Learning Lessons

Hey mama, This week was kinda crazy. We had an exchange this week from Tuesday night to Wednesday night. Sadly, we departed on bad terms. Luckily, we have weekly planning on Thursday, so we got to talk about a lot of things and I think we're on decent terms now. I'm just really coming to learn that you can't change people if they don't want to change. I also learned from a crazy member lesson and from my companionship experiences that forced obedience just brings murmuring and resentment. If you're not one, you're not Christ's and you can't accomplish anything. So, do the very best you can and be as obedient as you can be, but unity is more important than being right. The second half of this week I've definitely been more patient. Honestly, if you develop all the Christike attributes in PMG chapter 6, then it'll solve all your problems. But, that's a lifetime+ process. The YSA activity actually went pretty well. We pulled out the Ping Pong table and also played some Uno. We had a member come who hasn't been to church since Covid and then he came to church the next day. We actually had like 10 YSAs (young single adults) at church this week and we typically only have 3, so that was awesome. But we were only working directly with like 2 of them, so the rest were purely a tender mercy from the Lord. Each week during district council I get to talk to Elder Zaleski about our old area. Brandon, however, we actually passed off to the PJ Elders the week I was leaving, so I wasn't going to get to finish teaching him anyway. Our friend Wei Jie is doing well. He was actually able to keep the Word of Wisdom other than tea. But, when our member told him he could still drink herbal and flower teas he said that'd be way easier and he could definitely do it. (I've always thought the WoW only restricted green and black tea but my companion didn't think so, and I haven't found any resource that actually states other teas.) Unfortunately, Wei Jie didn't make it to church this week because of work, but we talked about the Sabbath Day during our lesson this week and he's going to try to get them off instead of just sneaking off of work like he did the first time he came. We actually did find two more friends to teach this week and we've been getting closer to our goals. Unfortunately, one of them is going to Thailand this week, so we won't be able to meet with him for a week. But the other one we have another lesson with on Tuesday. Jack has decent English, but our other friend Sonny struggles and he's from Pakistan and speaks Urdu, so it'll be slow going. We also got a referral named Kristina and she's a little wild, but she came to church this week. She mostly speaks Indonesion. Miracle: Despite a very rough week, I have felt the Spirit tremendously as I've studied the scriptures. I know the Lord loves me and he is aware of me. I especially liked Helaman 10:1-5 this week. Challenge: I need a whole lot more of everything. Patience, Love, Humility, Faith, Diligence, Obedience, Virtue, Hope, and Knowledge. Good News: I have a new week to start fresh, work hard, trust in the Lord and see miracles:) Love you, Elder Wardle