Week #82 - It's Cajun time bb ;)

Heyoooooo! How are y'all???

I hope all is well. But hey, life is good here in Louisiana. Lake Charles is so much fun :). The work here is chugging along just fine and we are seeing miracles. It's pretty legit. Too legit to quit. 

 This was a fun driveway

 BIG TREE

 Some Louisiana Land

WE DONE FOUND SOME EMUS

But, we did have a good time. Elder Rasmussen is my new companion and I am his 2nd trainer. His 1st trainer, Elder Price, went home cuz he finished his mission. I've been trying to meet all the important people in the ward and get to know as many members as possible. It's been awesome. I keep saying references to Texas stuff and I have to keep reminding myself that I am in Louisiana and NOT Texas. SO, that's an adjustment. But hey, if that's the only big adjustment I have to make, I'll take it 😎. 

 Me and Elder Rasmussen

Elder Rasmussen changed a tire in 5 min 18 seconds!

Elder Rasmussen and I were able to find 8 new people to teach this week! That was pretty cool! (Flashback to Woodville when Elder Boam and I found 7 new people in one day on one street. #goldendays) Each of them had a genuine interest in learning more, so that was a nice change of pace. I also found out when I got here that we have 4 people on date for baptism and that there could be 2 more cuz it's a family. Haha, so I don't have any work to do 😂 jkjk. We even biked to downtown one day which was like a 12 mile bike ride there and back, but we had to go give a blessing. It was “park your car Saturday”, so it had to happen. This place is super cool and there is a lot of culture that I can't wait to learn about and apply in my life #CajunCookin'.

 A cool School

Bridge boi

Here's my thought y'all:

3 Nephi 12:44 says:

44 But behold I say unto you, love your ^aenemies, bless them that curse you, do ^bgood to them that hate you, and ^cpray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

I love this part in the Book of Mormon. Jesus Christ is showing everyone how they can be better people and that is by loving EVERYONE. We might not like some people in our lives, but if we can push aside negative feelings for those people and forgive them, we allow love to enter our hearts and peace will follow. Some time ago, we were asked to pray for someone we didn't like. When I went to do it, I found that it was harder than it sounded. I would go to say the prayer for them and it would be a struggle just to get the words out. However, when I was able to start and move on with the prayer, it became easier and easier to pray for that individual and the only reason it became easier was because I was allowing the Atonement of Jesus Christ to change me and I let love enter my heart. 

Another Verse in Moroni 7 says:

45 And ^acharity suffereth long, and is ^bkind, and ^cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily ^dprovoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

47 But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth ^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

What I love about these verses is that they all have to deal with LOVE. Or charity in this context. If we are able to have Charity in our lives we won't fail. The pure love of Christ is a way for us to move forward as we face trials. Love helps. I love how in verse 48 it says that was need to not just pray, but "Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart". We have to MEAN it. We're gonna do something about it. If you are being a disciple of Jesus Christ, it will be so much easier to want charity in your life. If you don't know what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, ask some missionaries. You can request a visit from some here and they can teach you SO MUCH! 

Y'all are awesome and I hope this week goes great for everyone!

Love y'all,

Elder Furphy (did you catch it Elder Farley?)