Wrestling with God

Wonderful thing for Tuesday, 2 June:

Now that Pathway is in full gear and we're all fairly acquainted with its operation, and now that we've done the initial training sessions with the Young Men/Young Women organizations, we have a little more time to do outreach to individuals.  Today we went to see our lovely friend.  She is a member of the Pisa ward, but right now she is staying with her sister in Pistoia, recuperating from an operation, which puts her closer to us.

She is one of our Nigerian sisters.  She was baptized several months ago; over time, she kind of got bogged down with "stuff" - most recently, depression.  It's so interesting that when you're down, the things that could lift you up seem odious to you, you feel to draw away and thus go deeper still into your funk.

BUT the Lord is faithful; He will not abandon us.  I love Him for that!  She is his beautiful, wonderful daughter, with an amazing life ahead of her, and He is just not going to let go.  She let us come to see her, we had a great talk, and then we read from the Book of Mormon.

"Enos" jumped right out at me as I was looking for a passage to read together.  Discussing it afterward, we talked about how, at a certain point in his life, the principles his father had always taught him sunk deep into his heart.  For whatever reasons, his life up till that point seems to have been rather superficial; but as truth flooded his mind, he was struck with a kind of amazed remorse, I would say; as in, "Why did I not see this before!?  I did see it, but I wasn't willing to recognize it.  Oh God, can you forgive me?"

This train of thought struck a definite chord with our friend.   As we discussed the power of covenants, she realized that making a promise to study the scriptures every day, and to pray about what she reads, is just what she needs to persevere when the will comes to just move on to something mind-numbing or unprofitable.

There was a light in her face and joy in her eyes when we left - not for anything we did, but for the work the Spirit did for and through all of us as we talked, studied, and prayed.  

This is what everything we do is all about, being edified and rejoicing together (D&C 50:22).

I love this work.

fun thing:

Today is the Festa della Reppublica Italiana, a celebration of the day in 1946 when the Italian citizenry decided they wanted to live in a republic instead of a monarchy.  Viva Italia!

Cry unto him in your wilderness

Wonderful thing for Monday, 2 March:

Churchill had it; Lincoln had it; I get it every now and then - the proverbial black cloud.

 I think it has to do with this illness that keeps its grip on Blaine, even though he is slowly getting better.  We're in the same house, and we do our best to minister to each other, but this illness necessarily puts a barrier between us, which opens a chink for more barriers.  We've been just the teensiest bit testy with each other today.

We are both dealing with some emotional/spiritual/physical gloomy weather.

The wonderful thing?  We reach past the darkness, continuing to minister to each other and to do our best in our work.  We forgive easily.   We find things to laugh about.  Comfort is just a prayer away.

Man, I love this mission.

Fun thing:

Blaine acts so cute sometimes.