Week 56-- Planning a 4th of July Party

July 05, 2018

Week 56-- Planning a 4th of July Party

Tja!

This week was a quick one because most of it was spent out knocking doors! Wahooo

The ward treats us real nice here, this week we had 5 member meals, when members of the congregation feed us dinner. On top of that, there was this older couple we met a few weeks back that showed us around their garden and said to come back after midsommar and they'd treat us to fresh strawberries and ice cream sooo we had to of course go back. The strawberries were sweet, so was the old couple, as well as the message we left them about how God gives everyone a fair chance to accept Him :)

Each Tuesday we have an activity at the church where we have a spiritual message, play games and then FIKA and it's been a blast each week, especially this week. We had a ton of people show up and the bishop gave a presentation on prioritizing God first in life with a nice video of a Denzel Washington speech to complement it. Tomorrow night us 4 American missionaries are throwing a 4th of July party here at the church for our Tuesday night activity (so it's on the 3rd). We tried to think up some pretty American things we could do, and we decided on burgers, hot dogs, an assortment of relay races, and then line dancing led by yours truly 😉 I may have placed 2nd in Texas two-step in my BYU dance class, but when it comes to line dancing I don't know a thing ha ha I'll just have to think back to the square dancing nights Jodi Bean threw at the Grange in Redmond :)

There is this lady we have been teaching who is from South America. She speaks good English, so we are teaching her Swedish, but lately we have started teaching her about the Gospel. While teaching her about how the Church of Jesus Christ was changed and truths were lost after Christ died, she said "that actually is logical" ha ha it felt good to hear that. Sometimes being surrounded by so many that don't believe our message can make us seem crazy for believing it. The lesson we had with her was in very simple English, but I felt the Spirit strongly because of the simplicity of the message. There's a quote I like that says something like, " We need to teach the gospel not just simply enough for everyone to understand it, but so simple that no one can misunderstand it". The Spirit confirms things that are truths. And truth isn't dependent on any person, but rather dependent on God; truth is unchangeable. As I've focused on teaching simple truths while talking to people on their doorstep, I have been better able to feel the Spirit touch the hearts of those I talk to and let them know it's true... at that point it is up to them to let it into their hearts.

Simplicity and cleanliness invite the Spirit. I have learned those two things from my mission (and my mom when it comes to cleanliness). Anyone who knows me knows that I don't keep things around that aren't of use anymore. Applying this principle of simplicity in our finding efforts has been cool to see because the day we drop someone or stop trying to reach out to them, someone else comes along and takes their place.

So do something to simplify your life this week and experience the freeing feeling :)

With Love,

Elder Gordon