Hey Mom,
Here’s what
went on this week:
We had a
baptism of a man named Joel. He´s 34 but he has some mental disabilities and
his thought processes and understanding are that of someone who is 10 years
old. We weren’t sure whether or not he really needed to be baptized, but prayed
about it and felt like it was the right thing to do. He was really excited to
go to church and be baptized. We showed up at his house on Sunday with a member
to give him a ride to church but he wasn’t home. The night before, we had drilled into his
mind to STAY IN THE HOUSE until Sunday morning! So we were very sad going to
church without our baptism. Then, in the middle of second hour of church, he
showed up!! He had walked all the way to
church by himself (That is a LONG, LONG way.
He lives at the very end of our area). We were so happy to baptize him. Teaching him
was a really good experience. We had to
teach SUPER Simple so that he could understand and remember. It was good for me. I have a picture of the
baptism. (I promise people here are excited to be baptized. I don’t know why Brazilians
look like they´re attending a funeral in pictures. The only funeral we are attending in this
picture is that of his sins. This really
is a happy occasion! For some reason they just NEVER smile for photos. But I
promise he was very happy to be baptized, haha.)
I have run
into a problem, Mom. My pants, are getting tight! If we had bought the size down we were considering, they wouldn’t be fitting
anymore. I am definitely gaining a
caboose. I am sure it is a combination
of all the muscle I am building walking miles and miles a day and then there is
all the food... I was doing a ´´leg day´´ in my workouts (squats and things) earlier in
this area but not anymore. I really am
getting self-conscious and need to be watching what I eat. I don’t want to get
fat!! And I NEED my clothes to fit me!!!
I will keep you updated. I have made the
decision that at lunch with members I will not be taking seconds (or thirds)
and will keep doing other exercises to try and stay slim.
Something
funny about this area - supposedly it is one of the most dangerous parts of
Joao Pessoa, (As Elder Sork’s mom, I
don’t find that so “funny”)
but as of yet Elder K and I haven’t had any problems with our safety. I know we
are protected here. The gangs of the city have some pretty interesting names...
one is Al Kaida (not sure if that’s how you spell it) another is Syria, Iraq,
Iran, and United States. I guess they heard about the wars going on with our
country, and thought it would be cool to use the names, haha. So saying I’m
from the United States takes on a double meaning here. We have to be careful!
We found a
family in our ward whose son is taking violin lessons. We have lunch with them
this week. I’m excited. I’m gonna ask to see his violin - I hope it’s
a full size and that maybe I can play it a little bit! I am really worried
about all the muscle memory I have forgotten already. I miss playing so much.
Elder
Kozlowski kinda raged this week, because after transfers and a long, serious,
strong email from President that clearly spoke about the need for change in the
mission culture with the ´´so vai´´ (ridiculous baptisms) nothing has changed. Our new district leader still has the same mentality
and our Zone Leaders didn’t change. So he’s always frustrated with that. It’s
nice to be the junior companion right now because he is the one that has to
deal with the heat on the numbers. I am
really worried for when the time comes for me to be the senior companion. I am worried for MANY reasons but particularly
how I will deal with leaders or maybe a companion that have the mindset of just
getting people into the font.
Here is a thought
for the week:
In Helaman 12, verse 2 it is talking a little bit about the pride
cycle and the patterns of iniquity in the Nephite nation. In this verse Helaman
uses the word ´´comfort´´ (in Portuguese, I think it’s the same in English but
I’m not sure) When the Nephite people got comfortable, or lazy due to their prosperity,
they forgot God’s hand in their lives and all they had achieved and began to
boast it was in their own strength which hardened their hearts. Take away
lesson: We can’t get comfortable! We can
enjoy our blessings, but we need to be very careful to always strive to
strengthen our relationship with God.
Even when everything is going good, we still have to strive or work at
that relationship! A good way to think of it is this: If you
aren’t going forward, you´re going backward. I need to remember this, when I
have a good day. I can’t get too comfy in
my relationships with God but continue in gratitude and doing the things I need
to as I seek strength from God.
Now to answer
the questions you posed:
1. What things do you remember that
Dad and I have tried to teach you – is there anything that you now find
yourself thinking about and helping you make decisions while you are away from
home?
Your phrase
you always share ´´remember who you are, what you stand for and who is waiting
for you to come home´´ is one that I was always appreciative of, but has gained
more meaning to me as time goes on. It has always had literal meaning to me, as
your son, but more important is the spiritually meaning in this phrase that
more and more I am coming to understand. We are children of God. As a missionary I represent his son Jesus Christ. I know that one day I will get to return home
to live with them again. This phrase
takes on even more meaning in influencing my actions here and will continue to influence
me throughout my life.
2. What is it in life that has brought
you the most joy? Does knowledge of the
gospel make that “thing” more meaningful to you than maybe someone who doesn’t
have the gospel?
The thing
that has brought me the most joy is family.
Being away from you guys is showing me just how much I love you. You are
everything to me, because of the gospel I have the knowledge that we will be
together forever. This truth brings me
so much joy. I love you all SO MUCH and
miss you guys tons. It really makes me want forever to be together with my
family.
3. Alma was out sharing the gospel
because of the joy he felt when he learned of the atonement and what it could
do for him. Why are you out sharing the
gospel?
I am out to
help gain the blessings of going through the temple. There is so much peace there. There is so much understanding there. There is so much strength there.
4. You have a great concern for the
people that you baptize in that you want them to not just jump in the water,
but understand what they are doing. What
most do you want them to understand before they are baptized.
I want them
to understand that baptism is the BEGINNING of something, not the end. I want them to truly understand the phrase
´´endure to the end´´ and continue preparing to make more covenants with God
and receive the blessings he has for us after baptism.
5. As you teach your investigators have
you had an experience where you have seen them taken out of their pain and
misery into joy and peace like Alma was?
I have not seen
a strong example of this that has really had an effect on me, but I am hoping
for one as I continue to serve and teach.
Love you, Mom,
Elder Sork
Elder
Sork
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