be Monday again, so here we go!!
This week was good...a bit crazy, but good! Hmmmmm...some highlights....
So Heavenly Father seems to work in mysterious ways...it seems like just
about every time we go out to buy something, a member pops up to cover the
tab. We are grateful for willing members and never cease to be amazed with
how the Lord places them in our paths...crazy. Thanks!
This week Orlando got baptized...again. Orlando is 12 and is an active
member in the branch. When he turned 12 earlier this year and they were
looking to give him the priesthood, they realized that they couldn't find a
record of his baptism, although he made sure to tell everyone that he
indeed remembered being baptized. Long story short, they asked us a few
months ago to get him re baptized. Because he was over the age of 8 and
part of a member family, we had to go through the process as if he was a
convert baptism. So we spent about 2 months reteaching all the lessons and
we got it all done this weekend. It was kind of crazy, but it was fun to
see how excited he was to recommit to the covenant he had made to the Lord.
It was just family and a few members of the branch, but it was sweet. He
made his own program and had his cousins give talks and we sang his 2
favorite songs, Follow the Prophet and I am a Child of God. No complaints.
Onward and upward!!
The same day as Orlando's baptism, a family in our branch went to the
temple and were sealed. Wish I could have been there, but I heard some
great things. Ah. The best blessings Heavenly Father has to offer come from
the temple:)
That same day, after the sealing and Orlando's baptism, we had the adult
session of Stake Conference. I love the Lynnwood Stake. I have been to
multiple Stake Conferences in this stake in my time here, and it never
ceases to amaze me what great leadership they have. Definitely inspired men
of God!:) They reminded us of the importance of gaining our own
testimonies--reminding us that "something borrowed must always be
returned." Gain and maintain your own!:)
On the Sunday session, we had a few fun surprises. Many less-actives came
to Stake Conference, even though it's in English. Alex (from Marysville)
came and told Hermana Harmer and I that he was moving back to Mexico next
week. That was fun to see him. Then Luis Verde...we hadn't met with him all
week because he had been super busy and we hadn't anticipated him coming to
Stake Conference because we didn't have contact with him, stake conference
was in a different building than usual, and he doesn't have a car...but lo
and behold half way through stake conference Luis comes bounding in the
room. We were shocked...in the best of ways.
Afterward, he told us he turned on his GPS and just bus hopped until he got
close and walked to the church. We were so proud of him. Way to go Luis!
Then after stake conference we went the the Angell's and had a lesson with
Sahira (Andy's girlfriend who is here from Mexico for a month). She's just
been stellar. Learning and taking things in. We had probably one of the
best lessons I have ever witnesses. We taught the Gospel of Christ. So much
testimony. Lots of tears (which was funny because NONE of them are like
that...in fact after crying and 30 seconds of awkward silence, of course
accompanied by presence of the Spirit, everyone burst out laughing.) It was
awesome. Sahira loves the new perspectives the gospel brings. And I feel
like teaching these things to her has helped the family become more united.
Love it. So fun. Yay families.
That should do it for this week!
So (very long story short) a guy at the library this week told us, among
many other things, to take off our tags and quit being missionaries in the
library. He went on a rant about how we should take off our tags and quit
being missionaries, especially when we come into "public places." He said
we needed to "switch modes" and "drop it" because he doesn't want to see
that and no one does. He went on for a while trying to convince us that we
should change who we are, what we do, and what we stand for to fit the
convenience and desires of others.
He wanted us to change ourselves based on where we were.
Of course, we kindly thanked him for sharing his opinion and went on our
way. Sadly, he is not the only person in the world who says things like
that and we, as missionaries, are not the only ones who hear that kind of
thing.
The world around us constantly will tell us exactly what that guy told us.
They will tell us that we are wrong or that we need to stop being so "good"
or that we don't need to be good examples or that we should change who we
are or what we stand for to please those around us.
I have, as I am sure many of you have as well, covenanted at baptism
to "to stand
as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places."
[Mosiah 18:9]. May I emphasize the word *ALL? *That includes the library.
That includes at school. At home. Even within the walls of the church.
I, as a missionary, further promised to bear Christ's name physically and
be His representative, literally, for these 18 months. Again, at all times and
in all things, and in all places. Even in the library.
I hope all of you do the same. Never change your standards, who you are, or
your being an example of the believers to conform to what the world wants
you to be or to do.
Challenge: Recommit to the Lord that you will stand as a witness of him at all
times and in all things, and in all places
I know that as you do so, you will receive the promise of the Lord as given
in counsel from the Lord in Mosiah 5:15:
Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding
in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you
may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal
life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who
created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.
Your example and dedication to being a witness of Christ will be the
greatest tool you have while here on this earth.
Of this I testify!
Have a fantastic week!:) Be different! Stand tall!
Hermana Clark