Well, it's been a few couple crazy days. Why? I'm BACK WITH SISTER ALIUS. That's right folks. 6 weeks in Powell, Ohio in February wasn't long enough so we get another 6 weeks together but in a cute place called Marble Cliff. I feel like I'm living Deja Vu every day and it's been SO much fun. Sister Alius goes home at the end of this transfer so I'll be in mission terms..."killing" her. How thankful I am to be able to learn and grow from her example again.
(Good news is: the Sister that Sister Birchett trained is now training a sister. In mission terms I am now a great grandma. I'm old. )
Marble Cliff Ward is wonderful. The Columbus Ohio Temple is in our area. It's absolutely wonderful. We basically cover Columbus but we also have a little village called Marble Cliff, Grandview Heights, and Upper Arlington. If I had to describe this area in a nutshell (besides Upper Arlington), I'd say it's like good ole' Ogden, Utah.
A is just golden. He is definitely a kingdom builder. He is preparing to be baptized January 7th. It's crazy how prepared he is. We text him and asked him to read Mosiah 13 in preparation for our lesson on the Ten Commandments and he text back, "Great, I read that chapter the other day. I'm excited to discuss the Ten Commandments." He loves the Book of Mormon and no matter how busy his schedule is, he reads it everyday. He is constantly receiving answers to his prayers and it's because he is committed.
Yesterday, we had the opportunity to be in a trio for the day with Sister Hill. She was supposed to go home Friday but extended her mission for 3 days so that she could go to the temple on Saturday with two different converts of her. It was such a fun experience and she actually served in this area a year ago. She felt inspired to follow up on a family she had taught and we had a great experience meeting K, K, and their four kids. We are so excited to be able to teach them tomorrow! We took Sister Hill back to the mission home last night and had the opportunity to watch the Christmas Devotional at the mission home. There was such a sweet spirit there and my testimony of the Savior deepened. It also was a tender mercy because Sister Slater (one of my greatest mission friends) who went home in march was visiting and watch the Devotional with us!
We met a less active of the church this weekend who was kind to us but didn't want his kids to have any contact with Mormons or even religion in general. My heart completely broke and I almost couldn't hold back the tears. There is so much hope, love, and joy that comes into the home as we allow our Savior to be there. I spent a lot of time pondering my home that was, thanks to my incredible parents, based on the teachings of Christ. How thankful I am to have grown up with the teachings of Christ. There was a sense of belonging and peace that I haven't found anywhere else but the restored gospel. I wondered what can I do to have a Christ-Centered home one day...how I can make my home a holy place. It's the gospel and practicing living the gospel principles in the home. I love the quote "By striving to make our homes peaceful places where we can feel the influence of the Spirit, we can help ourselves and our families to be more Christ-like." We can become more like Christ as we allow our home to be filled with spirit by living gospel principles.
I know without a shadow of a doubt that this gospel brings such a great sense of peace, hope, love, and belonging in a home. It is the ONLY way to make a home a safe haven; especially in the world we live in today. Let us each strive to develop stronger relationships and spiritual strength in our homes by practicing the gospel principles. I know the Book of Mormon is true and was given to us by a loving Father in Heaven. The Book of Mormon testifies of our Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the reason for this season. In the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. Until next week, love you all..thank you for all the love and support!
XOXO,
Sister Detamore
No comments:
Post a Comment