Family - Week 5

Somehow another week is gone, we all woke up this morning feeling like the last P-Day was two days ago. It's a little scary how the time is moving pero, esta bien. Last Sunday was great as usual, another great sacrament meeting, still haven't talked yet, but this might be the week, we'll see after the opening hymn this Sunday. It still amazes me how strong the spirit can be when you can't understand all the words someone is saying. Elder Siow, Elder Jones, and I had a great time for companion studies, working on the language, and that night was a devotional. Elder Gong??? We had heard that, which was true, that he was meeting with the CCM President midday Sunday, and prepped ourselves for a devotional from him, which from what we had watched online were fantastic. But alas, no. But nonetheless another great devotional, all of them have been fantastic. This time we watched an older devotional from Elder Holland, If ye love me, feed my sheep. And Holland, as usual is so good about getting a point across in a sincere, direct, loving, and motivating way all bundled in a perfect package. The mission I've chosen to go on is not just these two years. I can never go back to what my life was before. This mission is for life, don't go back to your nets. But if you love Christ, Feed His Sheep. John 21.15-17. Family. This week has been so great for our district, we have had our challenges, but together, as a family, we have grown through it and become stronger. It's all just becoming more real in these weeks. We only have one more week left. One more week to help each other and have the CCM resources to grow into what God needs us to be. But as much as the Lord loves effort, he doesn't expect the same perfection as we often do of ourselves. It is so easy to get caught up in our end goals, and forget about those little goals we've set that we're accomplishing each day to reach that. It always seems so much farther away than our progress. I can have a 30 minute conversation with someone in Spanish, and be able to get almost every thought in my head out, even if its through some creative methods, but yet it is so easy to focus on the fact that I still have so much vocab, frases, and grammar to lock in. But as we keep working, and focus on growing one paso-step at a time, we can accomplish great things and find peace in doing so(Alma37:34). And as we work through the trials and tribulations in this life, see them from the perspective of our most-inspirational Elder Siow, as opportunities to learn and grow. An opportunity to improve. In my personal studies this week I did this and I would like to invite you to do the same. Read 2 Nefi 2:2 and fill in your name and where you are at in your life. I know that in this life God truly does "Consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain." ¡Pizza Time! Always a good day in the CCM with pizza time. We've been sitting together at meals a lot with the other districts in our zone and its been great for working on our Spanish and their English, as well as just getting to know these other amazing Elders, and now good friends, from Mexico. If Elder Jones says he is winning in Pickle Ball this week...lets just say I walked away with a mango Jumex and he was orange-juiceless. We've been playing a lot as a distritio this week during our exercise time, and its been super fun. I finally understand why Dean likes it so much. Went to the temple again today, and got to do ceilings for the fist time and it was another great spiritual experience to be a part of. (Note for Dad, I´ve brought my own names these past two weeks and that has been super cool. Lots from the Shepherd side). The gift of an eternal family through Christ is incomprehensibly amazing. Elder Fe'a is still in Somoa, but is in our prayers, and is such an inspiration. I just know from the little we get to see him, that he is working hard, developing in this third language, and his testimony and diligence inspires me daily. I love this gospel, the hope it brings, and how we can grown through it, personally and juntos. I love this district we have in the CCM, we are not perfect, but we were perfectly placed together to help each other learn and grow. We are a family. I know that the trials in our life our for our gain, and that I have a lot more opportunities to grow coming on my mission. Love you all, Hasta Mañana.