May 19, 2014
Dear Family,
Whoa, whoa, whoa! There is so much big news coming from all directions in my e-mails today! I love it also because it is all good news!
Ciana: First off, I think that you looked absolutely stunning at your grad. You pulled off the lipstick very nicely. You are gorgeous! I cannot believe it was grad for you though, I'm still in denial that one of my baby sisters is almost 18. Like I said, I thought I knew everything when I was your age...well...I've come to see otherwise...haha. I love you though and am so proud of you!
Tal: A good penny boarding place would be probably the new chapel car park, or, there's a really nice place near where you live. I can't remember the name of the street...it starts with a "P"? It is across the football fields...anyway..find it and let me know how it goes! :)
Kyler: Thank you for the e-mail bro! I am so glad you got some new airplanes and that Josh got another BB gun. It sounds like you are having some fun over there in Canadia! But, do you know what's more exciting?! You will be officially my little brother soon! I already consider you my little brother, but this is so exciting that everything is working out! I love your guts!
Dad: I'm glad that Queen Josephine is running the factory well, and that the results are delicious. I didn't realize you'd have honey so soon (I have no idea how bees do it...but I am so excited to learn!)
Mara: Thanks for the e-mail! I am glad you have a new addition and especially that he likes to be entertained by bible stories [referring to Samara & Scott's lizard]...just as long as you cover his eyes during the dodgy "Donny Osmand has his shirt off" parts. Ew! Also, it is exciting that you are getting a car. Standard is seriously the most fun to drive. Fun fun fun!
Josh, Ash, Kaiah, Brandon, Scott, I love you too but just a little less. JUST KIDDING> I love you too. I just don't have all the time in the world to express it. And you didn't write anything to me this week so sorry, you don't deserve anything more than my heartfelt love.
Cammie: Why are your kids so adorable? Ahhh my heart is melting! I am so happy for J.P. and her house too. J.P. I need to see some photos :)
This week has been full of surprises. First off, Sister Kumire has been transferred to Stanley because a sister went home and that leaves Sister Acs, Dragoti and me in a trio! It was quite a shock but we are coping. being in a trio proves to be what everyone says: hard. Not because of the people in it, but because companionship unity is hard to have during teaching situations or when finding. Plus, approaching people on the street in a trio is more like we are surrounding them and then we scare them off. We are improving little by little though.
Sister Acs was only here 5 weeks before I came, and Sister Dragoti was only here one week before I came so we don't know anyone. We are basically whitewashing...it is okay though because we have some eternal investigators which means we aren't totally unable to have teaching appointments.
To answer Kaiah's question about why Harrogate is so posh...I still don't know. (haha got you there) But to just give you a little more insight, in July, part of the Tour de France is in Harrogate. (I'm also confused because up until I came here I thought the Tour de France was a "tour of France"? Beats me...someone is confused.) So, if I'm here next transfer I will be able to be among some insane crowds. I don't really know what else to say, but that I love you and I know that the gospel is true.
This week in my study I was studying obedience, and it took me to the Book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. I was able to draw some really great parallels to missionary work and obedience from it.
Nehemiah was a Jew, and was informed that the city of his forefathers, Jerusalem, had been attacked. there was a lot of work ot be done to build it up again. So, Nehemiah prayed and fasted about what he could do. He requested to the King to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the outer wall and the city itself. The king granted his request and he went.
However, wicked men didn't want the work to go forth, and they tried attacking those that were working to build the wall. So, the workers had to work with one had , and have a weapon in the other.
Nehemiah 4:17
They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
When the wicked men saw that physically fighting them wasn't working, they decided to use a more subtle tactic and they tried to coax Nehemiah down from the wall to "speak to him." However, Nehemiah sent messengers down to tell them that "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" (Neh 6:3)
And with some more temptation, opposition and struggles,Nehemiah pressed forward and cried out to the Lord. I love this verse:
6: 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
The parallel is that we, as members and as missionaries, are trying to rebuild God's Kingdom that has been destroyed by wicked men. We cannot just do the work without protecting ourselves as well with obedience and our covenants.
The adversary wants to weaken us but why should we come down and let the work cease so that we can converse with opposition? When we give in to temptation or when we are not living up to our potential and privileges, we are allowing Satan to speak with us, and the work is hindered. And, when we see that the road ahead is difficult, and our hands are becoming weak, we can press forward, crying out to the Lord:
Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
I know this is so important and I found so much strength in reading this.
I love you and I know that the gospel is true.
Love,
Sister Lybbert :)
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