This week has been a little crazy I got a new companion named Elder Haitt, am learning a new language, and am eating MTC food, but first we started out diving straight into the language on the very first day. I was looking at the alphabet thinking what did I get myself in to, but I knew that if i studied and kept at it that it would come. Later that day we taught 3 "investigators". The three investigators were either a member, an actual investigator, or a less active member. Marco was my favorite of the three investigators because even though I did not know if he was a member or not I could feel the spirit as a taught him and really though that he would do the things that we asked him to do. The next day we actually started learning more phrases in Armenian. I already know how to say hello, how are you doing, my name is, where are you from along with a lot more. The language is coming a lot quicker than I thought and is very surprising. I can really see the Lord's hand in my life and will continue to see it as I continue to rely on him. Yesterday was the day we taught our first actual investigator named anna heet and she only spoke Armenian. She already has a desire to learn about Christ, but we didnt know how to express to her what we wanted to say. I was excited that I was able to find out that she was from glendale california. Of course because that is where all armenians are when they live in the US. I would say that this week has gone pretty well, but its just been hard adjusting to being in the classroom all day and the schedule.
Happy Easter! Linda and I are speaking today. Here is a story from mine...With Elder Boud headed to Romania and Elder Sproul headed to Armenia, I was interested in reading about one Easter tradition written in Celebrating a Christ-Centered Easter by Emily Freeman.
ReplyDeleteAfter World War II came to an end, many people in Eastern European countries were not allowed to attend regular church services. The Communist Party taught the children that there was no God.
However, not wanting their grandchildren to grow up without a knowledge of their Savior, the grandmothers would teach the children about Jesus within the walls of their homes.
On every Easter, the families would attend a midnight service together.
When they returned home, they would stay up all night long talking about Jesus and Easter as they decorated dark red Easter eggs which were dyed with the skins of onions.
The red eggs symbolized the eternal life of Jesus. According to some legends, the white eggs Mary left at her son’s tomb as a sacrifice turned red after His resurrection. These red eggs hold deep symbolic meaning for Eastern Orthodox Christians.
On the morning after the midnight service, and as soon as the sun had risen, the people would have a huge breakfast. Then, they would go from door to door and visit each of their neighbors. As each door was opened, they would say, “Christ is risen,” and the person at the door would answer, “Indeed He has risen.” Then, the person would give the guests at the door a red egg.
What wonderful imagery here - the grandmothers bearing witness that, indeed, Jesus Christ has risen!
Lots of love ~ The Garffs
Happy Birthday Elder Sproul! Miss you very much already!
ReplyDeleteDrea and Joe
Dude, I'm impressed that you're already reading those hieroglyphics! Maybe now that you're a year older but still so young, your memory will be even stronger! Or, maybe it will be the blessing of the Priesthood keys taking action in your life :) Yeah, probably the second thing.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday, Dallin! You WILL have a blessed and amazing year!
Love and miss your goofy face around here,
Shari
Happy Birthday Dallin Ashby Sproul!!!
ReplyDeleteThere is no better place for you on your birthday than the MTC forgetting yourself in the Lord's service.
My mission changed my future for sure. It seems like the bigger the sacrifice, the more blessings we receive from the Lord. We never get even because the blessing keep flowing the harder we try to pay the Lord back for the blessings.
The sad part of a mission is coming home, but then there is more to purpose of our life than serving a mission. As I recall, I think I finally figured out how to be a good missionary when I was out for about 18 months. I guess when we start to feel comfortable, we have other things to learn. That same lesson applies to parenting too. Now that all our children are grown and raised, I feel that I was finally getting a grasp on how to be a good dad. The key ingredient in the Lord's work is love. The key to parenting is love mixed with patience, long suffering, loving more, teaching correct principles, more patience, and then letting your children exercise their agency.
I hope you at least get a big piece of chocolate cake with 3 scoops of ice cream, you deserve it.
May the spirit be with you always.
Love,
Uncle Russ