July 1, 2024
大家好！Hey Everyone!
Happy Canada Day, eh! It’s Canada’s birthday today, and boy are the celebrations going crazy! I’ve seen approximately two people wearing some good ol’ Canada garb. . . . and yeah that’s about it! How neat is that, eh?
Quick rundown of recent friends we’re teaching:
- Sam’s got some crazy enthusiasm about the gospel!! We’ve taught him a bit about the Plan of Salvation, and he already knows a bunch of stuff! We just gotta make sure he doesn’t have any Word of Wisdom problems and then he’s good.
- I had my first lesson with a friend named Michael yesterday. Sam joined in and acted like a member participating. Last transfer he [Michael] showed up to the in-person ESL class and then told the members he actually just wanted to learn about God (Wha!?), and yesterday we found out the reason why, as he told us a bunch of sad stuff about recently losing a 10-year business and also a marriage. Ouch. : ( We brought up baptism and he said he still has some doubts he wants God to help him with. He’s afraid of committing to one more thing that goes downhill.
We met our new mission president this week, President Barth
Vader. He’s a bit older than the last pres, but he seems cool.
Our ward had a barbecue picnic at a noice park this week! Sam brought his friend Stella who also came to church! We gave her a Book of Mormon and we’re hoping to start teaching her. Elder Scoresby and I also got to do some goofy-ah wheelbarrow games with the kids and their parents.
I’ve been thinking a lot this week about what it means to be
a pacemaker peacemaker. I read a slice of wisdom from Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf
that said “Conflict is inevitable; contention is a choice.” So lately I’ve been
thinking a lot about the difference between conflict and contention, and how to
keep the peace and stand for the right at the same time. D&C 121:43 has a
great explanation of this, as well as 2 Nephi 1:27. Both verses refer to times
when the spirit moves people to “reprove with sharpness,” as well as a greater
love that is the motive behind it. It seems that often the “kind” thing to do
is not always the most loving thing to do. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of
this as everything He did and said was out of love, yet many still chose to
take offense and oppose the Prince of Peace. This week I’d invite all of you to
think of one thing you can do to establish greater peace—whether between you
and someone else, or between you and God. As we choose higher and holier
methods of love, we will find peace even among conflict.
Have a great week and don’t forget to celebrate Canada Day (more than the Canadians). Now take off!
Love you all! 爱你们！
-熊长老
照片
Ward Barbecue
The comp and I
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