lesson on charity...‏

Dear Family and Friends,

     This week was a good week.... A crazy one too!! I feel that a lot of the times that is how missionary work goes though. But, I have really enjoyed it!! Right now, we are teaching a 18 year old... I think I mentioned him, he is the one that wants to get baptized in December. But, this week while we were talking with him he has been talking about going on a mission one day which is really exciting!! I hope that he will do so. In fact, recently I have been so sentimental? I don't think that is the right word... But whenever a youth talks about a mission I just get super excited for them and so sad that I'm almost done with mine. I just keep wanting to tell them that they will never ever regret going on a mission. I love being here so much. It kills me a little to think about how soon I am going to have to give it all up.

       But, as I have been serving I have been blessed to see a change in others as well as in myself. Example, one of the Elders in my district I really don't get along with very well. We had a run in that maybe I will tell you about when I am home. But, for weeks now I have been praying to have charity towards him and to kind of forget the things that happened earlier. So, because Heavenly Father works this way instead of just giving me charity he gave me an opportunity to develop charity.

       That experience was kind of humbling and I didn't really want to do it. But, Heavenly Father kept prompting me. So, I finally gave in and did what I kept feeling prompted to do, which was to ask this Elder for a blessing. It was an amazing blessing and it helped me realize Heavenly Fathers love for this elder as well as for me. With that I have been able to forgive him for some of the mistakes he made earlier last transfer. I am so grateful for that.

      So, I think I mentioned this last week but I have been reading a lot in the Old Testament and I really like repeated phrases and in the last few chapters I have been reading Moses is instructing the people not to worship false Gods or Idols since that is Israels biggest down fall. Well, there is a phrase that caught my eye which talks about them serving other gods which is shortly followed by the statement 'which ye have not known'.

      I think this stood out to me because on my mission I have felt that I have come so close to God. I love that it talks about how Israel knows the God whom they serve. God is so involved in all of our lives. Honestly, all one has to do to know God better is to stand back and look for his hand in their life. I promise that it is there no matter how hard or how good the time in their life was, God was there. Why? Simply because he knows and loves each and everyone of his children.

       Just like when we look at our lives we can see how our parents were there protecting or rejoicing or such with us; Heavenly Father is there in the details of our lives rejoicing when we are happy and sorrowing when we are having a hard time. When we follow Him and His commandments then we are coming to know him and when that happens then we see how much he loves each and everyone of us.

      As I said earlier, I have learned a lot about charity recently. Seeing someone that I really didn't like very much through our Fathers eyes was so amazing!! Knowing how infinite and all encompassing that love is kind of left me a bit awestruck. I know that Heavenly Father loves each and everyone of us so much. I know that he loves the people maybe we have a hard time loving. I know it and I'm so grateful for it! I love you all so very much and I hope and pray that you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Bice