This week our car got hit! We weren't present when it happened, but there is definitely evidence on our back bumper that someone wasn't looking where they were going! ;) So we have to take the car in sometime soon (We already did all the reports and such and are waiting for instructions) and we will be without a car for 3-5 days...so that will be exciting! :)
Quote from this week from Sister Thurber: "What is that game called where you pound down the hedgehogs?" Whack-a-mole. She was thinking of whack-a-mole. XD
Last week after emails on Pday, we went to the mall for a bit and did some shopping. There was a sign in the parking lot that said: "If you're not in the mall, don't park in a stall, don't park here, don't park here at all. - Apologies to Dr. Seuss." So funny!
I exchanged my US money for Canadian money today...no joke, the Canadian bills smell like maple syrup! SO COOL!!!
This last week, a lot of lessons have fallen through and we have had a hard time finding new investigators. It's really hard, but it's also really good in some ways. I am learning more and more to trust in the Lord and to exercise my faith in finding. Last week in district meeting, an Elder said that these people are the Lord's referrals for us. Just like with any person we ask for referrals from, we have to gain His trust before He will give us someone to teach. I am striving every day to be exactly obedient and have the spirit with me so that I can be worthy and trustworthy of finding and teaching the Lord's referrals!
This last week, we were knocking doors and we came across two brothers who were heading off to work. They said they are LDS! (This is rare here, so I got really excited) They said they hadn't been to church in a long time though, but gave us their number so we could set up an appointment to come and share a message! Sister Thurber did this thing where she wrote it down and then repeated it wrong so they would say it again..making sure they gave us a real number..sneaky sneaky! It all checked out! We called the number the next day, excited to set up an appointment, and a lady picks up saying she is the guy's ex-wife! He tricked us! We had an interesting conversation with her...but we have their names and address! So that was an interesting experience...we will be writing down their names and address and praying about what to do next. :)
I have been thinking a lot about Lehi's dream about the tree of life this week. Like I said, we haven't been able to find new people to teach, and also the people we are teaching aren't keeping commitments or progressing. It's really sad. It led me to look at the story of the tree of life a little differently. We have the iron rod, word of God, in our lives to help us get to the tree. God's love. If we want to get to the tree, we have to MOVE OUR DANG FEET!!! The iron rod is the word of God = His commandments! We have to progress! We have to keep the commandments and follow the words of the prophets and read our scriptures and go to church and do everything in our power to get to the tree! It is not simply good enough to hold on to the rod. To say the church is true. You have to LIVE IT. You have to walk along the path to get to the tree! The Lord cannot direct our footsteps if we aren't moving our feet! We need to face the Lord and his love (the tree) which turns us away from the things of the world. We cannot serve two masters! You cannot orient your body towards the tree, and be facing the great and spacious building at the same time! But it is important not only to turn toward God and away from the great and spacious building, but to walk forward! Hold to the rod! And MOVE YOUR DANG FEET!!!
Okay. I will get off my soap box. :) I know that it is so important for us to allow Heavenly Father into our lives. I know that only He knows exactly what we need, when we need it! I know He knows where we need to go and how to get there! I know that if we give our lives over to him, if we allow him to direct our footsteps, we will ALWAYS end up at the tree. We will ALWAYS taste of that fruit which is desirable above all other fruit!
I love you all so much! Have an amazing week!!!
Sister Van Valkenburg
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