What a crazy week!! Holy cow.. I feel like I've been running all over Voronezh this past week. Which I have so it's been good:) Um I think the most exciting thing that happened to me this week.. So Valentines day! We had the opportunity to help this Ukrainian family who just got to Voronezh a month ago. Their story is awful.. I guess last week there entire apartment building in Ukraine was blown up.. So sad. But they are incredible strong. Such a great example to me. Also we finally got to meet with the Muslim couple, Hazar and Hazom:) They are great!! This was the first time we went to there place so we didn't know what to expect? As we get there we realize they live in like a student dorm basically. So we get in and they take us into one of there friends rooms. There is probably 6 people stuffed in this tinny room. Hazar told us that they were interested in hearing our lesson, so we were like great!! Well in the end it was not such a good idea.. We started of talking and on of them pulls out a cigarette and starts smoking.. He looks at us and is like sorry is this ok? I'm like um..... Ha not really sorry.. I didn't know what to say?? I felt so uncomfortable.. But he left so that was good! Afterwards we said a prayer and began talking about the plan of salvation. As were talking on of their other friends bulls out this big old bong and starts smoking hooka as we are teaching.. I'm like ahh do I say something?? So we just kinda ignored it as we continued teaching. Probably not the best thing because I know without a doubt the HG was like Nope I'm out!!! They like start passing it around and the room is like covered in smoke.. it was awful!! But on the plus side their friends really liked what we had to say:) haha so Happy Valentines Day??
Something that I've been thinking about this past week is happiness. And how we can find true Happiness. I feel like everyone in this entire world is just doing all they can so they can find happiness right?? Happiness is the object and design of our existence and will be the end thereof if we pursue the path that leads to it. Happiness is basically the meaning and purpose of life and the whole aim of human existence. Something that I've learned is it's hard to find when your Running straight for it. Happiness usually comes when you least expect it. And I don't know about you, but it never stays. Like your not happy 24-7. It comes in pieces and we have to kinda work for it. It's not like a package that we can just open up and consume it when we want. Something that I've learned on my mission is what brings true Happiness.. That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ!! I've seen it over and over again with members and investigators. The life they live is not very easy in any way. I feel like their lives is sleep, work, and eat. That's it!! But on Sundays they have the opportunity to feel that happiness and get away from the world. I remember when Dallin Moulton first got out on his mission he said something to me that has always stuck. He said, "I've never felt so happy in my entire life. I can't believe that I almost missed out on something so incredible." Now when I was home and read that I thought, how can you be happy when your completely locked down? You don't get to watch tv, talk to family, etc. But coming on a mission I completely understand what that means!! The other day I was walking on the street and I just felt this incredible joy come to me. And we were contacting? How does that work. But it does!! I think something to that I've learned is there has to be opposition in all things. I think if on my mission everything was just peachy and people were all getting baptized I wouldn't feel the joy that I feel when I receive a contact or have a good conversation with someone on the bus. It's funny to think that the littlest things bring me so much joy;) haha I think in the end so much of our happiness lies in our hands. We have the agency to decide whether we will be happy or not. Your usually as happy as you make up your mind to be. Do you believe that? Your thoughts are how you see life's problems and how you find a solution to those problems. And in the end God expects a willing mind in the quest to happiness. Every day people are fighting for it, striving for it, and insists upon it and looks for it!! But I promise you if your just looking for the next thing to make you happy your not going to find it. If you think, "If I just have a better car I'll be happy!" But if you think about it, have you ever received what you wanted and you were happy. Of course you are for a little bit, but how long does it last before you want something else to bring you happiness. Makes me think that when I was in Africa. Those people had nothing and yet they were so happy!! Why?? haha so my challenge to you is be happy:) Live in the moment!! Stop trying to chase the butterfly! Wait for it to land on you. have a great week!! Love you!!
Hey Mum:)
Well I must say I loved your letter. It was a little sad, but look how much you've learned!! I hope gram and grandma are doing ok. AH they scare me!!! But I know HF Will help them. Give them my love and know that they are in my prayers!!! It's way interesting that you were going through that whole thing with chan. I swear I feel like I go through something like that every week. We had a lesson with out investigator and I had been praying and preparing all week for it!! I knew that it was going to go well and that she would except the baptismal date and that we would be able to answer her questions. Well we go into the lesson and I can't speak so that it's understandable. She starts asking really hard questions and doesn't except the baptismal date. Afterwards I was like HF!!!!!!! WHAT MORE DO I HAVE TO DO!!!!! I felt like a failure. I felt like everything I do is not right. But yano sometimes we don't understand everything. and maybe we never will. but I'll tell you that ha I know what I need to change. I know what I need to do better and how to act. Everything happens for our benefit and what we need to learn. I can't say I know why chan lost. But got does. And we have to trust in that. But you guys are great:) ha we can do this life together right;) But Africa will be fun for them!! Why did you sale the boat?? To who?? Florida will be fun:) haha go to harry potter world for me;) haha also mom I have a question.. So there is a member here and she is having struggles with her marriage.. Who husband is a less active and they are struggling right now. We have a lesson with her but we don't really know what to talk about. I thought you would have an idea since you know what it's like to be married:)
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