Well . . . when you live in the square footage that I do, you run out of granola and bad grammar stories to share, even after accumulating information for a week. New news? I think after 4 weeks, my companions are hitting the tip of the ice berg of my weird personality. (or quirky . . . two veeeerry different things.) However all of you will know, there is no end. There is no bottom of this iceberg. So good luck sestra redding and sestra higgins.
We got a whole slew of newbies this week again. So our zone is growing. New Polish missionaries, Czech, and we get more Bulgarians and Turkish missionaries next week. So we are officially at the top of the food chain. Which is not very high.
So . . . low on . . . wit right now . . . I'm hurting myself. So let's move on. Here's some things that I pondered on and then studied after a devotional and considering my job is to bring people to Christ (and you guys are more important than just people, you're family) I'll share them with y'all.
Does anyone remember the two consecutive questions Mary Magdalene was asked as she was in the empty tomb of the Savior? (Silence) Great. I'll tell you. She was asked, "Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?" I took the time to answer these for myself and found the following: there are a plethora of reasons that we have to cry throughout life.
1- Luke 22:61-62. Sometimes we are like Peter. We KNOW Christ, we serve Him, we love Him and yet we still manage to turn our backs on HIM . . . no matter the level of our devotion. Peter wept, bitterly. Are these the most recent tears you've had lately?
2-Just as Mary when the Savior is talking to her, she knew him not. (John 20:14). Sometimes we weep. We THINK we don't know where Christ is, we can't seem to find Him. . . when really He is right behind us. She recognized Him when he says, "Mary." Are we listening for our name? Our we looking for the times when Christ is calling to us and trying to tell us, "Hey. I'm right here. Just look, and I'll heal you." (I just made up those words for the record, not scriptural...but still true.)
3- (3 Nephi 17:10) when Christ appeared in the Americas they 'bathed His feet in tears.' At the Lord's feet, looking at the prints from the nails; humble and 100 percent aware of their Savior and the life he lead for us. These are tears of complete joy. I remember once as a little girl walking in on my Mom as she prayed and cried. I asked her, "Are you ok mom? You are crying." She responded something that I have felt many times myself now, "Yes I'm ok. These are happy tears honey." She then hugged and kissed me and I have never forgotten, 'happy tears.' Maybe these are the tears you have felt most recently.
Raise your hand if you're still reading and not bored. Or just if you're still with me.
Regardless of which place you are at currently, newsflash: you will have everyone of those types of tears in life. There are times we turn from the lord, there are times we are looking but can't 'seem' to find him, and there are times when we have the realization that we know exactly WHERE and WHO He is. THAT is the feeling that brings people to change, the feeling of love from our Savior. That is the exact thing and only thing that brought Christ to tears. In 3 Nephi, Jesus had compassion and prayed and wept for the people. He is the advocate with the Father and will do the exact same for us. And when Christ wept with Martha and Mary the people said, "oh how he loved him." I would like to submit a change. Oh how he loved THEM. And when Christ was performing the Atonement, the ultimate act of love, the scriptures say, "He was sorrowful unto death." Do you think that that deep of a sorrow would have brought a few tears? Christ weeps for us out of love, and no matter where you are in your relationship with Christ and Heavenly Father, I promise, HE IS THERE, watching out for you and waiting to help you the second you ask for it.
So . . . hang in there, almost off my soap box. . . Why weepest thou? And Whom seekest thou? Don't look for the dead among the living. (Luke 24:5,6). Christ did not only rise from the dead, and the tomb was not only emptied, He IS risen and the tomb IS empty. Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives.
I'll try to start an uproar in the cafeteria or something as to make these emails maybe more enjoyable...but I like bearing my testimony so . .. there. Mission rocks thus far. I love hearing from you guys and would love any pictures of your daily lives, breakfast, school, bed time, whatever. (That mostly is directed about little kids but Dylan you can send your bed time story pictures too.)
I love you all and will talk to you next Thursday!
Love,
future wnba player from mtc gym time . . . or some call me Sestra Rhodes. Your pick.
Service
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