Soon it will be a New Year.
I Am quite excited...
There shall be so many wonderful experiences to come!
This is one of the greatest gifts...knowing that There is So Much of Life to be Lived!
This past year, such a great many memories! Sometimes we forget...just how beautiful life is.
How beautiful a year is. How much can happen...does happen...will happen.
We can learn from the past, all the experiences, to help make us who we are.
We can prepare for the future, to decide who we want to be.
And even now...the time is here in the present, to be lived. Rejoice!
This is a Miracle. What do you want to learn?
What do you want to be? Right now...what do you want to do?
It has been said: The Future is as Bright as Your Faith.
Brothers and Sisters, Family.
There is Such Joy. Unique for Us All...And Yet One in its Purity.
We have that marvelous gift of Agency.
Will you please...remember...that Your Life Can Be As Beautiful as You Want it to Be.
You Can Create.
So Please, Remember.
There is a New Year to Come...
But there is always a new Day...a New Moment.
A New Opportunity to Become.
Every Moment...a Miracle.
This is the Gift of Life.
Smile, Please, Always Keep Smiling.
Happy New Year.
---
I Am so grateful, Family...for that second opportunity to call you today.
Unfortunately...the internet service throughout this region died the otehr day...and we were cut off. It is wonderful, to hear your voices.
And to know this: That this "Monumentous Occasion", that milestone: Being able to call your parents! Was indeed, a milestone for me. But not because i bore great testimony, or there was overwhelming affection conveyed over the phone...heartfelt tears, etc.
I Had, for a moment, pondered on that: Should not this occasion be amazing??
And i am quite pleased with the actual turnout of the phone call: I Called My Parents. My Family. And we Spoke...as If I Were Yet at Home....I Felt My Family. And I Felt the Love. In as Simple a Manner Can Be.
And This is All I Ever Could Want.
We spoke...as though I Never Left. And it's true. I Haven't Left. But rather...I'm away on Errand.
The Greatest Errand there is. For a moment...I'm on Errand. But Home. Ever...I Am Home.
I Love You.
My Gosh...I Promise You...
Those Words are so Beautiful...
Mother...Father. Brothers and Sisters.
Those Words, In Purity...So Beautiful.
We are to Love God.
To Love One Another.
These are the Greatest Commandments.
By Which All Others Follow.
"And Greater Love Hath No Man Than He Layeth Down His Life for His Friends"
There are so many ways to touch someone else's life...to give your life to and for someone else.
What shall our legacy be? How shall I Give My Life?
For Me...I Believe I've Begun to Find How I Shall Give Mine.
I Pray for Us, Dear Brothers and Sisters. For We Shall Return Home...Together.
This I Know. And I Give to Thee My Hand. Please...I Shall Help Thee. Will Ye Help Me?
We Are Coming Home.
--Elder Lewis
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Mild and Sweet, the Words Repeat:
Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men~
Dearest Family,A Merry Christmas To You All.I Pray You Feel the Spirit of Him Whom Hath Given Us Our All.And that Ye See Him, Within the Family, With the Day, Within all Love and Purity. There is Joy on the Earth...There is So Much Joy.
Glory to Him, Our King. O Night Divine, When Christ Was Born.
Mother, I Oft Walk With Him...and Ever He Walks With Me.Prone to Wander...yes, Indeed. Yet, How Glorious to Know:Ever Walketh He Beside We.
Even Now, I Am in Alma...and I found such Wonderful Meaning Here.Particularly Chapter 5. If Other Man Hath love for this Scripture...I Finally Understand Why.
We, who Belong to this Church:Have We Sufficiently Retained in Remembrance...Him. In Our Hearts.He Changes Our Hearts. We Are Born Anew.
And as We Sing These Hymns of Praise, Particularly During this Time of Giving, this Season of Christmas...Shall We Not Remember their True Purpose: To Sing the Song of Redeeming Love.
Oh Mother. My Father. How with Great Anticipation, I Prepare for the Day, when Our Family Shall Be Brought Unto the Very Presence of God, And He Shall Say: "Come Unto Me Ye Blessed."
Yea, He is Christ. To Rise with Healing In His Wings.Oh Family, Oh Friends, Can Ye Not See Him? Dream. Dream of Him.And Know Thy Dream is Thy Very Purpose. Yea, We are But of A Beautiful Dream to Come True.
I Must Say...As of Now...it is already 9 o'clock...I've only had but a few minutes to write this...and i shall not have another opportunity for quite a few days...so this must be sufficient.
I Love You All. This Shall Be Among My Greatest Birthdays Ever.And I Almost Forgot It...But Ever...This is the Greatest Gift.
For All Mankind. For These Beautiful People.We Will Together Understand, "O Holy Night."
--Elder Lewis
Merry Christmas, Dear Family. All of our Family...Yes. Every One.
Dearest Family,A Merry Christmas To You All.I Pray You Feel the Spirit of Him Whom Hath Given Us Our All.And that Ye See Him, Within the Family, With the Day, Within all Love and Purity. There is Joy on the Earth...There is So Much Joy.
Glory to Him, Our King. O Night Divine, When Christ Was Born.
Mother, I Oft Walk With Him...and Ever He Walks With Me.Prone to Wander...yes, Indeed. Yet, How Glorious to Know:Ever Walketh He Beside We.
Even Now, I Am in Alma...and I found such Wonderful Meaning Here.Particularly Chapter 5. If Other Man Hath love for this Scripture...I Finally Understand Why.
We, who Belong to this Church:Have We Sufficiently Retained in Remembrance...Him. In Our Hearts.He Changes Our Hearts. We Are Born Anew.
And as We Sing These Hymns of Praise, Particularly During this Time of Giving, this Season of Christmas...Shall We Not Remember their True Purpose: To Sing the Song of Redeeming Love.
Oh Mother. My Father. How with Great Anticipation, I Prepare for the Day, when Our Family Shall Be Brought Unto the Very Presence of God, And He Shall Say: "Come Unto Me Ye Blessed."
Yea, He is Christ. To Rise with Healing In His Wings.Oh Family, Oh Friends, Can Ye Not See Him? Dream. Dream of Him.And Know Thy Dream is Thy Very Purpose. Yea, We are But of A Beautiful Dream to Come True.
I Must Say...As of Now...it is already 9 o'clock...I've only had but a few minutes to write this...and i shall not have another opportunity for quite a few days...so this must be sufficient.
I Love You All. This Shall Be Among My Greatest Birthdays Ever.And I Almost Forgot It...But Ever...This is the Greatest Gift.
For All Mankind. For These Beautiful People.We Will Together Understand, "O Holy Night."
--Elder Lewis
Merry Christmas, Dear Family. All of our Family...Yes. Every One.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Singing Praises!
To My Marvelous Family,and whomever else may read this =D
Couple things to address first:
My Comps famous =PHaha...nahh...just a lot of people (at least members) in the Zone and Bacolod Area...all know my comp jumped off the bus (the ceres =P) yup yup hahaa. (He fell...kind of...and he's alright...hasnt stopped the work!)
