No matter how old my kids get I still get a little nervous for them to start up a new year of school. They are good kids and are smart when they want to be :) but it is once again sending them out into the world where they are vulnerable that makes me worry some. Out where they have to make choices, hard choices, on a daily basis as to how they will live their lives. And while they have made a lot of those choices in their minds already it is still a different ball game when they have to make those choices surrounded by friends or other peers who may or may not be supportive. Taylor read a funny quote to us a while back about someone saying something like, my parents won't let me watch certain things on TV yet they send me to school. It can be so true, some of the things they are exposed to in the halls make my cringe. And yet, we have this true gospel that is a gospel of hope. Even though they are in this world they do not have to be of this world.
In a talk given to the youth in October 2011 by President Boyd K. Packer he spoke about having hope even in the darkest of times.
"With all that is going on in the world, with the lowering of moral standards, you young people are being raised in enemy territory. We know from the scriptures that there was a war in heaven and that Lucifer rebelled and, with his followers, "was cast out into the earth." He is determined to disrupt our Heavenly Father's plan and seeks to control the minds and actins of all. This influence is spiritual, and he "is abroad in the land."
"But despite the opposition, trials, and temptations, you need not fail or fear..... But as a servant of the Lord, I promise that you will be protected and shielded from the attacks of the adversary if you will heed the promptings that come from the Holy Spirit."
What an amazing promise and so full of hope. I am so grateful for directed leaders who teach by the spirit and give us comfort in all things.
So as this week gets under way I will have hope. I will listen as their father gives them a father's blessing and be encouraged by the words of hope our Father in Heaven will share with them. I will continue to pray for them in all they do out there in the world without me right by their side. I will listen and hear the challenges they may have and pray to have the wisdom to help them through. And I will pray that when I am not with them that they will remember who they are and that they are loved. I will pray for my missionary who is not my little boy anymore but who is a man, wise beyond is 19 years, who has learned that God is there for him in all things and who has developed a personal relationship with Him that will carry him through all he will face especially when he is away from home.
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27
Hola!!
I'm glad to hear that Emily had a great
birthday!! Sorry my present is late... It's on it's way though. :) I explained
the lateness in the letter. :P haha I'm not quite sure how I feel about you
dating, but I'm sure you'll have fun. :) just not too much fun.. ;) sorry that
I couldn't find a rose here to use. :/ I'm glad that it all worked out though.
:) I'm very proud of you Em!
Congrats on the tournament wins!! I think it's
funny how the other team always realizes how good T is and so they cover him
like crazy. Haha keep up the great work T! And of course Dad is basically the
best coach out there. :) it sounds like you guys are going to have a good team
again, if everyone continues to work hard. :)
That is so weird that school is starting
again... It really makes absolutely no difference for me, so I think that's why
it feels weird. :P but next year it
will... Weird..
Things here are going well. Transfers are this Thursday and Hermana Lauricella is going home so the
sisters left today. Sister Yoshikawa is in Sebring until Thursday and so she will still be at district meeting on Wednesday. Everything got handed off and things are
going well. Hopefully things continue to pick up. We might be getting callings
after all. Right now we teach gospel principles but we might be in one or two
of the auxiliary presidencies until things get going. So we are very busy.., it's
really good though. :) the branch is super awesome! We don't really have
dinners no. Haha things are different over here than they are back home.
Basically president wants us spending as little time as possible sitting down, so
if the members feed us it has to have a purpose. They can't just invite us over
for dinner. There has to be an investigator there otherwise they can just pack
us a meal and we can take it to go. Members hate it. they want to get to know
us and feed us, but they can't really. It's okay though.
So the spiritual experience was on Saturday. There was a huge storm and we couldn't leave the apt. Lightning was literally right outside. So we stayed in and did some stuff. But then the sisters called and Hermana Lauricella wanted a blessing. She is going home and she was here for 10 1/2 months so it was kind of hard. So at the time we were supposed to give the blessing, the storm cleared up and we went to the church. It was pretty cool. She asked me to give the blessing. It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to give a blessing and it was just amazing. I love the Priesthood. :) the spirit was super strong and she cried, and of course I cried. It's always such an amazing experience because you can just feel how much God loves the people you are blessing. That was the spiritual experience for the week. :)
The scripture this week is going to be John
14: 27. I love this scripture... I'm going to actually put the whole thing in
the email this time. It says: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto
you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid." I love this scripture because Christ is telling
us that we need not worry. He is there for us and He will not let us down. He
will give us peace in times of trial and tribulation. However, He will not give
us what the world thinks peace is. He is not going to give us anything that the
world reveres as good. He is above the world and so He will give us what we
need. The world cannot give us what Christ can give us. And He gives of it
freely, as long as we follow him and do our best. He wants us to be happy, so
why would He not give us what we need to be truly happy. So be happy!! Christ
is right there with you! Read the poem, "Footprints on the Sand." I'm
sure most, if not all, of you have read it. Read it again! He loves you and
will never leave you! So trust Him. Come unto Him.
Have an amazing week!! Stay safe and be
happy!!! I love you all!!
Love,
Elder Moyes
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