New Bishopric

Okay hey yall!

So our bishopric switched up this week. And our new bishop is from Fuengirola, one of my old areas so we clicked pretty quick and it's off to the races. He's amazing! He's got a huge vision and wants all members to be focused on that missionary work to bless and strengthen their families. Music to my ears, miracles are about to happen.
Well I had an exchange with a missionary this week who is having a hard time adjusting to missionary life. The work, the companion, the obedience. It just has not clicked for him. As we sat and talked about what was going on in his head he brought up a talk he liked, so we decided to listen to it. The talk is by president monson. The words he spoke were definitely special. It talks of change and what we should do with change. First off let's be honest and time is always changing no matter what, time is changing. We can't stop time and we can't stop change, all we can do is react. If we don't, opportunities come and go and “one day each of us will run out of tomorrows.” So as we read this and build up a ton of anxiety and begin to feel lazy as we are wasting time just reading this letter, we have to remember priorities. What are our priorities? the Elder and I talked about this for a minute but as we listened to more of the talk he says one quote that I will forever hold in my head. He said, “Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.” In that moment our focused switched from how not to fight with our companion, to how to love our companion and make sure he can feel it. I learned so much from that exchange. Change right now, and love always.
Love y'all!

-Elder Larkins