Monday, Monday

Buenos Tardes Mi Vida

This might be my last week in Houston 4, (Sugar Land area) I've been here for about 6 months now and the ward is very much my second home. Almost all of the members make dessert and juice with splenda for me and know everything I can't eat :)

This far in my mission I have realized we sometimes hide from ourselves in vagueness, generalities, and conceptions. One person could live their whole life without really caring who God is and our relationship with Him- Many people we meet say this very thing. But I've decided...of course I'm not finished with my mission, but to this point of three things that would simplify our pursuance :

1. Find out who God is

2. Let Him get to know you

3. Help others do the same

Our Gospel Prinicles teacher and Ward Mission Leader is from Chile, he used to be a jew but was baptized when he realized that an answer he was searching for that took over a year was found in our church doctrine. He came to the understanding that each one of us has an equal right to recieve revelation and answers which was the foundation of his testimony in the church. He is extremely intelligent and I ask him questions every time we have our meetings. I asked him last week "what motivates you to gain so much knowledge?" He began to tell me the story of a man who approached plato wanting to be his apprentice and learn everything he knows. He replied "follow me" They went down to the ocean where had him go under the water but then held him under until he began to struggle for air. He eventually let him come up and asked "What was the number one thing you wanted?"

"to breath!" he replied

"When you want to learn as much as you wanted to breath then you will be my apprentice"

I began to reflect on this story during my studies and prayers: How much conviction do I have in knowing the will of the Lord? What is the number one thing I want in life (no vagueness)? Do I really want to know who God is?

I believe we can all use this story to estimate where our discipleship is... how devoted our we to being examples and followers of Jesus Christ? I know that God gives answers to all those who are willing to pay the price. It is repeated more times in the scriptures to "ask and ye shall recieve"

I'm so happy to hear you had a good trip mom!! I would love to do that sometime with you and be with all the Pyper girls (and grandpa) . Thanks for telling me about the trip!

I'm excited to talk to trevor and nathan about the mission! I hope they make the transition home all right.

Love you all so much!!!