Wow, this week was awesome, nothin' but awesome. We were able to work extensively with T. and D. this week. We taught them both 3 times each this week. It's been really cool and challenging learning how to teach someone with legitimate ADHD. We really have to think outside the box on how to teach the fundamental principles of the doctrine. Tony responds much better to videos and the gospel principles book for Sunday School class. He can't remember much of what we teach him, but he does remember what he reads. It's interesting. We're trying to relate everything to him as much as possible so that his interest remains while we teach.
We got to eat with T. and his extended family on his wife's side. They offered me a habenjero pepper since it was the first time that I had eaten at their house (it's tradition that they do). They told me to take a bite, but I put the whole pepper in my mouth. I held my own very well I thought. My mouth didn't start on fire till after about 30 seconds. I swallowed a good chunk, but I spit the rest out. My stomach didn't feel so good after that for the next 24 hours, but it was AWESOME! You should see the video... after I get home. I'm not posting that one on Facebook till then. I tried to play it off as best I could. There was sweat and tears. Thankfully no blood, but it was awesome!
So we went over with D. a couple times to practice some music. One night the other elders didn't show up so he just opened up to us and told us what he was really going through and his intentions. He wants to be back active in the church and has even had thoughts about serving a mission (he's 23 years old and has tattoos). He just needs to take things kind of slow right now. It's hard for someone to be less active for the majority of their lives and then try to jump straight back into it. He has the biggest heart. he's really talented with his music too.
We had an old investigator and her less active husband from before my time here in Canby walk back into church after over 3 months! It was awesome. He's a way cool dude. He's 24, he's a marine and now he's working as a hired security guard at a top secret facility. It's really cool actually. He just wants to find a nice quiet place to raise his family. That's nothing but a miracle that he came back on his own free will considering they are temporarily living in a hotel in downtown Portland.
This week was a good reflecting week for me. We were able to work hard and long hours. We were able to hear from an Apostle. We were able to go to the temple for an endowment session, and we were able to teach our entire zone how to be effective teachers.
The idea of Charity and compassion is something that I'm personally working on. It comes as we view others in their eternal nature. If we view them, as God views us, as where they can be in the future rather than what they've messed up on now we can be merciful yet still constant in our standards. We can show others the consequences of their actions, but still show them how if they will simply rededicate themselves to living a Christ Centered life with obedience to the commandments they will still see just as bright a future than if they had never messed up at all. We can show those we love the benefits of righteous living. When they truly see the benefits, they will be more motivated than if we constantly remind them of where they "fell short of the glory of God" in the past. those were just some thoughts that I've had lately
Hearing an apostle speak and shaking his hand was awesome. But the thing that possibly stood out to me the most was the fact that Elder Christofferson is a man. He is just like you and me. He even told us that HE has questions about the gospel. He is still subject to temptation and sin. He's actually a little shorter than I thought he would be. I literally saw before me a man. When I heard him speak it was no different than if I had heard my companion speak. When he spoke it wasn't anything different than going to church. The SPIRIT was still the one that taught me what I learned. But the spirit was definitely there. It was strong. I saw Elder Christofferson take moments to stall and think. He's a man. He doesn't have all the answers, but he listens to the spirit. He's built a level of trust with God that I haven't. When God tells him something, he follows through. He's actually willing to sacrifice what's required of him. He doesn't go looking for an extra measure of his life to sacrifice. He just does what the Spirit directs.
Thinking about that made the idea of God much more personable. God is still in the image of man. He looks like us. He feels like us. If we saw him we'd be able to shake his hand just like I did Elder Christofferson. God isn't some ethereal spirit that wanders from sea to sea. He's a real being and he loves us. the question is when we see him, can he trust us?
I love you all. I'm not sure if I expressed everything like I wanted to, but I've got to run off. We've got to go cut another missionaries hair. I love you guys so much!
Love ya!
your elder Lloyd
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