As
of this moment, all the elders in the Beira zone have working air
conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, telephones, beds with
mattresses, water purifiers and gas stoves + missionary planners !!
This of course could change at any minute, but at least for now, all is
well....
Look at this photo and guess what type of work is done here.....
This is a photo of Vasco the wood carver, together with the mission
president and his wife. Vasco is a member of the Church and on the table
are some of his carvings. It is safe to say, we have cut out the
middleman!
As we live here in Mozambique, I often think about how
different our lives were in Provo. Many of the common tests and
challenges in Mozambique are so different than ours in Provo.
Elder M Russell Ballard said: "This
is not to suggest that our challenges today are more severe than the
challenges faced by those who have gone before us. They are just
different. The Lord isn’t asking us to load up a handcart; He’s asking us to fortify our faith. He isn’t asking us to walk across a continent; He’s asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He
isn’t asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a
temple; He’s asking us to give of our means and our time despite the
pressures of modern living to continue to build temples and then to
attend regularly the temples already built. He isn’t asking us to die a
martyr’s death; He’s asking us to live a disciple’s life." (The Truth of
God Shall Go Forth, Oct. 2008)
President
Boyd K. Packer said: “ Our lives are made up of thousands of everyday
choices. Over the years these little choices will be bundled together
and show clearly what we value. The
crucial test of life, I repeat, does not center in the choice between
fame and obscurity, nor between wealth and poverty. The greatest
decision of life is between good and evil.We
may foolishly bring unhappiness and trouble, even suffering upon
ourselves. These are not always to be regarded as penalties imposed by a
displeased Creator. They are part of the lessons of life, part of the
test.
Some
are tested by poor health, some by a body that is deformed or homely.
Others are tested by handsome and healthy bodies; some by the passion of
youth; others by the erosions of age.Some
suffer disappointment in marriage, family problems; others live in
poverty and obscurity. Some (perhaps this is the hardest test) find ease
and luxury. All are part of the test, and there is more equality in this testing than sometimes we suspect.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Choice,” Ensign, Nov 1980, 20).
Elder
Neal A. Maxwell said: "These realities are that God loves us and,
loving us, has placed us here to cope with challenges which he will place before us.
I'm not sure we can always understand the implications of his love,
because his love will call us at times to do things we may wonder about,
and we may be confronted with circumstances we would rather not face. I
believe with all my heart that because God loves us there are some
particularized challenges that he will deliver to each of us. He will
customize the curriculum for each of us in order to teach us the things
we most need to know. He will set before us in life what we need,
not always what we like. And this will require us to accept with all our
hearts—particularly your generation—the truth that there is divine
design in each of our lives and that you have rendezvous to keep,
individually and collectively. God knows even now what the future holds for each of us." (But for a small moment, BYU, Sept. 1974)
“Testimony is to know and to feel, Conversion is to do and to become.”
― Dallin H. Oaks. (Quoted in Kenneth Johnson, "Coming to Know for Ourselves," Ensign, July, 2008, 29)
I love you!
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