I Also still have letters i need to send out...old ones haha. for lauren. and sister johnson. etc. oh and bordy's resume i made a brief one for him to expound on (yeah...i have those here...i need to mail them though...)
ANDD! If its not happening already...please forward the emails to Ethan and also my Brother David, and Anjelica.
So! Yes, Sister Stadler was in my Batch at the MTC, and she is wonderful. Havent seen her since the first day here...but she is a wonderful Sister. She will work wonders, i know it, for I have seen her spirit. and its quite beautiful. so yes...thats her blog =P
Eating! oh yess...i love eating! Hmm...my current addiction is a chocolate candy somewat like a tootsie roll but not really. Its called "Chubby" and its the chocolate kind. Thats my munchy food. aaandd...actually...surprisingly haha...we dont always eat that much. And im fine with that. We dont come home for lunch often...sometimes eat out for lunch, but not often...breakfast...ehh...sometimes. and dinner is uually the meal we have when we have a meal. ELder Stockton likes to cook (rice rice rice! tuna, fish, vegetables, fish, spicy stuff...corn beef...anyhing...on rice! Its all sudan.) And its fantastic.ive cooked peanut butter on bread (their peanut butter is cool!) made maya pancakes and some rice dishes...but not a whole lot. Lumpia...my candies, my cookies (Creamos! like an oreo sorta...filipino style) and oatmeal...and whatevvss...munchies is pretty much it =P) but i LOVE the filipino food when we eat out or at a members house.
had Balut =p! smelled. bad. but ate it. and yeah...wasnt too bad ;) suspense was awesome though.
And WOW! JUST the other day...ive never been so full in my life! (or it felt like it!) Momma Flor just...wow...shes a grndmother alright! Rice with Talipia fish for Sudan. And my plate...was bottomless. Id just take a bite...come back to the plate...and there was no sign that ever i had touched my plate! She's quick. sooo...i left that house...after sitting on the couch trying to regain myself for 10 minutes...and i literally could not walk...i could not...and we went, taught another lesson...and i waddled my way back to the house. oh dearr...it was wonderful. it was terrible. i felt like i was gonna die. wanted to die. but it was great. sooo...much...riceee...haha! and mango juice!
enough bout that! Package: yes, i sent that home. and no, i dont need anything back...i am perfect as i am fo quite some time =) As i said...just pictures and maybe candy =D!
it is now 1240ish PM...and i am emailing...this is about the time. And I dont read emails til after i write (I print them out and read them later on tonight at the house)
Sooo...it doesnt feel like december...no snow! Haha...i literally forgot thanksgiving ever happened...christmas...well...i remember ONLY because of the music here and there amidst the hip hop and rock =P!
But yes...oh Mom, thought of yoou =) And Louis Armstrong...and how you love Christmas Musicc...and kinda reminisced for a bit about Christmas at our house...or things that happen round the season. Loved it (memory triggered at a members house with christmas music playing in the background over dinner)
No...not sure what mail there is. Apparently there is Fed Ex...dont know much about here how it works...however, the filipino form of fed ex is LBC, very fast cars and motorcyles transporting round the filipines =p! But yeah...dont know how it all works...just that if ever we get packages...usually its through LBC (maybe fed ex)
Yes...we DO live in a house lala. Haha. Its a great house...wonderful lil house...many kinks as i metnioned before. Rats and whatnot here and there...but oh well...they out of sight and out of mind =pp!!
PICTURES! Yes...i sent some home from the mtc (i hope...i told someone to send them) and i will send you thi card probably afte this transfer ends...soo...yup, hows that sound? BY THE WAY...i think i might have almost broken you camera...haha! Its usuable...i think still...probably. yeah kinda...oh well. i can still take pictures so i will...its just scratched and has dirt in it (and the memory card is still funky!)---------ALRIGHT! Enough with the little thingslet me tell you of the True Story, The One that Matters.
This week has been wonderful, Mother.Again...ever night I Come home exhausted...yet I Love this.I know the cause for which i give my energy...and i know there is an even better way. I shall endeavor to find it. But I Am exhausted and quite Happy.
This week...there were many challenges with appointments and church and members and the like...but soon to b addressed.
We have just established...that we are going to strive, even all tht we are...to fill the Chapel as much as we can for the weeks leading to Christmas. As of now...church here is quite different. and yet...hmm...how do i describe...ive been pondering often...of the way to search my heart concerning church. and ive come to find that as i trust Him...he helps me to Find the Love. It is not The Church back home. Yet, it is His Church. I Wish to help this church...yet...i do not wish to merely Americanize it and bring an "American Spirit" to the church...no. But Rather...to Find the Gospel...the Gospel Spirit & Purpose of Church...and Bring it Here. To Establish the Kingdom here. for truly, there is so much that the people here do right. and there are so many similarities. In fact, Mother...we could learn so much from the Spirit they bring to church. And yet, it is young here...and growing...and there is much we can teach them, can help them grow...and truly FEEL that Gospel within these very walls of the consecrated building. We shall learn and grow together.
Together...we shall find the Spirit of the Gospel...and With this...Build THE Kindom...as the Lord Directs, for the Philippines.
I was disheartened...and yet...in awe...to see only 27 members at church just yesterday (in one of our two wards/branches) (they are both rather small)...in awe that these people who came...despite everything! Feel the Spirit strong enough at church and Recognize God and Jesus Christ Here...that they COME. And it was enough to soften my heart...grown up in America, as church is over there...and realize...there is something else here...the Spirit. And somehow...among the conditions here...i felt its purity more than ever before...and it is this purity that keep these members attending. This is why...we have decided...to Bring As Many People to this Chapel in the Two Weeks as we Possibly Can. And we Shall. I Feel This. If We Serve with Our Might. For the INvestigators NEED the Members. And the Members NEED the investigators...all NEED To feel the Purpose. The Very Spirit...and we Can feel it stronger than ever...with Each Other.
Thus...we are in the infant stages of our journey. And one day...i know it will gain momentum and take off...and the cycle will begin again as the ward will then be split and repeat to grow again in members. One day this will happen. But why not now? If it will happen "one day"...why wait? Let Us Grow this Kingdom NOW. For the Members...for the Children of the Covenant, and those Wandering, those Investigators, those Prepared Souls...If We can do but anything...we can do this. We Owe them this much, yea, all our conviction and heart and strength.
For them, We will Exhaust Ourselves.
The church may not understand how to teach, quite how to run the church, the members responsibility, their callings, etc. They dont understand...yet shall we thrust forth our might into giving them the NEED to grow. We Will Teach Them, and give them the people they need...that they will HAVE to grow, to learn, to understand. And they will find a love. they will find the love and the purpose. But we need to first...show them that WE are willing to do all we can...so that they too...can see the Purpose: Because We Love Them. They Will Find: "I Can Love Them" "He Loves Me...He Loves Them..." "I Can Love Them."
