So when Jed was in Enfield his mode of transportation wasn't a car. I am guessing (I haven't asked) from his comments that that has changed.
I did get grandma Nora Lee's present, and it was really really nice of her to do that. I loved her card as well. :) It actually saved me! I spent a lot of money on driving lessons (because according to the instructor, "I'm an American -- and I've seen Dukes of Hazard, I know how you American people drive! No, we don't jump through our windows, and no, we don't jump off of dirt, we take care of our cars here in Britain, and we drive on the proper side of the road, so you need a lot more work."), so I'm using some of that money to buy food this week. :)
To me this says the Elders do things differently in King's Lynn than in the Enfield area. I am pretty sure it will be a while after he gets back that he will be driving my car :).
I thought Jed's empathy and advice are thought provoking and wanted to share. In Jed's email to his Mom he said of someone here at home who is having a difficult time, "... I'm sorry that it's difficult. I was talking to a guy today actually, the partner (British term for boyfriend or girlfriend that you live with) of one of our investigators about why bad things happen to good people, and all I could do was tell him that it would be ok in the end. If it's not ok, then it's not the end. If we work and really do all that we can, then everything will be ok. I'll still pray for [this person]. This next Sunday is fast Sunday, so [this person] be in my fast as well ...".
I can remember when I was in my teenage years, and for that matter quite a few other years. Each time I celebrated my birthday I can be pretty sure that I knew what I would have liked to receive as a gift (or gifts). At the same time, in my brain I can't remember ever wishing for something while I was serving as a full-time missionary like Jed is doing now. This seems to be the same for Elder Murri. We asked him (so we could send him a little something and he responded, "I have no idea what I want for my birthday. Honestly, I haven't really even thought about it. I'll be two decades old! #what #aged". It is interesting the mindset you are in when your whole day / whole self is directed to service to others.
Elder Murri shares a little something that he learned in his personal study. I am sure if he could add anything it would be that we take that as a good example and take some time out of our day and read, learn, think and feel. He says, "Something cool that I learned this week during personal study was that we need to look forward with an eye of faith to the future. There's no use for us to compare how things are now to what they once were, or what they have been, because then we're stuck there, in the past. When we're too preoccupied with thinking of how things were, we can't move on, and we can't grow. However, if we look forward to things, and have hope (PMG, chapter 6, that's a great Christlike Attribute to study. It's something that we all need to work on, but that can benefit us all so much) IN (yes, that's meant to be capitallized) Christ, then we can let go of what has happened, and concentrate on things that will happen. We can progress, and we won't tie ourselves down. It's so much better like that. It's so liberating! I'm so glad that we can have that attitude, because it makes life better!". PMG stands for [Preach My Gospel Manual] which you can find online at https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service?lang=eng (you may have to copy that url into your browser).
We are looking forward to Mother's Day (of course to celebrate Mothers, and in my case specifically my Mom and my wonderful wife). An added reason, because Jed get's to call home.
I did get grandma Nora Lee's present, and it was really really nice of her to do that. I loved her card as well. :) It actually saved me! I spent a lot of money on driving lessons (because according to the instructor, "I'm an American -- and I've seen Dukes of Hazard, I know how you American people drive! No, we don't jump through our windows, and no, we don't jump off of dirt, we take care of our cars here in Britain, and we drive on the proper side of the road, so you need a lot more work."), so I'm using some of that money to buy food this week. :)
To me this says the Elders do things differently in King's Lynn than in the Enfield area. I am pretty sure it will be a while after he gets back that he will be driving my car :).
I thought Jed's empathy and advice are thought provoking and wanted to share. In Jed's email to his Mom he said of someone here at home who is having a difficult time, "... I'm sorry that it's difficult. I was talking to a guy today actually, the partner (British term for boyfriend or girlfriend that you live with) of one of our investigators about why bad things happen to good people, and all I could do was tell him that it would be ok in the end. If it's not ok, then it's not the end. If we work and really do all that we can, then everything will be ok. I'll still pray for [this person]. This next Sunday is fast Sunday, so [this person] be in my fast as well ...".
I can remember when I was in my teenage years, and for that matter quite a few other years. Each time I celebrated my birthday I can be pretty sure that I knew what I would have liked to receive as a gift (or gifts). At the same time, in my brain I can't remember ever wishing for something while I was serving as a full-time missionary like Jed is doing now. This seems to be the same for Elder Murri. We asked him (so we could send him a little something and he responded, "I have no idea what I want for my birthday. Honestly, I haven't really even thought about it. I'll be two decades old! #what #aged". It is interesting the mindset you are in when your whole day / whole self is directed to service to others.
Elder Murri shares a little something that he learned in his personal study. I am sure if he could add anything it would be that we take that as a good example and take some time out of our day and read, learn, think and feel. He says, "Something cool that I learned this week during personal study was that we need to look forward with an eye of faith to the future. There's no use for us to compare how things are now to what they once were, or what they have been, because then we're stuck there, in the past. When we're too preoccupied with thinking of how things were, we can't move on, and we can't grow. However, if we look forward to things, and have hope (PMG, chapter 6, that's a great Christlike Attribute to study. It's something that we all need to work on, but that can benefit us all so much) IN (yes, that's meant to be capitallized) Christ, then we can let go of what has happened, and concentrate on things that will happen. We can progress, and we won't tie ourselves down. It's so much better like that. It's so liberating! I'm so glad that we can have that attitude, because it makes life better!". PMG stands for [Preach My Gospel Manual] which you can find online at https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service?lang=eng (you may have to copy that url into your browser).
We are looking forward to Mother's Day (of course to celebrate Mothers, and in my case specifically my Mom and my wonderful wife). An added reason, because Jed get's to call home.