This week we tried to get to know the members of the Livonia Ward as much as we could, we had some great dinners in their homes! Mom you don't have to worry about me not being fed. Also yesterday for lunch I made a stir fry in this giant frying pan that we have in our apartment, Red, Green, and Yellow Bell Peppers, Onions, Carrots, Stir Fry Beef, some Eggs, Sweet Spicy Chili and a homemade Orange Sauce were all the ingredients. Needless to say we had a fantastic meal :D It was like having Mongo's Grill right there in our apartment!
I like our area a lot, there's a lot of diversity! From the Ghettos of Detroit to the wealthy areas of Farmington Hills there's a large span of lifestyles in the Livonia Ward. Elder Fluckiger and I have been getting along well, he's a great guy. We've gotten closer as we've discussed our weaknesses and make plans for the goals we've set of how to improve. There's a LOT to work on as a missionary, but as we attack one weakness at a time I know that Christ will strengthen us through the "power of His deliverance." I've noticed that that phrase is found a lot in the scriptures, reminding me that Christ has the power to deliver us out of anything we may go through in this life.
I have been pondering about Baptism this week. In D&C 20:37 (my ponderizing scripture for the week) it says "All who DESIRE to be Baptized..." then The Lord goes on to explain the requirements for Baptism into His Church. The bottom line is, in order for the ordinance of Baptism to do it's job and have the proper cleansing effect on a person, that individual must sincerely want it. If we sincerely want the Lord's help in any aspect of our lives we can receive it. I know that that is true! The sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us, from the Garden of Gethsemane to the Cross and concluding with His Resurrection is infinite. In EVERY sense of the word. Covering all forms of life, the most grievous of sins, and the most heartbreaking of tragedies.
But that is not all! His sacrifice offers us the gift of Grace. Grace is not the allowance of sin or mistakes because God loves us. It is the power that enables us to become what God wants us to be. We ALL have divine potential as sons and daughters of Heavenly Father, and we will mess that up on our own! But with the enabling power of grace that lifts us beyond our own abilities to be good and do better each day, we are capable of overcoming our sins and weaknesses to stand blameless before our Father and His Son at the last day.
Before my mission I don't really know how strong my testimony of Jesus Christ was. Ever since I was a child I sang songs about Him, knew that my Church had His name in it, and when I heard his Name or stories associated with Him I had a sense of reverence and respect for them. But on my mission, I have felt of His Love for me as an individual. I have overcome some of my weaknesses and felt His loving reassurance that Repentance and Forgiveness is a real thing, as Elder Allen Haynie testified at General Conference.
In third hour on Sunday we discussed Elder Holland's talk "Where Justice, Love, and Mercy Meet" by Elder Holland in April 2015 Conference. I listened to His talk again afterwards and I also listened to President Uchtdorf's talk from this last Conference entitled, "It Works Wonderfully!" I testify with both of these Apostles that The Gospel does work. The Atonement is real and Christ's "power of deliverance" is infinite. Will you all look up these talks on LDS.org and read them?? Then ponder about your relationship with God and your experiences with Him? I know it will be a help and inspiration to you if you do. Ask yourself: Are you where you want to be? Is your path of discipleship bright and cheerful? If not we're doing something wrong! I know as you do these things you'll be able to find the next step in your conversion to Christ, no matter what that may be.
This Sunday was the primary program, and I felt the Spirit testify of the reality of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Redeemer as they sang these simple words:
"I know He lives! I will follow faithfully. My love I give to Him. I know that my Savior loves me."
I love you all, have a wonderful week. :D
-Elder Goff <-----MDM----->
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