Well this week has been very busy but spring is in the air! The birds have been chirping and the weather is finally warming up. I love spring time because everyone seems to be in a better mood and the flowers blossoming are so beautiful. Everyone here is going to be running around like crazy this week trying to prepare for 18 de Septiembre! It is independence day for Chile and they have so many activities and fun traditional food all week long. On Friday our ward is going to have a big activity with games for the kids, lots of yummy empanadas that we are going to help make with the relief society, and traditional dancing. We have a few investigators that are going to come so we will get to enjoy it with them. We have also been thinking of some creative ways to find new people during this week of festivals and are going to face paint a couple of days in front of the bakery.
This last week Hermana Lance and I were assinged by the assistants to be in charge of the activity for our Leadership counsel meeting. They wanted us to base it on how we as leaders can help the other missionaries reach their full potential. We thought of something pretty creative and during the week began to make a giant Jenga game. We related the jenga tower to the missionaries that we are serving and expalined that each time we take out a block and place it on top its like placing another demand of the mission on top of the missionary`s shoulders and if we do not teach them how to use the many resources to meet those demands, they will fall and never reach their full potential.
This week the zone leaders have asked us to teach part of zone class and want us to talk about the way goals reflect our desires as missionaries. As I was preparing with my companion I got to thinking a lot about what God expects of me as a missionary and who he wants me to become. I know that the only way I am going to get there is through setting very specific goals and striving to reach them with Christ`s help. I was studying in Jacob chapter 5 about the Lord`s Vineyard and one part that really drew my attention is in verse 47. The lord askes if we have done everything or have we relaxed a little from taking care of the vineyard In verse 70 he then gose on to say that The Lord called for more servents to help him work in his vineyard but there were few that came. With that verse I was thinking a lot about D&C 121:34, 35 Here we are taught that few are chosen becuase many have their hearts set on the things of the world. I know that if our hearts are not focused on the things that truly matter we loose sight of our goals and we never become what God expects us to be. In verse 71 of Jacob 5 the Lord says that now is the time to work and give every effort we have because the end is coming soon.
We have to act now. We need to evaluate our lives and put them in order because if we dont our precious time here on Earth will pass by quickly and we will never progress in the way that we should. I know that God loves me and each one of us and that he is sad when we are not working as dilligently as we should and not using all of talents and gifts he has given us to reach our potential. He gives us many opportunites to grow every day and if we arent taking on a challenge to do something that maybe requires us to get out of our comfort zone we simply wont be able to reach our full potential. In Jacob 5: 41 It says and it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said to his servant ¨what more could I have done for my vineyard¨ Christ is on our side and here to help us but if we dont turn to him and knock on the door he cant.
I invite you all to think about the person you would like to become what story you want to fill the pages of this earthly life,then evaluate what you need to do to get there, and turn to your savior his help.
I know my Savior lives and loves me unconditional. He has helped me get through the most difficult moments in my life and carried me when I thought I couldnt take one more step. His atonement is what saves us all and his mercy will be extended towards us in the last day if we work with all our might during our short time here on the earth.
Have a wonderful week and know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers,
Con harto amor,
Hermana Parkin