Hey Family,
I’m officially 21, that’s pretty awesome. Yesterday was one of my best birthdays ever. We had a zone conference in Campina Grande that we had to go to. President and Sister Fernandes, Elder Jones, and I taught the missionaries about the 6th chapter in preach my gospel that talk about Christ’s attributes. I taught the missionaries about Humility and Obedience. I taught that if we recognize the Lord’s hand in our life taking more time to thank the Lord after he gives us success in our work then He will give us even more success. I also taught that Faith is a spiritual gift given to us because of personal righteousness. If we are more obedient then we will be blessed with more faith. President Fernandes talked a lot about how we will feel at the end of the mission depending on the type of mission we serve. Naturally, that made a lot of missionaries want to change; myself included. Luckily I feel good about the mission I have served until now but I still need to improve a lot. After the conference we returned to Joao Pessoa and there was a little surprise birthday party at the mission home. It was very nice of the President and his wife because I know that they have really really busy lives and they took time out of their day to do that for me.
Last week was also very cool. Last Monday was p-day and for the first time in a long time I actually had p-day. We watched the RM, made lunch for us and the secretaries and we slept. Oh yeah. Tuesday was the zone leader council. After the meeting Pres. Fernandes said to me and Elder Jones, “oh, you guys are going to Natal with me today we are going to have a meeting with some government officials.” They officialized a holiday for the church and asked president Fernandes to speak. He basically talked about the Restoration and then we gave a Book of Mormon to each one of the government officials that was there.
Thursday and Friday I worked in my area where the work is challenging but good. We didn’t baptize last week but if my junior companion does a good job while I’m at the other zone conferences then we’ll baptize a family and 2 twenty year old guys.
I wanted to share with you guys something that I studied this morning.
Well could we reflect upon our lives as individuals. We will soon discover much to prompt our personal gratitude.
First, there is gratitude for our mothers.
Mother, who willingly made that personal journey into the valley of the shadow of death to take us by the hand and introduce us to birth—even to mortal life—deserves our undying gratitude. One writer summed up our love for mother when he declared, “God could not be everywhere, and so He gave us mothers.”
While on the cruel cross of Calvary, suffering intense pain and anguish, Jesus “saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!” (John 19:26–27.) What a divine example of gratitude and love!
My own mother may not have read to me from the scriptures; rather, she taught me by her life and actions what the “Good Book” contains. Care for the poor, the sick, the needy were everyday dramas never to be forgotten.
Second, let us reflect gratitude for our fathers.
Father, like Mother, is ever willing to sacrifice his own comfort for that of his children. Daily he toils to provide the necessities of life, never complaining, ever concerned for the well-being of his family. This love for children, this desire to see them well and happy, is a constant in a time of change.
On occasion I have observed parents shopping to clothe a son about to enter missionary service. The new suits are fitted, the new shoes are laced, and shirts, socks, and ties are bought in quantity. I met one father who said to me, “Brother Monson, I want you to meet my son.” Pride popped his buttons; the cost of the clothing emptied his wallet; love filled his heart. Tears filled my eyes when I noticed that his suit was old, his shoes well worn; but he felt no deprivation. The glow on his face was a memory to cherish.
As I reflect on my own father, I remember he yielded his minuscule discretionary time to caring for a crippled uncle, aged aunts, and his family. He served in the ward Sunday School presidency, always preferring to work with the children. He, like the Master, loved children. I never heard from his lips one word of criticism of another. He personified in his life the work ethic. I join you in an expression of gratitude for our fathers.
I really liked this part of this talk, especially the part about the father introducing Pres. Monson to his son. I’m sure every missionary wants both his heavenly and earthly father to have this kind of pride in him.
Have a great week everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