And they will find that desire...to help Build the Kingdom.
This is the Spirit of the Season for Us, here in the Philippines...my companion and I, and Even The Heart of Missionary Work.
We Shall Give Them the Greatest Gift we can...so they too...will feel the Joy, and in turn, the Desire and Joy to Give.
Oh how my heart Sang Yesterday! For it Doth Always Sing...but yesterday...we heard the words of our Precious Brethren, Called of God. And I Prayed to the Father...that He Might Surround Me as I LIstened...and He Did. Oh those Marvelous Spirits! The Apostles, the Prophet, The Choir...
Truly...I See Christ. I Feel Him.And He ie E're with All These His People.I Shall Help Them...They Recognize Him...in some way...Yet, Shall They Feel His Love, I Promise They Shall!And they Shall Know Who he is: Christ, Our Savior.
These people know Christ, mother.They Just dont know they do...Shall Not We All...Help One Another See?
I Loved Hearing the Words. Thank You, Father...how I Could Ever have doubted...i do not know. Unwilling to go to see a conference...or to serve, to help missionaries, to fulfill a calling...how could i ever not have known...for in all these ways: I feel my saviors love.
"Let Our Hearts Rejoice" (2nephi 9) Come to Him. I Shall Forever.We Shall Forever. Thank You, Father.
How Could I Be The Very Person Hindering Mine Own Heart?This is All I've Ever Wanted. And i Promise You...This is All We've Ever Wanted.
A Baptism this week...a beautiful family...The Alvez family. Only the mother Nanay and Mar Joy a daughter at the moment...but we teach the entire family...and i know, they all soon to follow...to enter into the covenant...to recieve the wonderful comforter...to forever feel Christ...and to become a family, forever. I See This. And I Am overjoyed. Her Testimony had me Dumfounded...in Awe. Nanay stood...and Smiled...and struggled...and wept. And wept. For many long moments...wept. And then sat down. It was Perhaps One of the Most Beautiful Testimonies I've Ever Witnessed.
There are Many People Close to My Heart Right Now, Mother.So many, i have not the time...nor the words to say, nor capacity of heart...for truly...it is not my heart. It is His.
And Suffice it to Say Mother...I Believe in Christ. He is My Love.He is the Love. And Together...We Shall Share Our Love.
I Love my Friends--Brody, Alena, Andrea, Ethan, Jane, Susie...I Love my Family. I Love these Missionaries, yea, all Missionaries. I Love the Philippines, and All the People Therein. All the Children of the World. I Love My God, Our Father....Yes...I Love Our Family.
And this is the Light. This is Who We Are--Within.
Oh Shall we not become his Seed? Shall we not Taken Upon Us His Name--And be of the Seed of Christ?Yea, We Shall. And We'll Come Singing to Zion. For We Know: Thy God Reigneth!
Blessed be Our Family. Blessed Be Our Father. And Unto Him, We Shall Sing, for all Eternity.
(Mosiah 15)
--Elder Lewis
Couple things to address first:
My Comps famous =PHaha...nahh...just a lot of people (at least members) in the Zone and Bacolod Area...all know my comp jumped off the bus (the ceres =P) yup yup hahaa. (He fell...kind of...and he's alright...hasnt stopped the work!)
I Also still have letters i need to send out...old ones haha. for lauren. and sister johnson. etc. oh and bordy's resume i made a brief one for him to expound on (yeah...i have those here...i need to mail them though...)
ANDD! If its not happening already...please forward the emails to Ethan and also my Brother David, and Anjelica.
So! Yes, Sister Stadler was in my Batch at the MTC, and she is wonderful. Havent seen her since the first day here...but she is a wonderful Sister. She will work wonders, i know it, for I have seen her spirit. and its quite beautiful. so yes...thats her blog =P
Eating! oh yess...i love eating! Hmm...my current addiction is a chocolate candy somewat like a tootsie roll but not really. Its called "Chubby" and its the chocolate kind. Thats my munchy food. aaandd...actually...surprisingly haha...we dont always eat that much. And im fine with that. We dont come home for lunch often...sometimes eat out for lunch, but not often...breakfast...ehh...sometimes. and dinner is uually the meal we have when we have a meal. ELder Stockton likes to cook (rice rice rice! tuna, fish, vegetables, fish, spicy stuff...corn beef...anyhing...on rice! Its all sudan.) And its fantastic.ive cooked peanut butter on bread (their peanut butter is cool!) made maya pancakes and some rice dishes...but not a whole lot. Lumpia...my candies, my cookies (Creamos! like an oreo sorta...filipino style) and oatmeal...and whatevvss...munchies is pretty much it =P) but i LOVE the filipino food when we eat out or at a members house.
had Balut =p! smelled. bad. but ate it. and yeah...wasnt too bad ;) suspense was awesome though.
And WOW! JUST the other day...ive never been so full in my life! (or it felt like it!) Momma Flor just...wow...shes a grndmother alright! Rice with Talipia fish for Sudan. And my plate...was bottomless. Id just take a bite...come back to the plate...and there was no sign that ever i had touched my plate! She's quick. sooo...i left that house...after sitting on the couch trying to regain myself for 10 minutes...and i literally could not walk...i could not...and we went, taught another lesson...and i waddled my way back to the house. oh dearr...it was wonderful. it was terrible. i felt like i was gonna die. wanted to die. but it was great. sooo...much...riceee...haha! and mango juice!
enough bout that! Package: yes, i sent that home. and no, i dont need anything back...i am perfect as i am fo quite some time =) As i said...just pictures and maybe candy =D!
it is now 1240ish PM...and i am emailing...this is about the time. And I dont read emails til after i write (I print them out and read them later on tonight at the house)
Sooo...it doesnt feel like december...no snow! Haha...i literally forgot thanksgiving ever happened...christmas...well...i remember ONLY because of the music here and there amidst the hip hop and rock =P!
But yes...oh Mom, thought of yoou =) And Louis Armstrong...and how you love Christmas Musicc...and kinda reminisced for a bit about Christmas at our house...or things that happen round the season. Loved it (memory triggered at a members house with christmas music playing in the background over dinner)
No...not sure what mail there is. Apparently there is Fed Ex...dont know much about here how it works...however, the filipino form of fed ex is LBC, very fast cars and motorcyles transporting round the filipines =p! But yeah...dont know how it all works...just that if ever we get packages...usually its through LBC (maybe fed ex)
Yes...we DO live in a house lala. Haha. Its a great house...wonderful lil house...many kinks as i metnioned before. Rats and whatnot here and there...but oh well...they out of sight and out of mind =pp!!
PICTURES! Yes...i sent some home from the mtc (i hope...i told someone to send them) and i will send you thi card probably afte this transfer ends...soo...yup, hows that sound? BY THE WAY...i think i might have almost broken you camera...haha! Its usuable...i think still...probably. yeah kinda...oh well. i can still take pictures so i will...its just scratched and has dirt in it (and the memory card is still funky!)---------ALRIGHT! Enough with the little thingslet me tell you of the True Story, The One that Matters.
