Family!
Lots happened this
week as usual. We focused a lot this week on getting members out to
lessons with us and involving them in the work. We set a goal of how many
lessons we would have with a member present, and we worked all week long to hit
that goal. We called basically every member that lives in our area and
even a few in the other area, and basically no one was available to come out or
they just didn't answer. We asked a few less-actives who hadn't been to
church in months if they would help us, and we were able to get a few lessons
with members present with their help. We did all we could all week, but
when Sunday arrived we were still short by 3. We had
no clue how we would get 3 more by the end of the day with nothing set
up. We talked to all the members at church and were able to set up 1 for Sunday evening. We had a lesson after church
with V-------- and a member of the primary presidency. We still needed 1
more. We decided we would just go try less actives and hopefully find an
opportunity to teach with a member. The first less-active we tried opened
the door and invited us right in. She led us into the living room where
her non-member husband was talking with one of the members of the branch!
We had walked right into the perfect situation to teach with a member! We
ended up hitting our goal! That experience helped build my testimony that
the Lord's grace really will make up all the difference if we do all that we
can and ask for His help.
This week I had a
super intense lesson with some Dominicans. I think I already mentioned
how they speak super fast and I have a hard time understanding them.
Well, the guy we were teaching spoke faster than anyone I've ever met.
And he shouted when he spoke. At first I thought he was mad, but after a
bit I realized that he just spoke like that. There were some other people
in the lesson, and for a while they talked amongst themselves and I just tried
to follow along. I felt like I was teaching my very first lesson
again. I could only pick out a few words here and there, so the majority
of the time I had to guess what was being said. When they asked me a
question I would just respond to what I thought they were saying, and every now
and again my response wouldn't even answer their question because I hadn't
understood. It was crazy! It's a super humbling experience to work
to master a language for a year and a half, then just when you think you've got
it, have an experience like that where you can't understand hardly
anything. It definitely helped me turn to the Lord and ask Him for help
to understand and to be able to speak. That brings to mind Ether 12:27:
"And if men come
unto me I will show unto them their weakness . I give unto men weakness that
they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble
themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith
in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
The Lord doesn't
immediately make us perfect at something because He wants us to learn to rely
on Him. He doesn't take away our weaknesses in the moment we pray for
relief because He wants us to develop the habit of looking unto Him in
"every thought". I've definitely learned a lot about this
principle on my mission.
As far as the subject
line is concerned, those are the types of tacos I had this week. Cow
tongue, cow cheek, and cow head. I also had some with venison. I
can just imagine your face Mom... =)
Sounds like all is
well out there. Maybe a little busy and crazy with the broken oven, but
still good. Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!
Love,
Elder Foote
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| Elder Foote Eating a Head Taco |
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| Elder Foote Enjoying a Tongue Taco |
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| Elder Foote's Deer Soup |
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| Elder Foote's Tongue Taco |