Lani's Letter July 1 2013 Week 9

Family! 

Why do I always start with that? Not sure. Great to hear from you all!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Ok- something you should know about Nebraska. Hem hem. The people here are CRAZY! On the border of Missouri, fireworks are extremely cheap and people will go and get buckets loads of them and bring them up here. Well, they do that about two weeks before the fourth even happens. THEREFORE, fireworks are popping and blowing up everywhere, every night! Last night we were out street contacting and the whole sky was lite up with fireworks! Anyway, it's crazy and I love it. 

This week has been good. We went on two different exchanges. Sister Carpenter and I went on exchanges on Friday, then Hermana Pocock and I went on exchanges Saturday. Phew! Sister Carpenter seems to be doing ok. She has a lot of faith and is learning a lot. She is growing spiritually and is being stretched, but we all are. We reflected on our lives before we came out and it is just interesting how your perspective changes as you realize that the gospel is everything. We truly are blinded by the world. Satan is brilliant! I have been learning that I just need to always step back and pray for an eternal perspective because as we keep that eternal perspective, we focus on what really matters. The gospel and our family.

We just finished cleaning the temple. The trail center leaders called us this morning and asked what we were doing for our preparation day then asked us to come clean the temple. I am embarrassed to say that I was selfish and though, why are they asking us to clean the temple on our preparation day?? That's not fair! We said yes and as I was quickly getting breakfast, I looked outside and this overwhelming feeling came over me. I need to be so grateful for every single opportunity I have to go to the house of the Lord. I should be honored to be the one that they ask to come and clean the Lord's house. It humbled me. I was talking to a sister as we were cleaning and she was saying how her temple is 20-30 mins away from her home! She was so happy about it...well, what can I say!?..."I am like a 5 min WALK to my temple." AH! Again, I have so much to be grateful for and I get so blinded sometimes. Go to the temple as much as you can. Cleaning the Lord's house is an honor and I want to do it more. 

Our investigators are doing ok. We are teaching all these woman who are very interested and even want to be baptized, but what is holding them back? Their husbands. If the husband believes and pushing things, the whole family will have a desire to learn and change. We need to get the dads. We are really just trying to serve them. I am slightly crazy about service. I would much rather work for someone then go street contacting or tracting. Those things are still scary for me, but service is awesome!! it forces these people to talk to you as you work along side them. Family- how well do you guys know the neighbors? Was there a family that just moved in?? I can't remember, BUT I challenge you to do one act of service for one of our neighbors this week. As you serve them, I promise you that the opportunity to bear your testimony about our simple truth of the gospel will arise. Don't freak out, just do something simple and the Lord will consecrate your efforts. In fact- How many people read these letters?? I challenge everyone that reads this to do one thing for your neighbors and the same promise applies. "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6-7). 

I love you all! I know this is all true and the Lord expects a lot from us. I am doing my best to rise to the occasion. Will you all do the same? Sister Godfrey is in my prayers. And Talitha- God bless you sister. You are a strong example to me of pure love.
I love you all!

Love, 

Sister Call