This week has been wonderful, Mother.Again...ever night I Come home exhausted...yet I Love this.I know the cause for which i give my energy...and i know there is an even better way. I shall endeavor to find it. But I Am exhausted and quite Happy.
This week...there were many challenges with appointments and church and members and the like...but soon to b addressed.
We have just established...that we are going to strive, even all tht we are...to fill the Chapel as much as we can for the weeks leading to Christmas. As of now...church here is quite different. and yet...hmm...how do i describe...ive been pondering often...of the way to search my heart concerning church. and ive come to find that as i trust Him...he helps me to Find the Love. It is not The Church back home. Yet, it is His Church. I Wish to help this church...yet...i do not wish to merely Americanize it and bring an "American Spirit" to the church...no. But Rather...to Find the Gospel...the Gospel Spirit & Purpose of Church...and Bring it Here. To Establish the Kingdom here. for truly, there is so much that the people here do right. and there are so many similarities. In fact, Mother...we could learn so much from the Spirit they bring to church. And yet, it is young here...and growing...and there is much we can teach them, can help them grow...and truly FEEL that Gospel within these very walls of the consecrated building. We shall learn and grow together.
Together...we shall find the Spirit of the Gospel...and With this...Build THE Kindom...as the Lord Directs, for the Philippines.
I was disheartened...and yet...in awe...to see only 27 members at church just yesterday (in one of our two wards/branches) (they are both rather small)...in awe that these people who came...despite everything! Feel the Spirit strong enough at church and Recognize God and Jesus Christ Here...that they COME. And it was enough to soften my heart...grown up in America, as church is over there...and realize...there is something else here...the Spirit. And somehow...among the conditions here...i felt its purity more than ever before...and it is this purity that keep these members attending. This is why...we have decided...to Bring As Many People to this Chapel in the Two Weeks as we Possibly Can. And we Shall. I Feel This. If We Serve with Our Might. For the INvestigators NEED the Members. And the Members NEED the investigators...all NEED To feel the Purpose. The Very Spirit...and we Can feel it stronger than ever...with Each Other.
Thus...we are in the infant stages of our journey. And one day...i know it will gain momentum and take off...and the cycle will begin again as the ward will then be split and repeat to grow again in members. One day this will happen. But why not now? If it will happen "one day"...why wait? Let Us Grow this Kingdom NOW. For the Members...for the Children of the Covenant, and those Wandering, those Investigators, those Prepared Souls...If We can do but anything...we can do this. We Owe them this much, yea, all our conviction and heart and strength.
For them, We will Exhaust Ourselves.
The church may not understand how to teach, quite how to run the church, the members responsibility, their callings, etc. They dont understand...yet shall we thrust forth our might into giving them the NEED to grow. We Will Teach Them, and give them the people they need...that they will HAVE to grow, to learn, to understand. And they will find a love. they will find the love and the purpose. But we need to first...show them that WE are willing to do all we can...so that they too...can see the Purpose: Because We Love Them. They Will Find: "I Can Love Them" "He Loves Me...He Loves Them..." "I Can Love Them."
And they will find that desire...to help Build the Kingdom.
This is the Spirit of the Season for Us, here in the Philippines...my companion and I, and Even The Heart of Missionary Work.
We Shall Give Them the Greatest Gift we can...so they too...will feel the Joy, and in turn, the Desire and Joy to Give.
Oh how my heart Sang Yesterday! For it Doth Always Sing...but yesterday...we heard the words of our Precious Brethren, Called of God. And I Prayed to the Father...that He Might Surround Me as I LIstened...and He Did. Oh those Marvelous Spirits! The Apostles, the Prophet, The Choir...
Truly...I See Christ. I Feel Him.And He ie E're with All These His People.I Shall Help Them...They Recognize Him...in some way...Yet, Shall They Feel His Love, I Promise They Shall!And they Shall Know Who he is: Christ, Our Savior.
These people know Christ, mother.They Just dont know they do...Shall Not We All...Help One Another See?
I Loved Hearing the Words. Thank You, Father...how I Could Ever have doubted...i do not know. Unwilling to go to see a conference...or to serve, to help missionaries, to fulfill a calling...how could i ever not have known...for in all these ways: I feel my saviors love.
"Let Our Hearts Rejoice" (2nephi 9) Come to Him. I Shall Forever.We Shall Forever. Thank You, Father.
How Could I Be The Very Person Hindering Mine Own Heart?This is All I've Ever Wanted. And i Promise You...This is All We've Ever Wanted.
A Baptism this week...a beautiful family...The Alvez family. Only the mother Nanay and Mar Joy a daughter at the moment...but we teach the entire family...and i know, they all soon to follow...to enter into the covenant...to recieve the wonderful comforter...to forever feel Christ...and to become a family, forever. I See This. And I Am overjoyed. Her Testimony had me Dumfounded...in Awe. Nanay stood...and Smiled...and struggled...and wept. And wept. For many long moments...wept. And then sat down. It was Perhaps One of the Most Beautiful Testimonies I've Ever Witnessed.
There are Many People Close to My Heart Right Now, Mother.So many, i have not the time...nor the words to say, nor capacity of heart...for truly...it is not my heart. It is His.
And Suffice it to Say Mother...I Believe in Christ. He is My Love.He is the Love. And Together...We Shall Share Our Love.
I Love my Friends--Brody, Alena, Andrea, Ethan, Jane, Susie...I Love my Family. I Love these Missionaries, yea, all Missionaries. I Love the Philippines, and All the People Therein. All the Children of the World. I Love My God, Our Father....Yes...I Love Our Family.
And this is the Light. This is Who We Are--Within.
Oh Shall we not become his Seed? Shall we not Taken Upon Us His Name--And be of the Seed of Christ?Yea, We Shall. And We'll Come Singing to Zion. For We Know: Thy God Reigneth!
Blessed be Our Family. Blessed Be Our Father. And Unto Him, We Shall Sing, for all Eternity.
(Mosiah 15)
--Elder Lewis
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
One last thing!
Dear Mom and Dad,
Sorry! I'm on with permission today because my email was acting up yesterday, and i couldnt print off any stuff...so im on for a minute!
So! One thing i forgot to mention:
Guess what? My companion fell off a bus! hahaha! Yup...the Ceres. It was fantastic. We went to the hopsital and everything. Not to worry ya bout me hanging off the sides of vehicles or nothing =P! He's fine...he looks great! What a beautiful guy =P!
OH! One last thing...please date your dear elders to me, and tell everyone to date them, so i have the dates.
and please forward all my emails, this and the other two, to everyone i sent you.
Mail me pictures! Everyone! XD!!
and on google map, we're right by Manapala Cemetery (take the road on the left of it on google map (not the main one) and somewhere on that road, is our house (the white one on the right side =P!)
BYE!!!
