Letter #88

Hey Mum and Family,

Another week in Swansea has come and gone and it definitely has not been any slower. The weather has also been really nice which helps a lot I think. Mum you said you are wearing shorts for a day to enjoy before the cold. Well I could wear shorts everyday if I was allowed. That how nice and warm it is here. Haha don't be jealous mum. 

To me it seems like the days go faster because we are enjoying them just a bit more. It's amazing how the weather can affect so much. 

S***** is doing really well and he should be hopefully baptized this next Saturday. He will be having his baptism interview on Wednesday. I think it should go well and he will be ready. The lessons have been great the past couple week and he said he is ready for baptism.  It has been cool to see him change as he has become more committed to baptism. I am really excited and it is probably going to be a busy week this week to prepare everything.  The ward is pretty excited too because it's been a few months since there has been a baptism in this ward. 

That family I said we were going to stop by last week wasn't able to meet us. We had set up a time to see them on Friday and when we went by they weren't in. We will try  this week and hopefully we can find them in and be able to teach them. They seemed excited to meet and learn but I guess they aren't as interested as I thought. That happens quite often though. 

We did find someone a couple weeks ago that we were able to meet with this past week. He is interested in meeting again this week which is a blessing. We taught the restoration and it was a great discussion. He has a few disagreements because of the beliefs he has but I know that we just have to take it slow with him and really help him understand and he will get past a few concerns that he has. I am excited to see him this next week. 

We also have another guy that wants to meet with us this week so if we are able to see him it will be a pretty exciting week. This guy is very religious too, but he loves speaking and learning about other religions so he was pretty exciting to meet. 
The Swansea area seems to be picking up a bit more which makes the work a lot more exciting to do. I am grateful for the hand of the Lord that is guiding this work and for the many blessing we have received. The small tender mercies add up and make a big difference. 

We did play some football with lots of people including Brother Roberts. It was a lot of fun this week. It has been a lot drier so we were not sliding around everywhere this week. We don't play American football because no one knows how to play really. Oh well I will save it for back home. I love playing in the nice weather though no matter what sport it is.  It's nice to play in the sun with a nice breeze coming from the ocean blowing through your hair. You can only imagine mum. Sorry! 

Well I will get on to the weekly thought I guess since I don't know what else to say. 
Weekly Thought

I think I am just going to share what I have learned from the scripture that I ponderized this past week. I love ponderizing the scriptures because I learn so much from them so thank you for sharing the scriptures. Also thanks for the thoughts that you share. It helps me learn more which I really love. You can never learn too much especially when it comes to the scriptures. 
Obviously this weeks scripture was D&C 4:3. This was an easier one to Ponderize because I didn't have to keep reading it because it is short and I already memorized it. Pondering about it has taught me a lot from this scripture. 

The main thing that I have come to learn from this scripture is simply that we are all missionaries even if we don't wear the name badge or are called and set apart. If we truly want to serve God and his children we are called to do it. 
I love the scripture in Helaman 5:6 which is what Helaman said to his son Nephi and Lehi. He said starting in the middle of the verse:
"...Behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I have done that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works; and when ye remember their works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good."

Helaman is telling his sons that he named them after there ancestors so that when they think of their names they think of their ancestors and all the good that they did so that they to can follow their examples. Well we can apply this to ourselves. We take upon us Christ name each week as we partake of the sacrament and we promise to always remember him. We promise to follow His example which was to teach, bless, and serve others 

Spencer W. Kimball once said
“When you look in the dictionary for the most important word, do you know what it is? It could be remember. Because all of you have made covenants--you know what to do and you know how to do it--our greatest need is to remember. That is why everyone goes to sacrament meeting every Sabbath day--to take the sacrament and listen to the priests pray that they ‘may always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them.’ Nobody should ever forget to go to sacrament meeting. Remember is the word. Remember is the program”

We too need to be like the sons of Helaman and remember.  We need t remember that we have taken upon ourselves the name of Christ and he wants us to serve his children and talk  to them about the gospel. Nephi and Lehi, the sons of Helaman, were also great examples of devoting themselves to preaching the gospel. I know they had "desires to serve God". Because they had those desires they were "called to the work". They taught and I know that the Lord was with them as they taught.
I know that we all have those desires to serve God. We just need to remember that we will have the help needed to do so. Just like Spencer W. Kimball said, we know what we need to do its just a matter of remembering to do it. 

I hope and pray that we can remember that it is our responsibility as members of Christ's church to teach others and to help them come to know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth once more. I know this to be true and I know this is the Lord's work that we are doing. I am grateful for your wonderful examples of blessing the lives of others though your actions and examples.

I am excited to Ponderize another scripture this week. And to hear your thoughts on the scriptures too. It's amazing all we can learn from just a single verse of scripture  
Hope you have a great week. Love you all!!
Love,
Elder Peterson