Ok I sat down to write this email, and my mind literally went blank. I can't remember what happened this week ha.
Oh,
so we went to contact a referral we had received, and we accidentally
went to this building, we still aren't sure exactly what it is, a
government home or half-way house or what, but while there, we met a man
who was very mysterious. We started talking to him, he sounded like he
was having a really hard time, but he brushed aside whatever we said
about the gospel and Saviour and our offers to help. Then he said that
he knows the church's number and has the address of the church, but when
we asked if he was a member, he said not to ask that question and he
wouldn't talk to us. It was so strange. And that experience was before
we even got into the building...
I can't
really describe the feeling in there, but the spirit was not there. It
was heartbreaking to see these people who have no hope or are just
desperate and don't know why they are here on earth or how to be happy.
I don't think we are actually allowed to go there, and the person we
wanted to visit wasn't even home, so we decided to just try to contact
this man by phone again.
When we were trying to
get out, we got totally lost. We kept going to different levels and
stairways and couldn't find the way outside. We eventually found a map,
then got lost again, then found another map, and then a person who
guided us outside. It made me think about life. In life, if you don't
know where you are headed, you feel lost, or direction-less. It doesn't
really seem to matter where you go or what you do. The gospel
provides us with the knowledge of why we are here on earth--to have joy,
and to prepare to meet God. Our end goal is to return to live with
Him, with our families. We need to know more than just where you want
to go though, we need to know how to get there.
We knew we
wanted to get outside, but we didn't know how. It wasn't until we found
a map of the place, that we were able to plan how to get outside. The
gospel of Jesus Christ, or His doctrine (faith, repentance, baptism, the
Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end) is the way we can return to
Heavenly Father's presence. Well actually, Jesus Christ's Atonement is
what makes it possible, but the gospel is what He asks us to do to
access His Atonement to become clean from sin and to become more like
Him. We do not earn eternal life through our actions, but we learn how
to become more like Him, and then, even after all we can do, we will
fall short and it is only through His grace and mercy that we can be
saved.
I am really focusing on studying the Saviour and His
life right now. I am constantly in awe of Him and what He has done for
me. There is so much to learn about! I so easily fall into a routine and
just go through life, day to day, taking for granted that Jesus Christ
actually suffered for my sins, died for me, and was resurrected so that I
can live again and return to my Heavenly Father. My mind doesn't even
comprehend how incredible that is, and how completely and utterly
selfless He is. But when I think about it, I want to do whatever He
asks.
Wow major sidetrack haha. Sorry guys.
Even
after we found the map, we got lost again, and wandered until we found
another map, so we always have to keep checking our progress and what
steps we need to take next, and we cannot do it on our own. I'm just
gonna end the analogy there, hopefully I explained it so that it makes
sense, but if not, oops.
Umm...other things
this week...we started teaching this man Matt this week. He is actually
related to members in another ward, and he knows a little bit about the
church. He has such strong faith in Christ, and is really keen to
continue learning. He asked if he could bring his friend the next
time! He is really involved in his church right now, and is a bit
hesitant to actually come to church, but we are going to be bold and
loving and help him recognize that he will find the truth as he acts in
faith and comes to church as well as reading the Book of Mormon and
praying to know the truth. We can't sit and ask Heavenly Father to let
us know what is right, we have to study it out and do our part.
We
had a relief society activity this weekend about family history, and
several women shared stories from their ancestors (or their own stories)
so we learned a lot about the founding of Perth city. Dad, you would
have loved it. Afterwards they gave us all of the leftover food--and
there was a ton. They really make sure the missionaries are fed here
ha.
It was a great week, even though I can't
remember too much else that happened that is interesting enough to
share. We had a couple blonde moments, and my life is full of
disorganized moments, which explains why I don't actually write the
funny moments down.
Oh, I remembered one
haha...so Sister De Vera and I were on our way to a meeting at the ward
mission leader's house, but we had to get gas first (remember how last
week I told you our flash car tells you how many ks you can go until you
have to get gas? It is a liar. Because it said we had plenty left to
get there and back, and then it changed and said "Fill tank" or
something like that and the car started lurching a little bit.) We
found a gas station after a little while, and then when we got there we
couldn't figure out where the lever to open the gas cap was. We looked
in the manual and all over the front of the car, etc. and we couldn't
find it. Before this I had said a prayer that we would find a gas
station, figure out how to put gas in the car and make it to the meeting
safely. Well we finally decided to go talk to the man at the register
(he had been staring at us trying to figure out what we were doing the
whole time) so we went in and asked him--he wasn't sure, but said he
would try to come help us. As we were turning to go out the door, in
walks a guy with a Melville Holden shirt on--he works at the very place
our car is from. We told him the problem, and he went outside and
explained that we just have to push on the gas cap when the car is
unlocked and it pops open. Shame ha. (But side note, I had actually
tried to push on it, but the car was possibly locked or I didn't push
hard enough). But we were laughing at the way Heavenly Father answered
our prayer.
I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love,
Sister Formica
Mormon Message for the week: The Refiner's Fire Link
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