--Elder Lewis
Sorry! I'm on with permission today because my email was acting up yesterday, and i couldnt print off any stuff...so im on for a minute!
So! One thing i forgot to mention:
Guess what? My companion fell off a bus! hahaha! Yup...the Ceres. It was fantastic. We went to the hopsital and everything. Not to worry ya bout me hanging off the sides of vehicles or nothing =P! He's fine...he looks great! What a beautiful guy =P!
OH! One last thing...please date your dear elders to me, and tell everyone to date them, so i have the dates.
and please forward all my emails, this and the other two, to everyone i sent you.
Mail me pictures! Everyone! XD!!
and on google map, we're right by Manapala Cemetery (take the road on the left of it on google map (not the main one) and somewhere on that road, is our house (the white one on the right side =P!)
BYE!!!
--Elder Lewis
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Glorious Week
Dear Mother and Father,
If ever you have known me, know this: I Have Found Who I Am.And Ye Can Know Me...if Ye But Read Mosiah 2. If Ever Ye Have Known Your Son, This is Who I Am. And Ye Shall Know Your Son.
Even This Very Morning, This Marvelous Revelation Came To Me.
I have oft discussed, with many a close friend, with father, and with you mother, concerniung this very topic. And I Do Hope through all that you have known me, you have seen this very thing in me. And i rejoiceth to say this, for this is the greatest desire of my heart, yea, this be even My Celestial Joy. And I Know, in the Eternities, this will be Who I Am...for Eternal Life would not be, for me, unless it be thus. And I Have Prayed, before, and not long ago, and yet now, and I know. He Hath Covenanted With Me. And I Rejoice.
I wish to Serve, in some capacity, even all capacities...for the greatest joy i have ever recieved...is when on another's face I see that pure smile...celestial smile...even the Light of Christ.
And service can be anything, truly anything, so long as the intent is to give unto another Happiness. Joy for Another. And This Be Christ.
Long before, I pondered this, and i pondered while I was at home. And while yet at BYU...where I began actively, truly my own journey of Conversion...coming to Christ. I had been prepared...and for these moments of my life. I am continually preparing...for the best moments, of my life, yea, even for another's. And I remember my thoughts, and my conversations with my close friends, and parents, and i remember praying to God on the day I was endowed...and praying in my heart the Day of my Patriarchal Blessing...
Dear God...if it So Be that this is My Purpose...please...shall I Know.And I Do, Mother. I do Father. And Shall I Yet Share My Love, and Serve...as Best I Can. May the Lord God Guide Me, as I Give My heart to Him, that we might share our hearts with another, I Pray. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Shall I Not Share a Few Details of the Happenings and Sights of the Philippines with you? I Shall...but in Brief (oh dear...if i CAN be brief...always a weakpoint of mine) Only because it is indeed a marvelous place, and I know you all would like to hear SOMETHING about the actual area itself. So Thus it is:
I Wake up...EVERY morning...to this: EEEERRRYAAACCKAAAROOOO!!...they are EVERYWHERE! Haha! Those roosters! And they cockle every minute! I Wake up to this, i work to this, i sleep to this. It has become somewhat of an anthem. I Kinda like it. As I Mentioned before...some things, even many things, i puzzle at for a second, then Smile...how perfect. This is the Philippines. =D!
Sooo...Yes, I Am in a House...its got a few kinks with the fridge and the sink and the toilet and the...shower? ... and one of the doors... but its great! Haha! I Love it! We have our own coconut and manggo trees and its wonderful. There are lil bugs...but again...it just seems so natural, now that I'm here. They crawl over my books (they are really small) or along the sink or on my arms even as i write and whatnot, and i just smile and occasionally brush them off. I Can't Tell You...the Lord Has Helped My Heart So Much. I Love So Much About This Place.
Lizards you see occasionally inside the house scurrying across the walls...oh! And there are dogs. MANY dogs. Wild dogs. All over the place in the Philippines. On the streets, in the yards, all strays. dogs...and in great number! Its kinda amazing =p!
OH DAD! Thanks for all the Razor stuff! Thats waayy mahal here! (expensive!). I Do not believe i need anything...and packages take a while to send...so please...just send twizzlers or something if you want to send something (love candy).
(oh...and know i will probably get it a month after you send it =p!) But yes! The razors! I am set for my mission! WOO!! haha! Thanks Dad!
Sooo...i've now officially ridden literally hanging off the side of a tricycle (motorcylce with a "carriage" attached to it), hanging out the door of a Ceres (a large bus)...on the back door of a Jeepnee, kinda flailing in the wind trailing behind it...
yup, thats actually all become quite common practice now, haha! Tricycles we use to get everywhere, and busses and jeepnees are full a lot =p! (tho im not in jeepnees much, thats the city)
OH! Did you get my package and stuff from the MTC?I asked my fellow zone members to mail it for me after i left...should be a package of excess stuff i couldnt bring in my luggage (lots of weight restrictions) as well as a separate package of JUST the camera card! So please...let me know if you recieved it.
Alright...well...they DO love basketball here! And Music haha! Karaoke...but always! They BLAST Music...i can here music anywhere i go in the streets, at any time of day! (Love it at night) Apparently they like hip hop and techno a lot =p! In any case...its always a joy to me...i keep the spirit about me...and just smile...because of the life here haha! Such an energy here!
And at night...you feel it! Blasting that music...yup, town's still up!
sooo...my nicknames here are: A Professional Basketball Player named Lewis and a Professional (and Good!) Boxer named Lewis. Here them ALOT. I'm pretty famous. ;)
And One Last minor Point: The Drivers here...wow! Haha!Lets put it this way: Here you assume Excellence. Not Ignorance, as is commonly assumed in other places. And because of such...they can do just about whatever they want on the road (its mostly ALL public transportation) assuming the other people are good enough to cope. and surprisingly, they are! Its amazing...its like absolute chaos! ...but they are GENIUSES! Haha! Go Philippines!
And the area is gorgeous...everywhere i look, i am surrounded by beauty. absolutely breathtaking...i am in awe every time. From my first day...even until now...i marvel that this earth has been created. The sugar cane fields...the rice fields, the coconut trees...the many green, lush mountains...the perfect blue skies and perfect clouds...magnificent sunrise and sunset and...oh dear...its the mmost perfect serene bit of nature i have ever seen...and i see it every day, something new every day...and even the same sights always change...a new flair each time...if only even through my eyes.
But the greatest beauty here, Mother, Father. Family.Is the Beauty of this People. I Cannot describe...save it be that i know this: This is a Consecrated Land. The Philippines is a consecrated land...that the Lord has set apart to personally come forth and perform his work. This people...they will listen to you...actually LISTEN to you. And will openly, warmly, greet you with a smile from their heart. There have been many who have welcomed use in...and truly...the did not seem "interested" even upon the close and our testimonies...but yet, they still show their love. and there willingness to listen to you. They care about you. You can know when they love you...you can see this. And I Dare Say when a Filipino truly shows you their love, you Can Know what Love is. I am beginning to Understand and See This. But know that in all they do, there is some pure love there. This is a Consecrated Land...and the Lord will perform a Marvelous Work among this People. Christ, and the Light of this Gospel, whether they see it or not, I see it. I Feel it. So Vibrantly...they have so much light within them...they even live and yearn for the gospel...they do! I Know This! And they so readily express it...and we must Show Them...with all our very being, that Yes: This is All Ye Desire. He is Christ! Here, Let Your Heart Rejoice. Not teach or just testify...but SHOW that THIS is Who You Are...because of Him.
