Well another week has come and gone and here we are again! This week was probably one of the harder weeks I have had on my mission. To start the week out we had a zone meeting and it was pretty great....we talked about the importance of our investigators feeling the spirit and how to help them feel it better. Afterwards is when it got interesting....so the guys in our apartment wanted to talk about some stuff. So the two Africans started talking about the stuff that the others do wrong....and then it turned into a fight. I tackled my companion and then came a lot of talking to try and calm everyone down...at the end of the night everything was good. The next day things didn't feel right...my companion wasn't normal and neither was the other African. At lunch time the other African in our apartment came outside and said if my companion slept in the apartment he was going to kill him. So he was transferred! Guess President Weed can’t have an easy last couple days. After the transfer things became better in our apartment....the spirit had literally returned...I think I really am starting to understand the importance of the spirit. The rest of the week was pretty normal...we worked hard to find people to teach. We taught a lot of good lessons.
This week I studied a lot of the Doctrine and Convents and I came across a scripture that I really loved...and I want to share it with you. It’s from section 122:
4 And although their influence shall cast thee into trouble, and into bars and walls, thou shalt be had in honor; and but for a small moment and thy voice shall be more terrible in the midst of thine enemies than the fierce lion, because of thy righteousness; and thy God shall stand by thee forever and ever.
5 If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren; if thou art in perils among robbers; if thou art in perils by land or by sea;
6 If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
Basically whatever trials we go through...it will give us experience and by for our good....I love that because I feel like I have seen a lot of things during my mission and this reinforces my testimony that it is all for my good! My knowledge of the scriptures is growing so much...I love them. I’m thankful for them. All is well here. I hope you have a great week. I love you and miss you so much!
Avec beaucoup d'amour,
Elder Joseph D. Allred II
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| Last Zone Conference with Pres. Weed |
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| Birthday party for one of the Elders |
