Saturday, August 23, 2014
Exactly 4 weeks left to serve as a full time missionary!
Today is a P-Day we have got to rest up quite a bit and it has been nice. Driving around and doing a few things we have wanted to do for a while. Just so you all know I was thinking about coming home a day earlier and surprising you, but now I won't just because you all already knew it somehow.....hmmmm. I fell really weird today because there is exactly one month before finish up the most important goal that I have had up to this point in my life. I find myself reflecting often about many things that have happened here and even before I was a full- time missionary. I love that I have the confidence to share this gospel wherever I am and whoever I am with. Each day is very different for me some days I wake up and I am super excited to start the day and other days I feel really drained and have to work hard to be able to wake up and see all of the great things going on and participate in them. I realize things and understand things now that I didn't know before I knew about them, but I had experienced them and been enlightened. there is much work to do to be obedient and stay obedient in this life. If we are obedient the the Lord will always seem close to us it will feel as if he were walking with us. When I look for the best in others and see the best in myself I can see the Lord's hand in all things and how he has prepared us for each trial as we move forward with faith. Trials don't end there will remain always in front of us the next step and our choices and reactions and attitudes will determine our happiness not our circumstances. Today I read Doctrine and Covenants Section 88. In particular I enjoyed the following verses and I want to think about them some more so that these words can influence my choices
62 And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—
63 Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
......67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.
49 The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him.
50 Then shall ye know that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I am the true light that is in you, and that you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound.
I want to learn to drawn even more unto God when he is already near. I would like to be filled more with light and be prepared to comprehend what God will allow me to comprehend according to willingness to trust in Him and be obedient. Many inspired thoughts can come to our minds as we read this section and I feel very influenced by these verses. I hope they are uplifting for you all.
Love, Elder Bell
Moving Forward in Faith
Moving Forward in Faith
Shortly after President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was called as a General Authority, he went to Elder Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) for counsel. President Packer recalled:
“He listened very carefully to my problem and suggested that I see President David O. McKay [1873–1970]. President McKay counseled me as to the direction I should go. I was very willing to be obedient but saw no way possible for me to do as he counseled me to do.
“I returned to Elder Lee and told him that I saw no way to move in the direction I was counseled to go. He said, ‘The trouble with you is you want to see the end from the beginning.’ I replied that I would like to see at least a step or two ahead. Then came the lesson of a lifetime: ‘You must learn to walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness; then the light will appear and show the way before you.’”2
As children of our Heavenly Father, we sometimes want to understand in detail the things that we must accept or accomplish in faith. However, we don’t need to understand all things. We just need to step forward as the Lord has asked us to do and as the priests of the Israelites did in entering the overflowing River Jordan. Although we cannot see or understand all things, the Lord will help us walk on dry ground if we are “strong and of a good courage.”
We will have the power to stand strong as we live by His words—seeking and following His guidance in the scriptures and from His servants. Yes, we live “in enemy territory,”3 but the enemy cannot conquer the Lord, our Savior, who was sent to help us and to save us.
I know we can be true disciples of Jesus Christ by “standing obedient and strong on the doctrine of our God.”4 As we exercise the courage to do so, we stand in holy places, no matter where we are.
Dominican Slang
I was wondering if you could understand any of this dominican slang and phrases we wrote on the board with the missionaries that were leaving last weekAugust 18, 2014
Mom I am praying for you and your job and I am so happy that you have been blessed with these options and with a gift to talk with people and understand them. You and Dad are the most important support in my life I am grateful for the sacred divine nature of families and parents nurturing and raising their children. I love that Disneyland picture because I remember how grumpy all of the children were the only one that was excited to take pictures was Brittan and I have no Idea why. I love that Brea is sticking out here tongue like that it is so stinking cute! classic picture.
This week Leonidas went to church again and three other investigators went for the second time they probably won't be able to get baptized before I live but that isn't important anyway what matters is the joy they will have and the progress they will have as children of God as they make that decision. I am trying to read the Old Testament in english I figured that since now I understand the Book of Mormon in spanish then I might be able to understand the old testament in english now. :) I am now in Exodus starting chapter 19. It is a very high priority for me to understand the scriptures now because I see how the prophecies are being fulfilled and I also find that I feel less confused as I relate the scriptures to my life and I understand more of what is going on around me. When I can relate myself to a scripture sometimes I feel I have to look until I find one that I can relate to myself.
This week wore me out because we went to the airport way to many times one day we went there five times in a row. Lots of flights were delayed too and then we had problems because all of the mission's cards that we use for gas and the hospital and the airport expenses stopped working while I wasn't at the office and that was a headache. So many Elders and Sisters are getting here and they are super young haha my comp is really young to it is funny you can tell a difference. I am going to write more tomorrow. I love you all a bunch. By the way I do always get Dad's emails and I love them they really encourage me so make sure he knows that!
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