Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Who will you invite? update for Jessica 5-21-14

Another wonderful week in the service of the Lord! We saw so many miracles. First off, I love my branch! Just love them! They are the most beautiful group of collective missionaries. This week we were invited to a member's house for an open house. She found the church when she was 20 years old and was later married in the temple and had 7 kids. Just a few years ago she lost her husband. She is raising 7 kids on her own--did I mention she's a doctor and our Relief Society Presidentessa? She is. She's my hero. She is an amazing example to all those around her that many of her friends ask to know about the church. So she organized this open house. We started out with a prayer and then this sister shared the reasons for setting this up. This is the church of Jesus Christ. It has been restored to the earth by a living prophet. And we still have a living prophet that leads and guides us today under the direction of Christ himself. Well that's the best news I've ever heard in my life. So what am I going to do with this knowledge? Share it. We did a little bit of a get to know you game and then we did an activity. *FHE idea for all you parents out there* We played pictionary telephone. HOW TO PLAY: Everyone has a piece of paper. On the paper at the top he/she writes a phrase. Once everyone is done the paper is passed to the next person. The 2nd person draws a picture based upon the phrase. Once the picture is drawn you fold the paper at the top so the phrase can't be seen. Then the 3rd person writes a phrase based on the picture. So on and so forth until you get the original paper back. It's lots of fun! When you get back to the original person the phrase never matches the  original. Along the way the message always gets distorted. Here comes the spiritual message. You can do it in many ways. We chose to compare it to the Book of Mormon and the Bible. The Book of Mormon and the Bible go together. It's like always having a phrase and a picture. Nothing gets lost. But we have to use them together. By the end they were so excited to have a copy of the Book of Mormon. And I couldn't have been any more excited to share it with them!
 
On Sunday one of our members gave the most beautiful talk on tithing I have ever heard in my life. My favorite part was when he gave the examples of the Books of Mormon that we give out as missionaries. People often ask how much it costs and we say, "Nothing, it's free." Well really, it's not. Someone, somewhere in the world loved that book so much that they wanted you to have the chance to read it. Wow. It's true. The Book of Mormon changes lives every day. It changes my heart and I love it. One of my favorite stories is when Moroni is all angry and writes a pretty mean epistle to Pahoran thinking that Pahoran is not doing anything to help them while they're struggling and hungry. Meanwhile, Pahoran is suffering just as much-- suffering things that Moroni has no idea about. What does Pahoran do when he reads this (I insert here) kinda rude letter? He says thank you. He doesn't get mad back. He is happy that Moroni cares SO much! That is one of the greatest examples of humility to me. We get mad all the time when the true problem is we just don't understand. We live in a world where everything is an 'insta-fix' but that doesn't work with people. I'm definitely not as patient as I should be but ever day I try a little harder to be a little better.  

The subject line of this email, "Who will you invite?" refers to the month of June. The month of June in the church is the month of invites. We should all be preparing ourselves now to think of people we will invite to church, to activities, to meet the missionaries, to come back to church after being absent. This a month where we can follow the Savior's example and have no fear in reaching out in love to those around us. Who in your life is in need of a helping hand? 

I love you all!! Take care and make me proud! Tell me of your miracles :)



Con tanto affetto, 

Sorella Jarvis
 
We went to subway...First one I've ever seen in Italy...It was weird...I don't think I like Subway anymore...
 
 
 
 


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