Week #63 - 新的搬家期 - Transfer Time


 This week was the start of a new transfer. I am staying in Hacienda Heights to finish Elder Kemp's training. My old trainee, Elder Lyu, moved into our apartment and is in a trio with the other elders. Now we have 5 Elders in one apartment.

Some cool things from the week:
-We are in a car share and ride bikes half of the week
-our friend Aodeng is getting baptized in a few weeks
-Aodeng's mom (who is mongolian and is hard to understand) is getting baptized the beginning of december
- I am in 3rd nephi in the Book of Mormon (always a blessing)
- I finally have the living christ memorized
- I talked to an old dude from Beijing about the history of Chinese dynasties and the wars with Mongolia in Chinese and understood what was going on.
- I am teaching a family I taught over a year ago - my first time in Hacienda Heights.



Scripture of the Week:
Helaman 12:2-3

Yea, and we may see at the very atime when he doth bprosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of cprecious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do dharden their hearts, and do eforget the Lord their God, and do ftrample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity.

3 And thus we see that except the Lord doth achasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with bdeath and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not cremember him.

I like this scripture because it teaches me that the spirit sometimes prompts us more than once. Samuel went into the land of Zarahelma and did his best to teach repentance to the people but they cast him out. I am sure he was somewhat frustrated with the people of Zarahemla and hoped to never go back. It says "he was about to return to his own land" but the spirit prompted him to "return again" and preach unto the people. I have had this happen on my mission. It is sometimes hard to trust in the Lord and go back a second time. I do know however, that is how the Lord works miracles in our life. 

Ether 12:18 says " And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God." How is God supposed to work miracles in our life if we aren't willing to go back a second time? He wants to know the desires of our hearts and our willingness to follow him. I know if we have the faith to go back the second time, God can work miracles for and through us. What is it to "return again" in our own lives? I think it is any act of aligning with God's will and not our own. Whether it be returning to say an apology, help a friend, serve a neighbor, or preach repentance like Samuel, I know God will magnify our efforts. I challenge each of you to try and be more receptive to the spirit and "return again" when prompted to do so. I know that if you do the Lord can work miracles in your life.

- Elder Rees


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