Mom,
I was able to meet up with Mrs. Johnson on tuesday and get the stuff from them. Thanks! The clothes still smelled like home too and so we were all smelling it cause it reminded us so much of our homes haha. It was really nice. The snow looks wonderful over there... I am missing that part of home! But I am loving the heat... the good ol heat that never stops haha.
Well I thought maybe this week my email could include a little about my thoughts and experiences from this last week specifically. So out here in Mozambique, many missionaries are baptizing. This truly is a blessed mission where we always hear how its so possible to baptize families to the point where President has asked us that our standard of excellence be to baptize one family a month. Many missionaries are doing that... And then as I look at myself, I am trying my best to be obedient, I am trying to work hard and yet I am not seeing as many baptisms as many other missionaries. And so I have thought a lot about this, wondering why it is that I haven't been baptizing. Is it cause I am just not fit to be a missionary who baptizes? Is it cause I am not obedient enough? And I finally came to the conclusion that it has nothing to do with that. On the mission, I really have come to see that the Lord has a plan for every single one of us. I won't even pretend to act like I have been through grand trials or anything like that, but I do know that the Lord has created a plan for every single one of us. I am not anywhere close to where I want to end up as a person. But thats alright because the Lord has prepared a whole life for us to progress. He has created specific trials for each and every one of us to help us get to that point where he wants us. One of my favorite scriptures is the one that talks about the refiners fire. Because who in their right mind wants to be burned and hurt and melted down to nothing? No one. But who wants to be stronger and better? Everyone. Unfortunately there is that one measly step inbetween that impedes our progress and that is the refiners fire. Its not fun and no one wants to go through it, but we can all take the console of the Prophet Joseph smith when he was in carthage jail and he too asked heavenly father for help and what did he respond? He said peace be unto thy soul. Thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.... More or less that, I dont have my scriptures with me right now to get an exact quote. But I really do believe that. I always remember an example from a long time ago. Two sister missionaries, I don't know if you remember them or not, Sister Duncan and her companion.... It was a long long time ago but I have always remembered the example they gave us. They had a big string, and they asked us to see if we could see anything weird about it. We couldn't. But in the middle of this white long string was a tiny tiny black dot signifying our life on earth. Its a small time compared to eternity and then we can break that down into individual trials. If we can keep an eternal perspective on our trials, they often seem to become a little more easy.
Well this past week. So one night we were on our way home and this guy came up to us and says hey hows it going? and then before we can answer he says why didn't you answer me I just talked to you.... and I was like sorry but you didn't give us time to respond and then he just starts laughing all weird haha. So he is just standing with his shirt off at night time kinda doing this funny little dance thing and I could see that something was wierd so I was like, are you doing drugs? and he was like yes I do drugs but only by myself so dont worry!! and then a drunk guy comes up and they start talking to each other in dialect and just having quite the conversation. So finally we make our way out of the conversation and then just go home as quick as we could haha. Ummm.... I did some simple little funny magic tricks to some kids out in our area the other day and now when we pass by they always say look! Its the one that has the power... so now kids in our area think I have a power.. hahaha.
I know lots of things happen during the week and that I have good stories but I just cant think of any once I get to internet haha. Umm right now we have a couple good families progressing. We are helping one family where the husband is already a member but the wife is not and they are working towards the marriage and baptism for her right now. We also found a new family that is doing super well. He is reading in the Book of Mormon a lot and understanding really well. The wife doesn't know how to read so we go there almost every day for just like 15 minutes to read with her in a picture book so she can understand the book of mormon also!
Love,
This is our next door neighbor, Pam Johnson. She and her husband, Phil, are in Dondo. Dondo isn't too far from Manga and they were able to meet and she gave him a small and humble package from us. They couldn't carry much weight because of all the things they needed to take. He wanted a shirt and pair of shorts that he had here at home and some "american" wash cloths. We also put in letters that we had written during Family Home Evening and some pictures. I am constantly reminded of all that we have when I think of how little it takes to brighten his day! Johnsons are in Dondo with Children's Relief International. Though their religions are different, both Justin and the Johnsons are in Mozambique on the Lord's errand, helping the people and trying to help them Come Unto Christ.
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