Opposition in All Things
August 6, 2012
So much to do, so little time.
So much to say, so few words.
So many to save, so little....me, haha.
So much to do, so little time.
So much to say, so few words.
So many to save, so little....me, haha.
A mission is tiring. Wanna know why? It's because we're on the frontlines, fighting the war against Satan. I've been thinking about this a LOT: when we neglect to pass by our investigators house, Satan is right there working to unravel the work we did. Soooo, we've gotta work more arduously, more fervently, more passionately. Sure, in the end, Satan loses; but how many of our siblings will we lose? Not everyone will have eternal life, and spiritual death is eternal as well. Our salvation is daily on the line! So, HECK YES, I'm gonna jump over Maria's wall and drag her out of bed and into church! Because, holy cow, my eternal life won't be satisfactory if Heaven has a small count. There's opposition in all things, but WE WILL ALWAYS outnumber Satan and his 1/3. Let's not give him an inch on the battlefield. Let's not give him any more strength to his numbers than he already has in Spirit Prison. THAT'S why every temple built diminishes Satan's power; because, just like Capture the Flag, we're setting prisoners free. We're adding to our team to protect, strategize, strengthen, and work!!!! |
Another epiphany I had was this: This life isn't about gaining independence; it's about learning to be humble, realizing you can't—absolutely CAN'T—do anything on your own. God sees us still as His little children who need to learn right from wrong, who need to learn to be obedient.
Okay, so I thought this was cool, too. There are two tribes who are NOT lost, right? Judah and Joseph... so, OBVIOUSLY, we should have TWO records of these tribes. Riiiight. BAM! Also, I'm getting really frustrated with the people who don't think that there is one right church and that Christ established a church when He lived. Have you read Acts??? Or any book after the Gospels??? Der. I love the gospel, ladies and gentlemen, because it makes sense. Logic, science, yes, everything can be expounded upon through the gospel. Even when we are learning scholastically, we are learning by study and also by faith. The Holy Ghost accompanies all truth studied, and I’m so glad for Him. |
We are teaching a wife… well… not wife, although couples who live together—whether or not legally married—are called spouses. We are teaching Marlene, the "wife" of a returned missionary. They are super gold, you know what I mean? He is dynamic and animated about the things he taught while he served as a missionary. I don't remember if I wrote about him; but, sheesh, I love this family so much. He has problems with his group of friends, dragging him down to hell, really. He has a lot of addictions, and he knows it. Our first visit with him, he admitted he wants to return, he NEEDS to return; but he's going to need the help of the whole ward. The term “it takes a village” has a positive connotation to me now; because, yes, that's what wards are for: to help raise those who have fallen and to raise those youngsters in the gospel.
Anyway, at this point, Marlene is apprehensive about baptism but is willing to do ANYTHING to—as she put it and said it in front of Venicios— "ganhar victora de Venicios," which means to win Venicios; because we are literally fighting for him over his addictions. Man, this family will be so AWESOME! I now feel and understand the YEARNING of wanting to bring others to Christ. Uuuugh! Sheesh, I´m also repenting of the lackadaisical way I lived my life before. I can just imagine God saying, “Aaaaaaah, Sister Nelson, you're just SO CLOSE to acquiring your potential, just....PARE com esta bagunça!” Hahaha. ["STOP with this mess!"]
I really don’t remember what I wrote last week, but I remember it was a LOT. Okay, so our house was dedicated that night we half-painted it. Oh, and the light in our room buzzes as if it is about to burst. We called the president's counselor, and he came to "fix it." But all that really changed was that the light no longer buzzes when it's turned off.
Anyway, at this point, Marlene is apprehensive about baptism but is willing to do ANYTHING to—as she put it and said it in front of Venicios— "ganhar victora de Venicios," which means to win Venicios; because we are literally fighting for him over his addictions. Man, this family will be so AWESOME! I now feel and understand the YEARNING of wanting to bring others to Christ. Uuuugh! Sheesh, I´m also repenting of the lackadaisical way I lived my life before. I can just imagine God saying, “Aaaaaaah, Sister Nelson, you're just SO CLOSE to acquiring your potential, just....PARE com esta bagunça!” Hahaha. ["STOP with this mess!"]
I really don’t remember what I wrote last week, but I remember it was a LOT. Okay, so our house was dedicated that night we half-painted it. Oh, and the light in our room buzzes as if it is about to burst. We called the president's counselor, and he came to "fix it." But all that really changed was that the light no longer buzzes when it's turned off.
Sister Diller was taking a shower, and a craia—a poisonous centipede—was crawling up her leg. Ya know… no big deal. When we kill cockroaches, we put it on a teeny tiny plate we found in our trash garden next to our two pet dinosaurs, which were also found in our trash garden. The cool thing is... the next day, it's gone, hehehe. I get a kick out of it, for some reason. |
I think everyone thinks I'm crazy. I'm known for spending forever in the kitchen just… ya know... eating everything. I have a rule for lunch, though. (Ben: "One move only. One move only.") I am only allowed one plateful, and then I eat it slowly. ("One plate only. One plate only.") It's quite effective.
Oh, so my motto comes from Rachel's really old poem she wrote for a project in high school;
and, yes, I remember it because I loved it to pieces!!!
"It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it.
I just plug my nose and smile on through it."
That really explains my mission... for now, hahaha ;)