I Feel...Such great Need to learn this language. I Must. For I See in the People Here the Very Light of Christ...and I Glimpse as I Search for My Savior, their very Joy: The Joy of Angels. They are the Angels. And I Glimpse their Eternity...and The Pure Happiness, forever. Shall I Not have faith in My God, that He Who Hath Power Over ALL, that surely...through my faith AND my diligence unto him, Shall I Not Become Fluent in this Language? And excercise all the very faculty of my soul and show them how I Do Rejoice! For I Know God. And I Know them. And He Knows Them. And We Shall Return! I Shall Indeed. Illongo and Tagalog...and yea, if need be, any and ALL of the other 5 dialects, to show them this cause for Rejoicing: Christ, Our Dear Savior.
Here...I Have Felt the Love of These Dear People. I Will Make Mention of Two Peoples in Particular: The Alvez Family...and Princess.
The Alvez Family I Met with, but a few days into the mission. And before ever I spoke, they loved me. They encircled me in their love...and literally, quite literally, were all about me. And we taught them...and i did share my testimony as best i could in Illonggo. And every time since that night...they Love Me. Such pure love, every time. I cannot describe it except, for a moment...i am raised up, with them all, and feel christ all round us. There is such love in this family.
Many are soon to be baptized, in this coming week. But first, before ever i had known them, they loved me. and as soon as i saw their faces, i loved them. and together, yea, hand in hand...we doth come unto Christ. We embrace Him.
And Princess came to me during priesthood/ combined meeting for planning session or something (I couldnt understand what was going on...and my comp was at our OTHER ward in caduha-an) and so i sat there...and a little girl came up to me and just PLOPPED on my lap. and kept hugging me. and laughing. and smiling. I dont even KNOW this girl. and yet...for a full hour...she and I exchanged smiles and laughs and she would hug my legs and play with my paper and pen and flashlight and compass and everything...
i cannot explain...save it be this girl of perhaps 3, coming up to me, and in that moment, i feel in love with her. This Small, Beautiful Child of God. I Fell in Love With...in But a Moment.
I Do not have much time left...so i believe the rest of which I Desire to say i shall save for another letter home...i do hope i actually write that one.
But Let me Say This:
I Do Not Understand how a Boy Could Ever Speak more Versedly than a Scholar, nor with more conviction than an Expert...I Say Unto You, it Cannot Be...Save it be by the Very God.
We Are Passionate...For We Know. And All Power, Yea, The Very God is behind this Truth. For We Testify of Him...Because We Know. We Feel. We Believe. And We Love. We Speak with the Power of Angels...yea...even The Very Mouth of Christ. For We Do This...For A Purpose, Yea the Greatest Purpose: The Purpose of God.
I Feel we do not realize how much difference this gospel makes in someones life. For us...perhaps we take it too much for granted. Yet...know this! Who we are Is Inseparably connected to that which we know of Christ and this Eternal Plan. If We Believe on His Name...it hath made all the difference...and we are This Belief. If we have heard of Him and his truth, yea, even if we only partially or in ignorance believe...it still has changed our life...think on this!
Families forever! Life after Death! Christ on the Earth! In Our Hearts! A Purpose! Love...we are to Love One Another! There is Infinite Hope!We Shall Return to our Father...our Very Family. We Shall Rejoice for All Eternity!
This is SO Foriegn to all those poeple in the world. For they have never heard such things. Yet we, who have heard...can live our lives knowing these things. and even if we do not "know" or believe" yet have been raised therein or have heard...our life is CHANGED forever because of this...
For otehr people have no idea! Not an inkling of the answer...some dont even realize the question! Others ponder continually
how great, our calling. the calling of all people. This is Who We Are. And we Stand Out from the World. For When we are in Christ...even the smallest of truth...yea, any can know this. For in that moment, we are Set Apart. For Christ is not of the things of this World...nor can any such thing be in his presence. And ALL People...no matter how much of this gosepel you believe is in you...see! FEEL! That higher plane...thats setting apart...that fopreign world which is so familiar.
Do not be shy. i think on me...and was i shy? or afraid? or thought they not to be ready? my friends. so many people now i think...yes...yes why didnt i tell them? this will change their life...they will be happy forever...even if they dont realize it...i know! and this will be. please...know this. We are inviting them...unto Christ. The greatest thing there be in this life and all eternity. you lose nothing in an invitation. and yet...they may gain everything. whatever your reason not to...overcome. Share this Gospel with them, in whatever way you can...but Actively...Share It. Let Them Know Who You Are...and By Whom Ye Are Who ye Are. if missionaries ask for referralls...help them. all people around you are looking...for You. For christ. And ye know Him. Please...Ye Can Give them Everything...the Way to Everything.
I Love my life back home...make no mistake...i love it. yet now i know...there are many things i desire, even now in my heart, that i shall change. I hope i always remember this desire. For I Have tasted a greater life...yea, even the best life...even now, on my mission. Make it known...i love my life at home...and yet, If only I could give all...to live THIS Life...forever. And I Can. This is the best Life...and as I Come Home...I Can Bring this with Me.
I Do Know...that although I feel i love my life back home...yet i would give it up in a heartbeat to do as i am doing yet now, once more...i cannot...
for this is a once in a lifetime moment. Yet know this! Every moment...is once in a lifetime. Therefore...ought we to treasure every one. And Make every one worth Once in a LIfetime. Yea, let Christ be in every Moment...and Every Moment therefore Shall Ye Rejoice. We Can Have true Joy...Every Moment of Our Lives. If In Every Moment, there be Christ. Therefore...let US Be Joyful...in every moment. And let us share Christ...in every Moment. Every Moment is Once in a lifetime.
We Believe...in God. The Eternal Father. And Jesus Christ, His Son. And in the Holy Ghost.
We Believe in Being Honest. True. Chaste. Benevolent. Virtuous. And in Doing Good to All Men. We Believe All Things. Hope all Things. Have endured many things...and hope to endure All things. If there is anything Virtuous. Lovely. of Good Report. Or Praiseworthy. We Seek After These Things.
We Know God is the Father. Our Father. We Know He Loves Us.We Know Christ is Our Savior. And Through Him, We Can Be Happy Forever. We Know The Purpose of this Life. To Prepare. For We Know He Shall Come Again. And we Shall Return With Him...to Eternal Life.
Glorious Be The Day.For We Know.
And This Changes A Life.Yeah, For This is a Life.
