3 June 2024
[Title references this SNL sketch.]
在一起，所以阿尔玛看到自己的弟兄时非常高兴；更令他高兴的是，他们仍是他主内的弟兄，而且他们更了解真理了，因为他们的理解力很强，且都努力
–阿尔玛书17:2
The above is an excerpt from Alma Chapter 17 verse 2. I had a miraculous experience this last Tuesday that reminded me a lot of this scripture. So there I was, ordering a Vietnamese sub sandwich downtown shortly after our District Council Meeting, and one of the other Elders suggested we walk across the street while we wait for our sandwich and take a picture by a big mirror they had there. As we walk over there, we see a big group of people, and one guy turns around and says, “Hey, It’s the missionaries!” To which I eloquently replied, “Well HellooooooaaauuuuuuuuuughhhhaaaaAaAAAAAAAAAA-I-KNOW-YOU!!!!” Suddenly in front of me were several friends [from home] of several different ages and previously different social circles all congregated in Calgary!!!! I am now convinced that Calgary has gotta be up there among one of the best cities ever…for the time being. [Prophetic! It's in the top 100.]
Other people we met this week include Wenjia, an actually legit referral from the sister missionaries! He has shown some great interest in the church, and I hope we haven’t scared him off yet. He came to church this week, as did our friend Wendy, whom we are now teaching every Thursday night after class! We invited our friend Liu to be baptized, and he said he needed some more time, so we invited him to pray about it. We hope he is willing to set a baptism goal with us this week. On a completely unrelated note, the mission has now set a goal for every companionship to baptize in the month of June. . . . Kinda daunting, but super cool! Knowing the kind of companion Elder Scoresby is, and how he’s whipped me into shape, I think with the Lord’s help we can do it!
We hosted a little party for our English class students on Saturday! It went well. I would’ve liked a little more time to talk 1-on-1 with more students and spike some interest in church, but I suppose the games and fun was tolerable as well. (We all know you can’t be having too much fun out here😉)
Over the past week our district focused on gratitude, and I’ll be really honest: my focus kept shifting in and out a lot, but overall I thought more about gratitude this week than I have in previous weeks. It was great! Our geliebten/beloved Apostle Elder Uchtdorf recently shared some great wisdom in General Conference regarding the phrase “seek and ye shall find.” When we express Gratitude we are really seeking that which is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy,” and we develop more of these attributes in our own lives. This week I invite you to say a prayer of just gratitude every day, and take notice of how you feel. Also a bonus invitation—go 24 hours without complaining about anything. I know that the less we focus on things that are out of our control, the more we can take action towards things that are in our control. I know that God brings forth great blessings to those who are grateful.
Most of all I'm super grateful for all of you--my friends, my family--and for all you've done for me!
Stay cool Everyone! Love you all!
爱你们！
–熊长老
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