On Tuesday we had a super fun giant Family Home Evening with all 6 of the missionaries in the ward, a bunch of members, and investigators. The games were super fun. For example, have you ever had to move an Oreo from your forehead to your mouth only using the muscles of your face? Or have you ever had to find a cookie in a mountain of flour only using your nose? Yeah. Needless to say we laughed a lot and had a super good time. PS, I totally won the Oreo one.
We got to do lots of serving this week. There have been lots of marriages and baptisms in the zone, so we've been offering up some helping hands. Like on Friday, we got up super duper early (like at 5:15) to go help a sweet sister with her hair and makeup for her wedding! She looked downright GORGEOUS and we were so happy to help her. Then we spent all afternoon making brownies, picking up cakes, and making other foods and goodies for their reception. We didn't get a lot of teaching in that day, but the sister was so grateful for her help. 4 members of the family were baptized after the ceremony, and they have been so blessed by the gospel. Even though it wasn't our investigator, we were happy to serve. And now the Lord has blessed us with 2 families to marry in October! Whoot whoot!
I learned something really amazing this week in my personal study. After feeling really helpless and down about the problems we have been having as a companionship, I started a themed study on how Christ continued to love those that rejected him. I learned a lot about the importance of his rejection and suffering in the plan of salvation. But I was really touched by an amazing scripture found in 1 Peter 2:21-23. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously." Wow. Talk about a powerful answer. So it shouldn't affect us if we are rejected. Like, I'm pretty sure it's okay if it makes us a little sad. But it shouldn't change who we are or what we do. If we are rejected, there should not be guile found in our mouths, or in other words we should still speak kindly of one another. We should not react by rejecting those that reject us. We should not threaten those who hurt us. We should just commit ourselves to our Heavenly Father and his will for us. And after reading that, the very same day we had a really rough companionship inventory with tears, and in the end a big hug. And now we're doing really good. It's kind of crazy how the Lord refines our characters. It's not super fun, but I'm sure grateful for the things I am learning about the Savior.
This weekend we were also blessed to have Stake Conference with Elder Godoy. We learned lots. I really enjoyed a few tips he gave us to live a more excellent way. He explained a lot about loving our families. He advised us to be slow to condemn, to be quick to forgive and ask forgiveness, and to be more loving and expressive. All of which we need to do and teach by example. I think that it was just more testimony of the importance of loving each other and being more like our Savior,
And now we are off to hear who will be having transfers. How scary! We're pretty positive that we're staying together, but you never know. Sometimes President throws in some wild cards.
Love you bunches. Be good, and remember who you are and what you stand for!
Hermana Schroader