This week was full of good things mingled with disappointment. Even the disappointment has its up side, though, so no worries there. Allow us to venture deeper into the world of this week...
First, an appreciation: Elder Ferrara is a beast at the work, and we've been having awesome times together, and I just felt like now was a good time to tell everyone how grateful I am to have him as my companion. Could one ask for anything better? I don't think so. You rock, dood. Thank you for all the hard work, the laughs, and the unity. (This is not a goodbye; we still have a minimum of a week left together. He's just a stud. That is all.)
Okay, disappointment first. Keith, the guy who was going to be baptized, was not able to be. We got a call from a member who works at the Vets Home. He was super apologetic, and explained that Keith's sister, who is his legal guardian, was not super on board when Keith told her about the baptism. As his legal guardian, we have to respect that. We talked to Keith for a while, and he expressed frustration that she doesn't see that this is the path he wants to take. We're going to keep visiting with Keith and all, and hopefully something in the future will happen to soften the heart of his sister so that Keith can take this step that he desires. Pray for that!
Onward and upward! The new family that we've been teaching is super rad! Things are going splendidly - we've been able to teach the first three lessons so far (The Restoration, The Plan of Salvation, and The Gospel of Jesus Christ), and they showed up to church this last week! This family is so fun to visit and to teach, and they recognize the Spirit like no one I've ever taught before. We've got some things to work through before we put them on date, but we'll take it at the pace we need to, and we know that God will bless them for their diligence and eagerness to learn more.
The snow is melting. It was 34 and sunny yesterday.
Spiritual thought: After the children of Israel wander in the wilderness for forty years, the finally get to the place and are at the time where the Lord desires them to settle. Moses gets up and speaks to the people, recounting their trails, travels, and the miracles that God has shown to them. As part of that, Moses tells the people, "And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord they God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all they heart and with all thy soul?" (Deuteronomy 10:12) This sounds funny after chapter upon chapter of rules and statutes that the children of Israel have been commanded to follow, but it brings it all back to the simple truth: "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40) Think about that.
I think that's all I have for now. Thank you for reading my emails, and keep being excellent out there. Rock and roll ~
-Elder Burch π
"... Some day you'll walk tall with pride. Son of man, a man in time you'll be."
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| Snow shoveling to the max. |
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| The District! |
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| Action shots |
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| At the care center |
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| Men shall not live by bread alone. |
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| Nighthawk |
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| Snow |
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