Anziano Hansen sent this photo December 05, 2016, but I'm posting it now. :)
There were a lot of cool things I learned this week and a ton that happened and I'm afraid I won't be able to express it in the way I'd like to. Seems like that's my case nowadays haha. But in the words of God's Power (he's an African, and yes. That's his real name!) "The less you speak, the more you say", and I'd add "as long as you're testifying from your heart!" And why's that? Because when we speak from our hearts out of our own hard-won conviction, those words somehow become so much more meaningful -- regardless of how eloquent they may be or how many words we use to express ourselves.
With that in mind, here's the things I enjoyed most about this week!
During zone conference, we talked about miracles and about how 1) they still happen and 2) what we need to do to be worthy of them. Anziani Jacob and Brown, the zone leaders, are the ones who really covered these points. Anziano Brown began by sharing ether 12:12-17
" 12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.
13 Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.
14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
15 Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.
16 Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.
17 And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith."
with us. This has been one of my favorite scriptures for awhile now, but hearing it again reminded me of just how important faith is in our lives. Along with those, I'd like to throw on verse 18.
"And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God."
This reminds me of something I heard awhile ago. I don't remember who it was or exactly how it goes but it's something along the lines of: "faith is never in anything other than Christ." I really loved that, and the scriptures in these few verses (even on down until verse 22) clearly support this point. It's not by our strength that miracles are wrought. It's not by our obedience that miracles happen. It's not even because we believe in miracles that they happen. It's simply because we believe in Christ. That's where it all begins, and that's where it ends, too. He is the beginning and the end. Christ is literally "the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2)
"I was sad because there was no pizza man that day
...but I had to smile because no one likes frowny faces.
Still trying to figure out how to smile good tho"
We also talked about what miracles really are. We mentioned how it's by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass, and that really struck me; not because it was a new scripture, but because I realized I've been looking for miracles that spark conversion in an instant. I've been looking for the perfect miracle investigator. But that's not how it works (not always, at least). What I learned is that there are miracles happening all around us everyday, and if we grasp hold of those and help them grow (instead of throwing them away thinking "nah this miracle isn't good enough") they'll become the miracle of conversion in the long run. I've made a conscious effort this week to look for miracles, and it's 1) helped me to be happier and more grateful and 2) be a better missionary.
"One more time...
...ah there we go"
"We took like, 8 different photos trying to get his shirt to stay tucked in lol"
"This is one of my favorite pieces of graffiti in the city"
Anziano Jacob then talked about obedience and how without that, even though we may have faith, the miracles won't happen. Why? Because we need to be worthy of them! There was a lot he said, but there's something even more important that I'd like to point out that applies to all of us (missionaries in terms of obedience, and all of us as children of God). I think it's best summed up by a quote from a talk president Pickerd shared with us. President Hinckley,
(Source: https://www.lds.org/bc/content/shared/content/images/gospel-library/manual/09797/portrait-gordon-b-hinckley-1995_84011_inl.jpg)
at the close of the October 2002 General Conference,
said "As we return to our homes and to our daily activities, each of us should be a better individual than we were when the conference opened." He continued by saying "I challenge every one of you who can hear me to rise to the divinity within you." That's the purpose of the church -- to make us better people. But we can't just go to church and expect that change to occur. We can't be half-hearted members and full participants in the joy that is this gospel. We need to be making conscious, daily effort to become better. Every time we go to church, every time we read the scriptures, every time we listen to general conference and whatever else you can think of, we should come away with something we can do better and the desire to make that change happen in our own lives.
Lastly from zone conference, we talked about the church's "light the world" campaign
and how we can really use that to our advantage. We then talked about Christ and how he is the source of all light. How? D&C 88:6-13 explains it.
" 6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;
12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—"
Of the mentioned verses, 13 is my favorite:
"The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things."
Or, in other words, Christ is the light of all things. Along with that and how we can be greater partakers of His light, there's 1 Thessalonians 5:5-11.
" 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
I encourage you all to read it on your own!
I don't want to make this the longest email in the entire world, so I'm just going to share a few more thoughts with you.
I believe that happiness can change the lives of people around us. I've made a big push this week in that direction because 1) we're commanded to be happy (D&C 19:37
"37 And speak freely to all; yea, preach, exhort, declare the truth, even with a loud voice, with a sound of rejoicing, crying—Hosanna, hosanna, blessed be the name of the Lord God!"
and like, a million other scriptures) 2) it's our purpose on this earth to be happy and lastly 3) because this is a gospel of joy -- if I don't show that how will anyone else ever know it? There's one last scripture I'd like to share from the same section in D&C, verse 39.
"Behold, canst thou read this (we could also say 'hear this' or 'see this') without rejoicing and lifting up thy heart for gladness?"
While being happy doesn't mean being crazy and always laughing hysterically and having a good time, it does mean finding joy in the small things. Most importantly, it means remembering Christ. Surely, when we think of Him, we can experience joy regardless of what our circumstances may be. So be happy!😊
"Focaccia is SO good..especially when it's free...
Btw those are tomatoes and not pepperoni pieces"
"English people are weird" ;)
"Sorry my pictures are sucky today...
But hey here's a pasta al forno I made that was pretty good...
Forno means oven. All it means is I put it in the oven afterwards lol"
This week we were able to commit our investigator to both read the Book of Mormon
(Source: https://media.ldscdn.org/images/media-library/member-missionary/sharing-book-mormon-1379950-gallery.jpg)
everyday and pray more about it too! We've also been working really hard at figuring out what the will of the Lord is for us in Brindisi. We know he sent us here for a reason, and we're trying our best to figure out what that is. We've met with a few members this week (who are a little less firm in their faith) as well, and we were able to have some really cool lessons in which they talked about how they wanted to begin sharing the gospel with their families and friends! That was so so happy for us. Other than that, we've been sharing the gospel with anyone who'll listen in the best way we know how. While we don't know everything, we definitely know enough to keep moving forward!
We're also really excited for an exchange we'll do this week with the zone leaders! That'll be really good for us and we're hoping and praying that they'll be able to help us get our work sorted out.
But more on that next week:)
tl;dr -- if you made it here, good on you😉
Buona settimana e buon finals week tutti😂
VVB!
Che la gloria sia sempre a Dio
Anziano Hansen
PICTURES!
Sorry, but the zone conference pictures will have to wait until next week😐
"a voi"
