Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Josh's Mission Sept 16 2014

(Josh didn't explain why he sent his email today instead of yesterday - so here it is!)



that's really great news that you will be able to be there for the dedication! that is way exciting! is mary going to be in there too? or just you and Dad? I really wish that I could be there, but that's okay, you are there for me. I really hope that you have a good time there!

thank you so much for your help. I can't tell you enough just how much I appreciate your council and advice. I have definitely been doing some repenting this week and trying really hard not to focus so much on what I think I need or want and focus more on what Heavenly father needs me to do, then asking his help for that. As I've been studying this week (I started the Book Of Mormon again) I've noticed just how important attitude is. Having a good attitude effects everything. Nephi is such a great example of that. he goes through the exact same trials that his brothers do, but the out come is so different. Nephi chooses to but God's will first and have faith and hope for better things. And some times we don't see how the trials that we go through will actually be a blessing to us. 

there is a part in 1 Nephi 15 that I really like. In verses 3-6 Nephi says that he is overcome by his afflictions and was grieved, and then he says"after I had received strength I spake unto my brethren. " for some reason that just really stood out to me, that Nephi is having a really hard time, but he presses forward and then after he receives strength, he goes out and talks to his brothers. It's very impressive to me how diligent Nephi is.

And I really like that in John 4:36,(I mentioned that I had been reading in John and this verse was one I had never paid attention to before -- 36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth mayrejoice together.)      I don't know if I've ever really connected that. Some thing else that i've realized again this week is that this is the Lord's work. this is not my mission or my investigators, this is Heavenly Father's mission, this is His time, and I am serving Him, by serving my brothers and sisters. I've realized again, just how precious this time is to Him and really how precious our lives are to Him. This is a very short time, the mission that I am on, but I know that it will be the best 2 years for my life and eternity. 

Well, it was a really great week! Oh and I am staying in Knoxville, I don't know if i told you that yet. On Thursday we went to transfers and got a new Zone leader and so our short time as a trio with our other Zone leader was over and we were able to spend the rest of the week in town. 

there is this really sweet old lady here, a returning less active, (I don't remember if I've told you about her yet) sister T. She is so great and she takes care of us so well. She is trying really hard to come back to the church so that she can go to the temple. she has such a strong spirit! She told us that even though it is very hard to change, she doesn't want to let Heavenly father down and not do what he wants. Hopefully she'll be able to go through the temple while I am here, but we are helping to prepare her. Also, a recent Convert, C S is trying really hard to go to the temple! We had a really great lesson with her about how we need to always rely on Heavenly father and especially be sensitive to those who are around us. You can watch it here

it is really awesome helping other prepare for the temple! That is something that I have really enjoyed while serving here. I've come to have a greater understanding and purpose of the convents that we make. Something else that I noticed in my studies is in the dream that Lehi has about the tree of life it talks about how there were others how came and took hold of the end of the rod of iron. I realized just how significant that is. there is a beginning to our journey here on earth. it really begins when we decide to grad hold of the end of the iron rod and accept the covenant of baptism, then we move forward, holding tight to the iron rod, and choose to follow Christ, until eventually, we will partake of the fruit of the tree and have everlasting life. i know that this is true! I know that Heavenly Father loves us and that he really is there for us. 

thank you so much for everything that you do! I love you so much and I am very grateful for your love, prayers, and support!

Kajoor ilo Christ
ij iokwe eok!!
Elder Broadbent

No comments:

Post a Comment