Subject: I ate some ants
Sorry
I meant to send this last week:
Well
as you can see from the header, I ate some red ants this week at a baptism,
given to me from the Branch President. They tasted like warheads so it wasn't
horrible except for the fact that right when I put a bunch of live ones in my
mouth, one bit me and my tongue went numb for a few minutes :) I promise I am
fine.
This
week we had Zone Conference and MLC! We had a special guest, Elder Meurs from
the Quorum of the 70 and he is the first counselor in the Asia Area Presidency.
He also has the coolest Australian accent. For the two meetings we talked
mostly about working with members and figuring out how to help our wards and
branches implement the new Ministering program. I am super excited to help it
get started here in Cambodia; the work is rolling on and God's kingdom is
growing every day!
I
also want to give a quick shout-out to my little brother Derek, who turns 12
tomorrow!! I am so excited for him to get the priesthood and start passing the
sacrament!!
This
week:
This
week was crazy! It rained almost every single day and we came home just caked
in mud and freezing cold. I went on two exchanges, one with Sister Pratt (in my
mtc group) and one with Sister Stewart, and on both it was a DOWNPOUR but they
were both so fun!
We
saw the King of Cambodia driving down the street when we walked out on the
street to find the guy who was bringing a new refrigerator to our house, and
Sisters Soeur and Sok were fan girling over him. Super funny.
Doctrine:
The Gospel Blesses Families
This
is honestly my favorite point to teach in all the lessons. I love it so much
because 1.) it makes me so happy when I think about my own family and 2.) in
khmer culture, families literally mean everything to them. When I tell my
investigators and others that through the Gospel of Jesus Christ they can find
true happiness in their families, I feel the Spirit so strong. It makes so much
sense that this is the second principle taught as missionaries after "God
is our loving Heavenly Father" because of how important it is.
In
my own life, I have truly seen this truth manifest in my family. Growing up, I
would read a plaque every day that sat in our family room that said,
"Bashford: Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when
founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and
families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer,
repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome
recreational activities." I am so grateful that my parents had that in my
house to set the example of how my family was going to live, and the
expectation for us kids to work towards. My family has truly been blessed when
we have followed these principles together.
In
Cambodia, I have personally seen families fall apart because one or more people
have not followed the principles and patterns set for families through the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, and also seen families flourish in happiness and light
when they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Recently in my personal study, I
was reading in Alma 34, when the Nephites and Lamanites are raging in terrible
war against each other. Something that touched me to the point of crying was
verses 47-50:
47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye
shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for
this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend
themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their
rights, and their religion.
48 And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw the fierceness
and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to shrink and flee from them.
And Moroni, perceiving their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts with
these thoughts—yea, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their
freedom from bondage.
49 And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and
they cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for
their liberty and their freedom from bondage.
50 And they began to stand against the Lamanites with
power; and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their
freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the
waters of Sidon.
When
I read this I imagine a bunch of terrified young fathers and husbands who are
extremely exhausted from fighting and scared out of their minds of dying. Then
25 year old Captain Moroni comes in and reminds them of the reason they
continue to fight: for their families, even unto bloodshed. Satan is attacking
the family harder than anything right now because he wants to rid the earth of
all happiness. When we go to battle against him to defend our families, we
should constantly cry unto the God for strength and follow the doctrine of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I
invite anyone who feels like their family could use a little more happiness to
consider a principle Jesus Christ has taught and try to better apply it in your
family. I promise that you will find much more joy come into your life and your
families will be stronger.
I
love you all and hope you have an amazing week!
Pictures:
1.
the live ants I ate
2.
Rain ponchos on exchange with Sister Pratt!
3.
Soca's Baptism with our District! (the Elders are super weird...)
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