It's gotten pretty cold here. I wondered if it was a bad idea to ship my winter coat home early but then I remembered that I only have a month left and then I get all worked up about that snd forget that I was cold in the first place. It's horribly exciting, and excitingly horrible, all at the same time. The going home part, I mean.
We had lunch with a lady who we met on the street the other day. Her uncle had just recently died and was sure that our meeting was a sign from God. I think so too. Over some delicious eggplant bacon pizza, she told us how she didn't really know much about Christianity except for those "two really handsome foreigners from Salt Lake who wore name badges. Do you know that church?" It was a miracle sent from above. She came to church with us on Sunday and was half confused why Sister Dopp and I were not wearing habits, but she enjoyed it all the same. She also thinks Tom Cruise is really handsome.
Also, there was the day our recent convert informed us she was almost going to skip church next week to go on a date with a man from the Japanese mafia. But then she decided against it when the Relief Society President informed her it would be better to marry someone in the temple. That was a close one. Forever families are a really great thing. I just realize how incredibly much I love my family being separated by the distance.
Per the recommendation of a most wise mission president, I was directed to Elder Neal A. Maxwell's talk, "Content with the Things Allotted unto Us". While it, in true Elder Maxwell fashion, contains far more literary references and deep doctrine than my brain can grasp, it reminded me of several things.
ONE. Be content with what I have.
TWO. Don't fall into apathy and be content behaviorally.
THREE. Being content is not a state of being, but rather, a participative action.
"The Lord knows our circumstances and the intents of our hearts, and surely the talents and gifts He has given us. He is able to gauge perfectly how we have performed within what is allotted to us, including by lifting up some of the many surrounding hands that hang down. Thus, yearning for expanded opportunities while failing to use those at hand is bad form spiritually.
What we could and have done within our allotted acreage, therefore, is known perfectly by the Master of the vineyard."
Heavenly Father's got some pretty big plans for us. Sometimes we just get in the way.
Anyways. That's all I've got. Thanks for all your love. I'm praying for you!
Love, Sister Margaret Willden
(Monday, November 17)
Pic 1: We are so happy.
Pic 2: Today I ate some vegan food. It was magic and we became best
friends with the owner.
Pic 2: Today I ate some vegan food. It was magic and we became best
friends with the owner.
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