. So true. When we know our individual worth, we will not break God's commandments.
You're all in my prayers. I love you so much! Keep being awesome member missionaries. Thanks for the conversion stories. Sister Luke is a happy missionary :)
All my love,
Sister Luke
1. Me and bishops daughter :) Love her.
2. Hopefully he aint got rabies.
3. At V.J.'s.
4. J.R., my recent convert
5. Brother F. at his house
