It's been a good week. Things were pretty crazy there for a while, but we've been able to get most of it figured out. Thank goodness. Anyway...Justin and Mari and Richard are doing great!! They were at church again yesterday (or course), Justin and Richard wearing white shirts and ties that I'm pretty sure Richard and Mari's dad gave them. They just fit right in.
We had one of those unforgettable lessons with them on Thursday. We had been praying and thinking a lot about it before we went, because we've just about finished the lessons and it's really time for them to make some solid decisions. Justin and Mari scared me almost to the point of a heart attack when they said they had something to say. I would never have survived if they had said it wasn't worth it anymore. But they didn't say that, thank goodness. They said that they have been thinking and praying a LOT about what they should do. One of them can't very easily move out because they're all starting a business together, plus they're already basically a family with Mari's daughter and everything. Mari still wants a pretty, well-planned wedding, but she says that she knows she can't put that before being baptized. We talked a lot about prayers and the Holy Ghost and receiving answers, all of which was what we had planned, but we taught it completely differently according to what the Spirit prompted and what they were telling us. (I LOVE lessons like that.)
Richard also opened up a lot about how he really believes it and wants to be baptized, but something keeps making him want to put it off. He said he just really needed to talk to his dad. (Sometimes I forget that he's just 20.) His dad was up this weekend to work in the temple so I hope he did. He really should get baptized soon. Oh yeah, and he's gotten to be really good friends with one of our ward missionaries, Brother Cook. He's texted him some questions he's had. Exactly what a missionary wants to see, because we aren't here for long.
That night Mari and Richard texted us to say that they're thinking about getting married in April. That's such a big step from a year!! And honestly, a huge sacrifice for Mari. I'm so proud of her. But I don't think they understand just how much this ward would help them with a wedding. They both really want us to be there when they get married; we've gotten really close. So..we're kind of hoping we can convince them to move it closer, since the chances we'll both be there in April are pretty slim. But it doesn't matter a whole lot to me, since I'm DEFINITELY going to be there in a year when they get sealed. And THAT is the beauty of a state-side mission.
So that's them. Keep praying! I'm not worried about them at all. They'll be just fine. It's been such a blessing to teach them. Especially because we really aren't teaching anyone else right now. Haha.
So I've decided that all I ever want to study again on my mission, and probably forever, to be honest, is the principles and ordinances of the gospel. I just got through an incredible study on faith, including Elder Bednar's visit. Now I'm studying repentance. It's been incredible to study the basics of the gospel. They really do bring you closer to Christ better than anything, because they are clear, pure truths. 2 Nephi 31 has become my favorite chapter in the scriptures. It's incredible to me how clear Christ has made it for us to receive eternal life. He knows exactly what it takes and every commandment we receive is only to make it simple for us to walk that path. It's genius! There is one way to eternal life, and that is Christ and his gospel. Any other way simply won't get you there. Why doesn't the world understand this?! It's incredible how things can seem so simple and clear, but without the Holy Ghost you'll never understand it.
I know with all my soul that this is Christ's church and Christ's gospel. Faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end...that's the way to eternal life. It's simple, pure, and beautiful. And it never, ever, fails!!
I love you all! Have a great week!
Hermana Lund
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