To start off, we met the new mission President this week! He
is so very different than President Cottle, but we love him so much already!
President Grayson is very quiet and soft spoken. Sister Grayson is very similar
to the Cottles. In fact, she was also an institute and seminary teacher. I am
so grateful for their determination to serve the Lord with all their heart,
might, mind and strength. We will have interviews with them next week.
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| I chopped my hair off!! We accidentally took off a bit much...about 7 inches. But on the bright side, my hair is significantly more healthy now. (This was also taken while we were driving to meet our new mission president!) |
After a long Saturday of almost every single appointment
falling through, Sister Anderson and I were ready for some awesome appointments
that evening. We drove to this couple's home who we've talked to a few times on
the doorstep, but we hadn't made it into their home yet. They are VERY
different than the typical southern family. She's a 'tough' girl, and they're
pretty into worldly things. We, however, really felt like they had potential
and, of course, the gospel could really help them out. While we were praying
before we got out of the car, we prayed to know if we should continue trying to
teach them or to move on. The first thing he says when the husband opened the
door is, "Come on in." We were then able to have a wonderful
discussion where we got to know them a bit better and we related the
restoration to their personal lives. They opened up to us a lot, and they ended
up committing to read the Restoration pamphlet as well as the introduction to
the Book of Mormon. We are so excited for them and how this gospel will make a
world of difference in their lives. It was truly a miracle.
A few funny moments from the evening: 1- When we asked them
if they had read the pamphlet, they both got the most guilty look on their
faces. It was absolutely priceless. We loved the fact that they took it so
seriously! Usually people treat that commitment like it's nothing.."Oh, I
didn't have time." But you could see they felt truly bad for not doing
what they said they would. 2-The husband (after a few really good questions
related to the lesson) says, "Ok, so I have had a question that has caused
some real conflict between my mother-in-law and me." Here it comes we
thought. "So, where do Dinosaurs come in? I mean...they just don't quite
fit with the 7 day creation, but I know they existed." Ha we had to try
really hard to not bust up laughing.
I gave a talk this week on the sacrament. Here's a little
taster:
Alma 5 : 21 I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye
cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed
white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all
stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who
should come to redeem his people from their sins.
22 And now I ask of
you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of
God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness?
Behold, what will these things testify against you?
How are stains created? Well, it's by a mess which remains
unattended to. Just as you would quickly remove a shirt from small child who
has spilled on him or herself in order to get the shirt in water as soon as
possible to work the mess out of the material, our spiritual "messes"
must be cleaned the same way. In order to not have stains upon our spirit, we
MUST partake of the sacrament each week. When we remember the body of Christ
represented by the bread, we remember the gift of our own bodily resurrection
and the reality that this death is not the last. The water, however, reminds us
of the blood of Jesus Christ and the healing, strengthening power of the
atonement. As we allow ourselves to be cleansed through His blood, we quickly
rid our clothes of the mistakes we make each day. I know the sacrament is
absolutely crucial to our spiritual development. Please prepare carefully each
week through repentance before taking the sacrament in order to have a more
personal experience with the Savior's atonement.
A couple funny banana things from the week:
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| We found Rapunzel's tower in Tifton. |
1- We learned one of our less actives makes banana wine
every once in a while. We promptly taught the Word of Wisdom that afternoon.
2-We also learned banana mayo sandwiches are a southern
thing...gross.
Love Y'all!!
~S. Brown
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