Can anyone believe it is actually July?!? Happy 4th of July!! We had a great day yesterday volunteering at an event at Flamingo Gardens and coming in early to pizza and singing EFY songs.
On a non-patriotic note, I am almost as excited as Natalie that Chile won the Copa America. ;)
Last week one of the elders got in a car accident and our president had threatened that the next accident would result in a mission-wide bike week so Thursday we got to ride bikes again! This is my first area without significant time on bikes, so I enjoyed it.
This week has been super awesome. God has given me several opportunities to appreciate how great my mission has been and all the people I've been able to meet. Sister Jeppson is awesome and there is ton of work for her here since there has never been a Portuguese missionary in this area. The best part is I can understand her most of the time! So I will at least be able to follow the conversations as we meet with our Portuguese members. :) I can't respond though....I learned how to say "day" and "awesome" and "church". I'm basically fluent. haha.
The scripture I wanted to share this week was 3 Nephi 9:22:
22 Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as alittle child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom ofGod. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and havetaken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me yeends of the earth, and be saved.
The phrase "I have laid down my life and have taken it up again" stuck out to me. We focus a lot of the Savior's sacrifice for each of us, but so much of the beauty is in the fact that he "took it up again." The Savior did not live for us once; He lives for us now. He does not give up on us no matter how many times we mess up and fall down. He choose to live again because He believes in us. One of the most profound expressions of love is allowing others to change and not casting them in stone. I am so grateful that our Savior continually permits and encourages change. Through the atonement we can each change and find the strength to allow others to change.
I love you all a lot!
-Sister Bren Scadden