We are in this Together

Things have kind of been crazy here, but the crazier the better right?? It just means it's not boring. Definitely learning a lot about being patient, humble and kind. Got that song playing in my head over and over again as I go throughout the day just to remind myself. (And if you don't know what song I'm talking about I'm truly sorry) So this week we got some new friends, lost some old friends, but also had some members come back!! I always feel there is something different when someone who has fallen away can find their way back. Some say it's easier because you don't have to get baptized again, but I truly believe that it takes a lot of faith to come back. It helps too when you have a loving ward to welcome them in. I want to share something that our bishop actually shared in church. It was a clip from the stake conference here a little while back with one of the Seventy. But he spoke on the responsibilities of the ward and how bishops are not here to do all the work. Not because they aren't willing to I'm pretty sure I've seen with every bishop I have had they are all willing to do every single thing possible (except maybe my Dad) but it's that they don't have the time and their focus needs to be on the youth of the ward because the youth are the future and in today's day they need a lot of help (Will). So he then talked about who is responsible for everything else. That is the Elders Quorum and the Relief society. And he made sure not to say presidents of those groups because as much as yes it is their responsibility to watch over all of it and administer, he said every single person in the ward should be there for one another. We are here to help each other and minister to each other. And yes there are some people like me who can not always be the nicest people, but even we can show others love as we focus on Christ and what He would do. 

Miracle: 

So this week we had a big miracle. I talked about people coming back to church earlier, well this week we were talking with some JAS(YSA) and we were talking about the importance of working with them right now and building our ward through them. Welp, God liked that conversation because a couple days later we got a call from a member who wants to come back to church after 7 years and he's a JA! We met with him and he came to church. He's from Brazil so he obviously speaks Portuguese, but luckily Spanish too. There are too many people in our ward that speak Portuguese and my ability to understand it is not good enough. I guess it's easier to understand than Arabic. Then we got another call and it was a reference who wanted to learn about our church!! And he came to church and brought his girlfriend so he's already doing missionary work for us, but they both are really cool. I mean they are from Columbia so they got to be. Then we got another call!! Like the next day and she said she was a member 5 years ago and wants to come back!!! She sadly works on Sunday but we get to meet her tomorrow. Hopefully we can find a way to talk with the bishop to get her the sacrament. We are hoping we can hang out with all of them for P-day today. Then also we got another call last night too but that's a story for another time. Sometimes God gives us miracles drop by drop and other times he throws you into the pool, and certainly in this mission I have been so lucky to really feel like I can always be in the pool of his miracles. (Also I'm not missing being able to swim if that's what you are thinking)

Scripture of the Week: Enos 1:15

I hope you all read last week's scripture because it was pretty good, but I love this scripture cause I see as it applies in my life right now. And I know it can bless the lives of everyone. This gospel is real, believe in it and truly give your all to God and you will see miracles in your life begin to appear.

Miss everyone!

Love y'all!!

~Elder Larkins