Weeklyyyyyyy

Okay friends,

This week was much more disappointing than last week in the sense that not much really happened.

Monday: We made Nigerian food with a woman in the ward and sister russell and I have come to the conclusion that Nigerian food is actually disgusting. I don't know why people keep trying to feed it to us.

Tuesday: same old, same old

Wednesday: TEMPLE TRIPPPPPP. #holla. Sister Russell and I had been focusing a lot leading up to this trip on how we could make it more of a spiritual experience. Sad thing: As missionaries, we are very used to feeling the spirit all the time, so to be honest, the first time going to the temple as a missionary really wasn't all that much of a spiritual experience and i feel awful about that! So this time around, I wanted to do everything I could to set this temple trip apart from every day life as a missionary and make it more spiritual. We decided to read our patriarchal blessings the night before and fasted the day before as well. It's amazing the difference that hardcore preparation does for you when you're going to the temple. I'd encourage all of you to try it out next time you go! 

Also this day was Zone Training and we recieved the dreaded TIWI on the car which basically tells you how much you stink at driving and then reports it to your mission president! :) AWESOME. I was also made to be the new designated driver on this EXACT day. #hollaaa

Thursday: Went and chalked up the park once again with the Plan of Salvation and met a partially crazy man who loves the gospel and really wanted to hug us so we'll probably not be talking to him again haha. He was sweet though!

Friday: Best day EVER because we were hardcore bashed by a crazy 7th Day Adventist woman who locked us in her house so she could tell us that prophets don't exist and the Bible is the ONLY word of God. That was a good time. :) Also had 3 appointments fall through one after the other. #MissionaryLyfe

Saturday: regular day...

Sunday: Okay earlier in the week, i read a talk by Dallin H. Oaks called "Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament" that everybody HAS TO READ as soon as possible. It completely changed my life when it comes to Sacrament observance and i put the counsel he gives into action this sunday. (Also read "The Sabbath is a Delight" by Russell M. Nelson afterward to make you feel better about yourself and help yourself improve after reading the first haha). Elder Oaks is VERY very blunt and kind of singes your eyebrows and you feel like you're the worst person on earth after you read it, but seriously guys, you've just gotta read it. This is the quote that hit me the most: 

      "During sacrament meeting--and especially during the sacrament service--we should concentrate on worship and refrain from all other activities, especially from behavior that could interfere with the worship of others. Even person who slips into quiet slumber does not interfere with others. Sacrament meeting is not a time for reading books or magazines. Young people, it is not a time for whispered conversations on cell phones or for texting persons at other locations. When we partake of the sacrament, we make a sacred covenant that we will always remember the Savior. How sad to see persons obviously violating that covenant in the very meeting where they are making it."

Ooooh, OUCH. That hit me like a dagger to the heart. When i read that, i remembered every time i had ever sat on my phone during sacrament, or whispered and goofed off with my sisters or just completely zoned out. We are so BLESSED to have the chance to partake of the Sacrament every week and we really cannot afford to NOT have His spirit to be with us always, especially during these wicked, perilous times we are living in. We are ONLY qualified to have his spirit with us when we truly do 'always remember Him', especially while partaking of the sacrament. We desperately need the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost to guide us and help us make decisions that will affect our eternal destiny. I invite all of you to remember this quote the next time you take the sacrament and do everything you can to remember the Savior for ALL of the sacrament service. i'm probably going to remember it for the rest of my life. 

Okay, that's about it! Hope you all have a WONDERFUL thanksgiving! I love you!

xoxo,

Sistah Lawson