We blew up 180 balloons for our District Leaders birthday! (And it still wasn't enough to fill their flat). Our original plan was to fill each room with balloons... but their flat was much bigger than we thought it was. But that's alright, because we still went crazy decorating his flat. It was his 21st birthday, so we figured we had to spoil him. We decided to buy a gift for each room, and decorate the flat. What did we do for decorations? Well, the 180 balloons (that made both our hands swell, ran us out of breath, and also destroyed my poor companions finger). Was it worth it though? I'd like to think so.... We also stuck up 6 banners that said "Hooray! 21 Today!" And we sprinkled little plastic stars all over Elder Ogbeide's bed (which he probably hated us for), AND - the best part/finishing touch: We got them a disco light for both their study room and bedroom! The flat looked pretty great by the time we finished! (I'll be sending photos as well for visual aid - the bathroom looks hilarious) As far as the gifts for each room, I'll list them below:
Dressing Room - A nice navy tie
Bathroom - Body wash / Deodorant
Bedroom - All those glitter stars, plus a happy birthday card signed
by the people in our district (that said "Penblwyd Hapus" - Happy
Birthday in Welsh)
Kitchen - Crunchy Nut Cereal and Milk (his favourite)
Study room - Smart Water (because it improves your intelligence), Lion
bars (candy), a Welsh Book of Mormon, and some pens.
Was he spoiled?
Yes....
Also...
We had a fun dinner together at their flat that night with all the missionaries in our ward (which is us, the District Leader companionship (Elder Ogbeide and Elder Stiff), and the Zone Leaders (Elder Jensen and Elder LeSueur). Elder LeSueur made us all Fajitas! It was great to have Mexican food once again - don't get it very often in England). We had great conversations as we ate and got to know each other. It was really fun, and he had a good birthday!
In other news, I have found a new favourite Conference talk (to be honest, it probably changes every week). So, I was going through a challenge, and this talk helped me immensely this week, and I thought I should share some of it with all of you.
"Hard makes us stronger, humbles us, and gives us a chance to prove ourselves. Our beloved handcart pioneers came to know God in their extremities. Why did it take two chapters for Nephi and his brothers to obtain the brass plates and only three verses to enlist Ishmael’s family to join them in the wilderness? (see 1 Nephi 3–4; 7:3–5). It seems the Lord wanted to strengthen Nephi through the struggle of obtaining the plates. "The hard things in our lives should come as no surprise. One of the earliest covenants we make with the Lord is to live the law of sacrifice. Sacrifice, by definition, involves giving up something desirable. With experience we realize it is a small price to pay in relation to the blessings that follow. Under the direction of Joseph
Smith, it was said that “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.” ..."Hard is part of the gospel plan. One of the purposes of this life is for us to be proven (see Abraham 3:25). Few have suffered more undeservedly than the people of Alma. They fled from wicked King Noah, only to become slaves to the Lamanites! Through those trials the Lord
taught them that He chastens His people and tries “their patience and their faith” (Mosiah 23:21). ..."hard is the constant! We all have challenges. The variable is our reaction to the hard. "At one point, some Book of Mormon people suffered “great persecutions” and “much affliction” (Helaman 3:34). How did they react? “They did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation” (Helaman 3:35). Another example occurred after years of war: “Because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, … and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God” (Alma 62:41). We each choose our reaction to hard. ..."In whatever we do, we should not decide nor act out of a spirit of fear. Truly, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear” (2 Timothy 1:7). (Do you realize the idea of “fear not” is emphasized throughout the scriptures?) The Lord has taught me that discouragement and fear are tools of the adversary. The Lord’s answer to hard times is to go forward with faith."
I know that when a hard time comes into our lives, we can move forward in faith as we focus on the Saviour. The Lord is always with us and he is willing to help us. When he suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane, he gave us the enabling power to repent and to also feel comfort. No matter what we struggle with, we can find strength when we acknowledge the Saviour in our lives, and let him take our burdens. He is my light, my strength, and my song, and he will always lead me along. I have grown a strong appreciation for Jesus Christ and the things he has done for me. And I know he can help anyone through any trial.
Hope you all have a great time this week! :)
Sister Wilkinson
No comments:
Post a Comment