Meet Chichen

Meet Pagag Akish Shiz Chichen the chicken the second

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  A less active we have been working with a lot invited us over for dinner. It was a very lovely dinner. After words there was still a whole chicken left and her grandson who is 11 really wanted us to have it. So he got out a large bowl and through it in there and then on the lid wrote chichen

..So... I guess I'll give you a little update on this week.  On thursday we got a text that we are reading the book of Mormon as a mission starting Sept. 11 and both sister Weight and I were in the middle of Alma and didn't want to start over before we finished so we decided that we would use every minute of our spare time reading and try to finish it!  Surprisingly, we're cruising right along and should finish tomorrow night! 

Another fun fact, Sister Weight and I had the wonderful opportunity of singing in the ward choir at stake conference this week.  I don't know if I mentioned this before, but both Sister Weight and I can't sing and even more so when we stand next to each other, so we got a kick out of it. Good news is that I was able to checked that off of my life to-do list. 

Other than that, we've been working with a lot of less-actives and had 2 pretty cool expiriences!  One was with a less active named Dixie who hasn't been to church in over 15 years.  As we've been visiting her, we realized she has gotten out of all her habits of reading, praying, etc.  We decided we would teach her the lessons again for a refresher and try to rekindle the testimony she once had.  We finished teaching the restoration and asked her if she would offer the closing prayer and she didn't hestiate to reject the offer.  She explained that she hasn't prayed in years and there was no way she would do it.  We sat there in silence for a good minute, and finally we looked up to her and boldly said, "Dixie.  As representitives of Christ, we are not the ones asking you to pray.  It is your Heavenly father who wants to hear from you."  She started crying and choked her way through the prayer.  The spirit was so undenibly strong and after the prayer she looked up at us and just smiled.  It was such a simple, yet incredible expirience!  We also had an awesome lesson with a less active named Daniel that we have been trying to contact for a while now.  It was by no chance that he finally answered the door that night. He was kind of rough looking and a little intimidating and pretty standoff-ish, so we introduced ourselves and asked if we could just offer a prayer.  After the prayer was offered, we ended up teaching the basic principle of Gods love.  We ended talking on his doorstep for a good hour and afterwords he invited us to come teach his 13 year old daughter who is not a member. 

I've really been able to see the power of prayer work through people in our work this week.  It's amazing to me how much a prayer really can soften a persons heart as they allow the spirit testify of the truthfulness of the words being said and of the love that God has for them.

I was able to once again read the climax of the book of mormon, when Christ comes to the Americas.  One of the first thing he does after appearing to the people is he ordains the twelve apostles to help him teach his gospel and set up his perfect church.  Afterwards, he goes on to heal the people and preforms many miracles.  In chapter 17, it says that after he heals a group of people.  It states,  "And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought."  He wanted them all the bring the little children to him and I love how in verses 20-22 it shows the love he has for those precious children.  He states how his joy is full... "and when he said these words, he wept..... he took their little children, one by one and blessed them and prayed unto the father for them. " 22,.... " And when he had done this, he wept again."  It's incredible to me the love that the savior has for his brothers and sisters.  I can just picture Christ sitting that as he takes each child, one by one, just crying because he is overwhelmed with love for each one of them.

Christ is such a perfect example of one who has love.  I hope that I can follow his example in striving to have the love and charity that he has for each one of us, for those around me and those I am serving.  I love my savior, and I am humbled by the opportunity I have to be out here, representing him.