Shall We Not, Therefore...Take His Hand, and in the Others, Our Brethren. Yes, We Shall. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
--Elder Christopher A. Lewis
P.S.
Please forward this to:
???@???.com
???@???.com
???@???.com
(last two are my teachers!)
And jane...feel free to send these to any of my friends you think would enjoy, or give the emails to my parents.
Thank you, and I Love You All.For This Reason, Am I Here.
If ever you have known me, know this: I Have Found Who I Am.And Ye Can Know Me...if Ye But Read Mosiah 2. If Ever Ye Have Known Your Son, This is Who I Am. And Ye Shall Know Your Son.
Even This Very Morning, This Marvelous Revelation Came To Me.
I have oft discussed, with many a close friend, with father, and with you mother, concerniung this very topic. And I Do Hope through all that you have known me, you have seen this very thing in me. And i rejoiceth to say this, for this is the greatest desire of my heart, yea, this be even My Celestial Joy. And I Know, in the Eternities, this will be Who I Am...for Eternal Life would not be, for me, unless it be thus. And I Have Prayed, before, and not long ago, and yet now, and I know. He Hath Covenanted With Me. And I Rejoice.
I wish to Serve, in some capacity, even all capacities...for the greatest joy i have ever recieved...is when on another's face I see that pure smile...celestial smile...even the Light of Christ.
And service can be anything, truly anything, so long as the intent is to give unto another Happiness. Joy for Another. And This Be Christ.
Long before, I pondered this, and i pondered while I was at home. And while yet at BYU...where I began actively, truly my own journey of Conversion...coming to Christ. I had been prepared...and for these moments of my life. I am continually preparing...for the best moments, of my life, yea, even for another's. And I remember my thoughts, and my conversations with my close friends, and parents, and i remember praying to God on the day I was endowed...and praying in my heart the Day of my Patriarchal Blessing...
Dear God...if it So Be that this is My Purpose...please...shall I Know.And I Do, Mother. I do Father. And Shall I Yet Share My Love, and Serve...as Best I Can. May the Lord God Guide Me, as I Give My heart to Him, that we might share our hearts with another, I Pray. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Shall I Not Share a Few Details of the Happenings and Sights of the Philippines with you? I Shall...but in Brief (oh dear...if i CAN be brief...always a weakpoint of mine) Only because it is indeed a marvelous place, and I know you all would like to hear SOMETHING about the actual area itself. So Thus it is:
I Wake up...EVERY morning...to this: EEEERRRYAAACCKAAAROOOO!!...they are EVERYWHERE! Haha! Those roosters! And they cockle every minute! I Wake up to this, i work to this, i sleep to this. It has become somewhat of an anthem. I Kinda like it. As I Mentioned before...some things, even many things, i puzzle at for a second, then Smile...how perfect. This is the Philippines. =D!
Sooo...Yes, I Am in a House...its got a few kinks with the fridge and the sink and the toilet and the...shower? ... and one of the doors... but its great! Haha! I Love it! We have our own coconut and manggo trees and its wonderful. There are lil bugs...but again...it just seems so natural, now that I'm here. They crawl over my books (they are really small) or along the sink or on my arms even as i write and whatnot, and i just smile and occasionally brush them off. I Can't Tell You...the Lord Has Helped My Heart So Much. I Love So Much About This Place.
Lizards you see occasionally inside the house scurrying across the walls...oh! And there are dogs. MANY dogs. Wild dogs. All over the place in the Philippines. On the streets, in the yards, all strays. dogs...and in great number! Its kinda amazing =p!
OH DAD! Thanks for all the Razor stuff! Thats waayy mahal here! (expensive!). I Do not believe i need anything...and packages take a while to send...so please...just send twizzlers or something if you want to send something (love candy).
(oh...and know i will probably get it a month after you send it =p!) But yes! The razors! I am set for my mission! WOO!! haha! Thanks Dad!
Sooo...i've now officially ridden literally hanging off the side of a tricycle (motorcylce with a "carriage" attached to it), hanging out the door of a Ceres (a large bus)...on the back door of a Jeepnee, kinda flailing in the wind trailing behind it...
yup, thats actually all become quite common practice now, haha! Tricycles we use to get everywhere, and busses and jeepnees are full a lot =p! (tho im not in jeepnees much, thats the city)
OH! Did you get my package and stuff from the MTC?I asked my fellow zone members to mail it for me after i left...should be a package of excess stuff i couldnt bring in my luggage (lots of weight restrictions) as well as a separate package of JUST the camera card! So please...let me know if you recieved it.
Alright...well...they DO love basketball here! And Music haha! Karaoke...but always! They BLAST Music...i can here music anywhere i go in the streets, at any time of day! (Love it at night) Apparently they like hip hop and techno a lot =p! In any case...its always a joy to me...i keep the spirit about me...and just smile...because of the life here haha! Such an energy here!
And at night...you feel it! Blasting that music...yup, town's still up!
sooo...my nicknames here are: A Professional Basketball Player named Lewis and a Professional (and Good!) Boxer named Lewis. Here them ALOT. I'm pretty famous. ;)
And One Last minor Point: The Drivers here...wow! Haha!Lets put it this way: Here you assume Excellence. Not Ignorance, as is commonly assumed in other places. And because of such...they can do just about whatever they want on the road (its mostly ALL public transportation) assuming the other people are good enough to cope. and surprisingly, they are! Its amazing...its like absolute chaos! ...but they are GENIUSES! Haha! Go Philippines!
And the area is gorgeous...everywhere i look, i am surrounded by beauty. absolutely breathtaking...i am in awe every time. From my first day...even until now...i marvel that this earth has been created. The sugar cane fields...the rice fields, the coconut trees...the many green, lush mountains...the perfect blue skies and perfect clouds...magnificent sunrise and sunset and...oh dear...its the mmost perfect serene bit of nature i have ever seen...and i see it every day, something new every day...and even the same sights always change...a new flair each time...if only even through my eyes.
But the greatest beauty here, Mother, Father. Family.Is the Beauty of this People. I Cannot describe...save it be that i know this: This is a Consecrated Land. The Philippines is a consecrated land...that the Lord has set apart to personally come forth and perform his work. This people...they will listen to you...actually LISTEN to you. And will openly, warmly, greet you with a smile from their heart. There have been many who have welcomed use in...and truly...the did not seem "interested" even upon the close and our testimonies...but yet, they still show their love. and there willingness to listen to you. They care about you. You can know when they love you...you can see this. And I Dare Say when a Filipino truly shows you their love, you Can Know what Love is. I am beginning to Understand and See This. But know that in all they do, there is some pure love there. This is a Consecrated Land...and the Lord will perform a Marvelous Work among this People. Christ, and the Light of this Gospel, whether they see it or not, I see it. I Feel it. So Vibrantly...they have so much light within them...they even live and yearn for the gospel...they do! I Know This! And they so readily express it...and we must Show Them...with all our very being, that Yes: This is All Ye Desire. He is Christ! Here, Let Your Heart Rejoice. Not teach or just testify...but SHOW that THIS is Who You Are...because of Him.
