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| Fianarantsoa |
First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!
I am pretty sure your birthday is around this time :p :) haha
Well this has been a pretty
awesome week. On Wednesday Elder Lee, and Elder Web came here and did splits
with us. It was SO MUCH FUN! We were able to hit all of our times, and then
after everything was over, we ended up making a huge vat of pasta and homemade
spaghetti sauce. SO GOOD! Then we just talked for a long time. Dang I love the
zone leaders :)
On Thursday we taught some times (appointments) ,and then got changed and
went over to our investigator's house to clean. It was pretty awesome as it was just me,
Elder Miller, and Francois cleaning, but then some of the young women saw us
through the window and began to help us clean. It was SO MUCH FUN! We listened
to music, and cleaned, and helped him feel like people cared about him.
The only frustrating thing was that one his family was just sitting outside the
door and telling us how he won't change and that they have already tried to help
him and that basically he sucks. So with all the control I could muster, I
told them that as missionaries of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints we believe that anyone can change, and in fact men change every day. And that if they wanted to help us clean his room then they were more than
welcome, but if not then they should get on to doing other things. One of his
Aunt's or something then began to try and bible bash with me, telling me about
all these different things, and even though I wanted to destroy the foundation
of all that she believed by sheer proof....I took a few deep breaths and told
her what we believe and that I knew that it was true, and she could know the
same if she asked God.
As she left the room I told our friend that we were helping him because we believed that he can change and that we
love him. He started to cry a little and began to tell us how long it had been
since someone had told that to him. Dang that guy is a stud :)
On Saturday we had a baptism for 2 kids. Raymond, our ward
clerk and their father, baptized them and OH! What an amazing experience. The
spirit was super strong in that meeting and we had two kids about 12 and 10
years old give the opening and closing prayer. Little kids are so sweet when
they pray. It's just.....Right. :)
Also the other branch has a
baptism for this Saturday, and so Elder Morley wants me to do a couple of baptism
interviews this week. As I have been thinking about baptism for the last couple
of days...It's made me realize how important and serious that covenant is. When
we are baptized, we show to our Heavenly Father that at that time we are
worthy and are living the commandments to the fullest at that time. In those
moments we are living the word of wisdom in its most complete form. If we have
had problems with it in the past, then we have sworn off smoking, tobacco
"All kinds", alcohol, coffee, tea, and illegal drugs. The same goes
for the Law of Chastity and the other commandments. When we take upon ourselves
the baptismal covenant, we are showing to God that we are willing to take upon
us the name of Jesus Christ, to obey his commandments, and to stand as a
witness at all times, and in all places, and all things. And this, that we may
have the CONSTANT companionship....of the Holy Ghost. Living the laws of Heaven
is a refining process and takes practice and time. It is a path of change and
of victory over the ways of the world. It is the path in which we must abide if
we are to return to our Heavenly Father in those last days...and feel
COMFORTABLE in his presence.
I am grateful for being here in
such an amazing part of the world. It's been incredible to learn a new culture
and way of life, and to try to learn to give all of myself. I am grateful that I
still have the rest of my life to try and get better at it :)
Sorry that's all I have time
for. Love you All
Elder Lehr
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