The devotional was given this week by the presiding bishop of the church, elder Causse. It was supposedly really good, I wouldn't know because I was so tired I zonked out and was sleeping through all of it. On a different note the language is going great so far. I had my first TRC this week which is where we teach 2 returned missionaries in our mission language a short 20 minute lesson about the gospel. The first lesson went badly for me and my companion. The sister was really good at Cebuano and spoke really fast so it was hard to understand her. Me and my companion's response to everything she said was nindot kaayo, which means REALLY COOL. That was the universal response to all the answers she had for our questions since we could not understand her at all. The second lesson went a lot better. As we taught and me and my companion relaxed a little bit we were able to share our entire lesson and a couple scriptures in Cebuano. I know that I am nowhere near perfect at the language but as I continue to work hard and study hard the lord will help me retain and master the language. A scripture that I have really been pondering this week is Moroni 10:32, it reads,
32 Yea, acome unto Christ, and be bperfected in him, and cdeny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and dlove God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be eperfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.
I know that this scripture teaches truth. I know that if we come unto Christ and love him with all of our heart, might, mind and strength his grace will be sufficient for us and we can become spotless and clean before god at the last day. Without the atonement of Christ we cannot be perfect, however, we can be perfect in Christ through his atonement. I know that once we come to find the truth of these things for ourselves we cannot deny the power of god. It is real, it is tangible, god's love surrounds us. He sent his only son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. Through that grace we can be made whole again. Through that grace we can become strong.
Since I have no quote this week because I fell asleep during the devotional I will share a second scripture. It is in Alma 26: verses 10-12,
10 And it came to pass that when Ammon had said these words, his brother Aaron rebuked him, saying: Ammon, I fear that thy joy doth carry thee away unto boasting.
11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not aboast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my bjoy is full, yea, my heart is brim with cjoy, and I will rejoice in my God.
12 Yea, I know that I am anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will bnot boast of myself, but I will cboast of my God, for in his dstrength I can do all ethings; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
I know that god can make weak things strong. I know he can make my broken Cebuano strong. I know that it is not by my strength that I am learning Cebuano as fast as I am but by his strength. I do not boast of myself but my god. It is important to remember that without his strength we are weak. With out his grace, we cannot be whole. Through his grace we can bring others unto Christ, bringing that special light that we have in our lives into someone else's life.
Finally I found out that instead of leaving on October second as planned I am going to the Philippines MTC on September 23. It is coming up quick, and I am really excited to be in the field. I learned that I will be in the boonies of the Philippines recently as well which is awesome because it will make me appreciate what I have here in the USA so much more. Until next week amigos,
Salamat and Amping!
Jordan and his roommates/companions playing around in the MTC hallway
Down time in the MTC
Jordan and his companion at the temple
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