Week 24 - Sonoma Valley

Querido todos los demas,

This week I had exchanges with Hermana Lewis and it was a blast! We went to a veteran’s home and visited people there, and they were just the cutest. A bunch of them played their instruments and sang for us. I was supposed to go on exchanges with her last week but things came up and we postponed for this week. It was cool to see different things that happened and it was a testimony to me of how the Lord works his perfect magic. The Lord definitely prepared the way and there were reasons for us to be on exchanges that day together and it was cool!! We were able to relate a lot to people and help try and give them words of comfort! What a blessing it is to have the Lords hand in our lives.

This week was a slower week, but still good! We saw a couple of our investigators and less actives. It's always fun to see them and get to know them more. Spanish is still a joy that is in progress. All good, all good things.

So recently I have started the Book of Mormon again. I've been going through it and looking for instances of changes of hearts. I'm loving it so far, and wanted to share what I learned this week.

I've found that a change of heart and conversion to the Lord needs work and will forever take our diligent work. We can't just have a change of heart and be good and never have to do anything again. We have to have a change of heart and then for the rest of our lives do the things we need too to keep that change.

A perfect example of this is Nephi and Laman and Lemuel. Nephi has a change of heart at the beginning when he asks the Lord to help him understand the reasons for his commandments. He has this change of heart and then continues to pray and read his scriptures and learn, therefore his change of heart continues and strengthens and grows.

Laman and Lemuel however never ask the Lord for help in understanding and complain about the things they believe aren't fair. The Lord provides many huge experiences for them and shows his power to them very straight forward and yet these two brothers still are never fully changed. Why? Because they stopped doing the little things.

It dawned on me this week maybe for a time after these big experiences their faith was strong and they prayed and read their scriptures each day, but as time went on they got lazy and stopped doing the little things and when they stopped that their change of heart stopped as well.

So my challenge to you all is to drive to remember to do all the little things. The little things turn into the big things.  The Lord can't help us in our growth if we are ignoring the simple things! The scriptures are our blessing and road map! Prayer is also our blessing and the aid that we have to get us through! So I encourage you all to try to remember to do those! :) Be a Nephi, not a Laman and Lemuel.

I hope your week was well and your father day was great!! Happy happy Father's Day to all the dads!!! Love you all!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Foster

My little buddy, Aaron

Hermanas Gudmundson, Garcia and Foster