From Carol & Jeff...we've had major computer issues so we apologize that we are two weeks behind in posting Justin's blogs. The upside is that there will be three in one weekend!
Hello everyone,
This
week was pretty boring....
My
companion is sick with bronchitis so we've been stuck at our house the past
five days...
The
first couple days of the week went well and we committed three people to be
baptized in December! One of our investigators is an 18 year old who is really
interested.
It
was so cool. As we were walking to his house and we sat down, before we started
he asked if we wanted a niu (a premature coconut that is filled to the brim of
coconut water. Its so good.) and we said of course! So he ran over to this palm
tree probably 40 feet high and climbs to the top like it was nothing. He has
nothing keeping him from falling either. When he got to the top, you just see
two big coconuts falling and make a loud thud. Then he husked them and cut the
top off so we could drink them. It was so cool just to see him do that like it
was nothing. He's probably been doing it since he could walk.
On
Friday we went to the mission office in Apia so my companion could go to the
doctor. We were there from 8am-4pm. Luckily there were other missionaries there
so I had people to talk to. At the end of the day one of the senior
missionaries took us to McDonalds downtown. I felt so gross after eating
because I haven't really had unhealthy food for over a month. At the office I
was able to weigh myself and I've already lost 15 pounds. The only reason
missionaries gain weight in this mission is if they serve in American Samoa.
Apparently there, when the members offer to feed the missionaries they usually take
them to fast food places and the missionaries just get fat. At least I'm losing
weight now just in case I get to serve over there.
Since
we had to be inside for 5 days straight, I did a lot of reading but for the
first time in my life I actually wanted to read instead of being forced to.
Last week I finished the Book of Mormon again. I started when I got here. I read all
of Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. I read countless talks
and I'm currently reading Jesus the Christ and I'm more than half way done with
it. I've gained such a better knowledge of the gospel and about Christ's life. Now I just have to figure out how to say it in Samoan!!
One
thing that really stuck out to me as I had hours upon hours to read and study
was faith. Faith can do a lot of things for us. It all really depends on how
much faith we have. The blessings and miracles that can happen in our lives
depend on the amount of faith we have. As I was reading, one story that stuck
out to me was of the woman who was sick and was healed just by touching Jesus's
robe. The only reason she was healed just by touching his robe was because she
had faith that it could happen. That's one thing that I can definitely work on.
I need to have absolute faith that miracles can happen. One of those miracles
is being able to speak the Samoan language. And faith alone won't work. Faith
without works is dead. I can't just expect to understand the language without
working at it. I have to study it constantly and do everything I can to improve
day by day. I know that as I put those two things together that the language
will come. Not in my time, but in the Lord's time.
I'm
learning so much everyday mostly about myself. What my strengths are, what my
weaknesses are and how I can work on improving. I love this work and have a
testimony that it is 100% the Lord's work, not mine. I'm just the instrument.
The Holy Ghost is the real teacher. As long as I have the Holy Ghost with me as
I attempt to teach, I know my message will get across how it should.
I
love you all and pray for you all daily!
Love
Elder
Sterner
Me and my little buddy playing in the street.
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