Dear Family and Friends,
Well for service earlier this morning we went to the Branch President's house to help him cut the grass that's growing in the front of his house because he injured his shoulder. Well there's one catch, there is no such thing as a lawn mower here, so we did it by hand with machetes, and bush cutters. You might be thinking, why does the grass need to be cut, why not just let it grow out? Well we would be ok with it growing, if it didn't give a nice home to venomous snakes (yeah, these ones aren't nice), Dengue mosquitoes (These ones aren't too nice either), and house rats (do I need to say more?). Haven't seen any yet, but reports from the neighbors say that they are there.... waiting..... But that's fine with me! Still alive right?
In one of the pictures is a plate of delicious beef. This has to be the best meat I have ever tasted in the field, and I'm really being serious here. Except there's one catch, this is actually a dog's head. Be grossed out if you want, but as my Dad always says "Don't be a food whimp!". I've gotten to the point to where when someone gives me food I usually don't ask what it is if it looks edible. I have been surprised most of the time of how good the food is, and seeing that I haven't gotten sick yet, I think I'm doing it right! (I agree Mom, eating rocks as a kid has helped me loads)
On Friday we had interviews with the Mission President. It was very nice to sit and talk with him. We discussed goals and things I was working on. I told him that I was working on my patience. He gave me some good advice from Ether 12. We all know the famous scripture in Ether 12:27, but he asked me to read the previous scriptures. Its actually commentary from Moroni, and he's complaining. He questions why he has been asked to engrave the golden plates, when he has weaknesses in writing. He starts comparing himself to other people, and even at one point blames the Lord saying "thou hast not made us mighty in writing". When you put that in contrast with verse 27 we see the reason He gives us weaknesses, to humble ourselves, and to make us stronger than we could be on our own. I was then thinking about some other stories like this in the Bible. I didn't know this before, but Moses had a speech impediment, and even says similar things like Moroni. The Lord gives him comfort by saying that He will give Moses the power he needs, but because Moses keeps complaining, the Lord is angry with Moses and eventually gives him Aaron as his spokesman. But we have another example, Enoch also had the same problem but he decided to trust the Lord, and his words were of such power that he preached to his people and they eventually were translated. When we let the Lord help us, He will help us, but when we complain, He can find someone else to do the job. Its our job to accept the call. When we receive a call, are we like Moses or Enoch? No matter what the Lord gives us, we can do. Its just a matter of faith.
I know that many of you are on vacation so I hope things are going well! Keep Utah (or where ever you are) as awesome as all of you are!
Mahal ko kayo lahat!
Elder Trevor Kent Johnson
Well for service earlier this morning we went to the Branch President's house to help him cut the grass that's growing in the front of his house because he injured his shoulder. Well there's one catch, there is no such thing as a lawn mower here, so we did it by hand with machetes, and bush cutters. You might be thinking, why does the grass need to be cut, why not just let it grow out? Well we would be ok with it growing, if it didn't give a nice home to venomous snakes (yeah, these ones aren't nice), Dengue mosquitoes (These ones aren't too nice either), and house rats (do I need to say more?). Haven't seen any yet, but reports from the neighbors say that they are there.... waiting..... But that's fine with me! Still alive right?
In one of the pictures is a plate of delicious beef. This has to be the best meat I have ever tasted in the field, and I'm really being serious here. Except there's one catch, this is actually a dog's head. Be grossed out if you want, but as my Dad always says "Don't be a food whimp!". I've gotten to the point to where when someone gives me food I usually don't ask what it is if it looks edible. I have been surprised most of the time of how good the food is, and seeing that I haven't gotten sick yet, I think I'm doing it right! (I agree Mom, eating rocks as a kid has helped me loads)
On Friday we had interviews with the Mission President. It was very nice to sit and talk with him. We discussed goals and things I was working on. I told him that I was working on my patience. He gave me some good advice from Ether 12. We all know the famous scripture in Ether 12:27, but he asked me to read the previous scriptures. Its actually commentary from Moroni, and he's complaining. He questions why he has been asked to engrave the golden plates, when he has weaknesses in writing. He starts comparing himself to other people, and even at one point blames the Lord saying "thou hast not made us mighty in writing". When you put that in contrast with verse 27 we see the reason He gives us weaknesses, to humble ourselves, and to make us stronger than we could be on our own. I was then thinking about some other stories like this in the Bible. I didn't know this before, but Moses had a speech impediment, and even says similar things like Moroni. The Lord gives him comfort by saying that He will give Moses the power he needs, but because Moses keeps complaining, the Lord is angry with Moses and eventually gives him Aaron as his spokesman. But we have another example, Enoch also had the same problem but he decided to trust the Lord, and his words were of such power that he preached to his people and they eventually were translated. When we let the Lord help us, He will help us, but when we complain, He can find someone else to do the job. Its our job to accept the call. When we receive a call, are we like Moses or Enoch? No matter what the Lord gives us, we can do. Its just a matter of faith.
I know that many of you are on vacation so I hope things are going well! Keep Utah (or where ever you are) as awesome as all of you are!
Mahal ko kayo lahat!
Elder Trevor Kent Johnson