I Feel...Such great Need to learn this language. I Must. For I See in the People Here the Very Light of Christ...and I Glimpse as I Search for My Savior, their very Joy: The Joy of Angels. They are the Angels. And I Glimpse their Eternity...and The Pure Happiness, forever. Shall I Not have faith in My God, that He Who Hath Power Over ALL, that surely...through my faith AND my diligence unto him, Shall I Not Become Fluent in this Language? And excercise all the very faculty of my soul and show them how I Do Rejoice! For I Know God. And I Know them. And He Knows Them. And We Shall Return! I Shall Indeed. Illongo and Tagalog...and yea, if need be, any and ALL of the other 5 dialects, to show them this cause for Rejoicing: Christ, Our Dear Savior.
Here...I Have Felt the Love of These Dear People. I Will Make Mention of Two Peoples in Particular: The Alvez Family...and Princess.
The Alvez Family I Met with, but a few days into the mission. And before ever I spoke, they loved me. They encircled me in their love...and literally, quite literally, were all about me. And we taught them...and i did share my testimony as best i could in Illonggo. And every time since that night...they Love Me. Such pure love, every time. I cannot describe it except, for a moment...i am raised up, with them all, and feel christ all round us. There is such love in this family.
Many are soon to be baptized, in this coming week. But first, before ever i had known them, they loved me. and as soon as i saw their faces, i loved them. and together, yea, hand in hand...we doth come unto Christ. We embrace Him.
And Princess came to me during priesthood/ combined meeting for planning session or something (I couldnt understand what was going on...and my comp was at our OTHER ward in caduha-an) and so i sat there...and a little girl came up to me and just PLOPPED on my lap. and kept hugging me. and laughing. and smiling. I dont even KNOW this girl. and yet...for a full hour...she and I exchanged smiles and laughs and she would hug my legs and play with my paper and pen and flashlight and compass and everything...
i cannot explain...save it be this girl of perhaps 3, coming up to me, and in that moment, i feel in love with her. This Small, Beautiful Child of God. I Fell in Love With...in But a Moment.
I Do not have much time left...so i believe the rest of which I Desire to say i shall save for another letter home...i do hope i actually write that one.
But Let me Say This:
I Do Not Understand how a Boy Could Ever Speak more Versedly than a Scholar, nor with more conviction than an Expert...I Say Unto You, it Cannot Be...Save it be by the Very God.
We Are Passionate...For We Know. And All Power, Yea, The Very God is behind this Truth. For We Testify of Him...Because We Know. We Feel. We Believe. And We Love. We Speak with the Power of Angels...yea...even The Very Mouth of Christ. For We Do This...For A Purpose, Yea the Greatest Purpose: The Purpose of God.
I Feel we do not realize how much difference this gospel makes in someones life. For us...perhaps we take it too much for granted. Yet...know this! Who we are Is Inseparably connected to that which we know of Christ and this Eternal Plan. If We Believe on His Name...it hath made all the difference...and we are This Belief. If we have heard of Him and his truth, yea, even if we only partially or in ignorance believe...it still has changed our life...think on this!
Families forever! Life after Death! Christ on the Earth! In Our Hearts! A Purpose! Love...we are to Love One Another! There is Infinite Hope!We Shall Return to our Father...our Very Family. We Shall Rejoice for All Eternity!
This is SO Foriegn to all those poeple in the world. For they have never heard such things. Yet we, who have heard...can live our lives knowing these things. and even if we do not "know" or believe" yet have been raised therein or have heard...our life is CHANGED forever because of this...
For otehr people have no idea! Not an inkling of the answer...some dont even realize the question! Others ponder continually
how great, our calling. the calling of all people. This is Who We Are. And we Stand Out from the World. For When we are in Christ...even the smallest of truth...yea, any can know this. For in that moment, we are Set Apart. For Christ is not of the things of this World...nor can any such thing be in his presence. And ALL People...no matter how much of this gosepel you believe is in you...see! FEEL! That higher plane...thats setting apart...that fopreign world which is so familiar.
Do not be shy. i think on me...and was i shy? or afraid? or thought they not to be ready? my friends. so many people now i think...yes...yes why didnt i tell them? this will change their life...they will be happy forever...even if they dont realize it...i know! and this will be. please...know this. We are inviting them...unto Christ. The greatest thing there be in this life and all eternity. you lose nothing in an invitation. and yet...they may gain everything. whatever your reason not to...overcome. Share this Gospel with them, in whatever way you can...but Actively...Share It. Let Them Know Who You Are...and By Whom Ye Are Who ye Are. if missionaries ask for referralls...help them. all people around you are looking...for You. For christ. And ye know Him. Please...Ye Can Give them Everything...the Way to Everything.
I Love my life back home...make no mistake...i love it. yet now i know...there are many things i desire, even now in my heart, that i shall change. I hope i always remember this desire. For I Have tasted a greater life...yea, even the best life...even now, on my mission. Make it known...i love my life at home...and yet, If only I could give all...to live THIS Life...forever. And I Can. This is the best Life...and as I Come Home...I Can Bring this with Me.
I Do Know...that although I feel i love my life back home...yet i would give it up in a heartbeat to do as i am doing yet now, once more...i cannot...
for this is a once in a lifetime moment. Yet know this! Every moment...is once in a lifetime. Therefore...ought we to treasure every one. And Make every one worth Once in a LIfetime. Yea, let Christ be in every Moment...and Every Moment therefore Shall Ye Rejoice. We Can Have true Joy...Every Moment of Our Lives. If In Every Moment, there be Christ. Therefore...let US Be Joyful...in every moment. And let us share Christ...in every Moment. Every Moment is Once in a lifetime.
We Believe...in God. The Eternal Father. And Jesus Christ, His Son. And in the Holy Ghost.
We Believe in Being Honest. True. Chaste. Benevolent. Virtuous. And in Doing Good to All Men. We Believe All Things. Hope all Things. Have endured many things...and hope to endure All things. If there is anything Virtuous. Lovely. of Good Report. Or Praiseworthy. We Seek After These Things.
We Know God is the Father. Our Father. We Know He Loves Us.We Know Christ is Our Savior. And Through Him, We Can Be Happy Forever. We Know The Purpose of this Life. To Prepare. For We Know He Shall Come Again. And we Shall Return With Him...to Eternal Life.
Glorious Be The Day.For We Know.
And This Changes A Life.Yeah, For This is a Life.
Shall We Not, Therefore...Take His Hand, and in the Others, Our Brethren. Yes, We Shall. In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
--Elder Christopher A. Lewis
P.S.
Please forward this to:
???@???.com
???@???.com
???@???.com
(last two are my teachers!)
And jane...feel free to send these to any of my friends you think would enjoy, or give the emails to my parents.
Thank you, and I Love You All.For This Reason, Am I Here.
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