Well, Headlines in Chicago are going crazy because...
Hermana Hoer and SuperBike united AGAIN!
Just for the day...When we received our email informing us of our assignments to go on exchanges, I nearly jumped for joy when I saw that I would be with Hermana Mackley (my previous companion) in the Loop (my previous area). In other words, I'd be back on my SuperBike!!!
We championed the Riotous Rain and Wicked Wind together for yet another time. Luckily HumidHeat was nowhere to be found - I think SuperBike and I scared him off for a time.
Today, I want to share something I was thinking about the other morning.
Ever since I can remember, Alma 37:6-7 has been a scripture used and quoted often. I've even quoted it - many times. Small and simple things are God's means of bringing about great things.
Alma was talking to his son when he said those well known words. But, what was he referring to? What small and simple things?
In the preceding verses, Alma speaks to his son about the charge of keeping the records (scriptures). They are sacred and are to be kept for great purposes, he tells his son. Then, he tells his son that "they must retain their brightness".
THAT is the small and simple thing that Alma says "many may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass... to bring about his [God's] great and eternal purposes...and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." (Alma 37:6-7)
Yeah, he's right. Keeping the plates (scriptural record) bright and shiny seems somewhat trivial. The scriptures still would have been the scriptures, whether or not they were kept bright. They still would've brought about God's purposes and salvation. But, I doubt Alma would've been Alma. Maybe the eternal purposes for ALMA wouldn't have been as great.
I bet most people would think it's a waste of time - to keep the plates shiny bright. Most would say he's a goody goody; that it was stupid; that it wasn't worth it.
Several times in my life, the small and simple things (that others thought were stupid) have made the eternal, great differences within me. I think, that as Alma shined and protected those places, God shined and refined Alma. As I've done small and simple things, "stupid" little things, to protect and shine the sacred things He's given me, their brillance increases.
What sacred things has He entrusted to me? To you? My body. How I dress may be small and simple to some. How I act, what I say, the looks I give. Seemingly small. The results are great and lasting. What else? My family. How do I treat them? What kind of time do I give to them? do I stop doing dishes to talk to a three year old about his picture? Small and simple. My talents, time on a mission, kids, spouses, callings, scriptures, think of all the things God has entrusted you. What small and simple ways can you keep them bright?
The plates would still be legible if Alma didn't keep them bright. It's not about what God has given - it's about what we do with what we're given from God. What may seem foolish to others may be exactly what is required to receive the greatness God has in store.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Blue Island Letter #3
I'm not sure where to begin. Sorry about the lapse in letters last week.
Blue Island is going well. I think the highlight of my time here is Eliuth. No, it is not because she feeds me every time we visit her (she and her husband own a restaurant...)it's because she is an inspiration. I have met few people who can compare to her desire and her hunger for all that is good. Her energy and love is contagious. I always leave feeling uplifted, no matter how I entered.
She seems to teach me. She asks questions, and we find the answers among the scriptures together. She has incredible faith, and is so in tune with detecting truth. When she finds it, she knows. She doesn't deny it or fight against it. She has this truth-detector that is amazing!
In a very different way than in my last area, I am aware of the contrasts in life around me. Just last night we visited two families, one right after the other. One family spends all of their means - tangible or not - to have Christ in their home, marriage, and family. It is evident in each of those entities, and in their children, their faces, their actions, their words. In everything. It is beautiful.
On the other hand, the next family is full of sadness, yelling, and chaos. It's dark. Depressing. Dreary. They know what they should do; yet, they don't do it. God won't change us without our permission. He just won't. It goes against the principle of agency. But, if we give ourselves to Him, He will change us, shape us, and give us all that our potential implies. Only, though, if we give ourselves to Him. That is exactly what the first family has done. They daily give themselves to Him; in return, His peace, love, and hope are part of the entire family.
That's what I'm working on doing. Giving myself over to God. It's more than giving Him my time. I'm giving all sorts of time right now, as a missionary. It's more than that. It's in my mind and my heart that I need to surrender. Funny how surrenderring is the only thing that truly liberates us, isn't it?
Blue Island is going well. I think the highlight of my time here is Eliuth. No, it is not because she feeds me every time we visit her (she and her husband own a restaurant...)it's because she is an inspiration. I have met few people who can compare to her desire and her hunger for all that is good. Her energy and love is contagious. I always leave feeling uplifted, no matter how I entered.
She seems to teach me. She asks questions, and we find the answers among the scriptures together. She has incredible faith, and is so in tune with detecting truth. When she finds it, she knows. She doesn't deny it or fight against it. She has this truth-detector that is amazing!
In a very different way than in my last area, I am aware of the contrasts in life around me. Just last night we visited two families, one right after the other. One family spends all of their means - tangible or not - to have Christ in their home, marriage, and family. It is evident in each of those entities, and in their children, their faces, their actions, their words. In everything. It is beautiful.
On the other hand, the next family is full of sadness, yelling, and chaos. It's dark. Depressing. Dreary. They know what they should do; yet, they don't do it. God won't change us without our permission. He just won't. It goes against the principle of agency. But, if we give ourselves to Him, He will change us, shape us, and give us all that our potential implies. Only, though, if we give ourselves to Him. That is exactly what the first family has done. They daily give themselves to Him; in return, His peace, love, and hope are part of the entire family.
That's what I'm working on doing. Giving myself over to God. It's more than giving Him my time. I'm giving all sorts of time right now, as a missionary. It's more than that. It's in my mind and my heart that I need to surrender. Funny how surrenderring is the only thing that truly liberates us, isn't it?
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Blue Island Letter #2
Well, I don't have biking stats now that I'm in a car. However, I do have some interesting experiences to share. I visited a Subway which was covered in bullet-proof glass. We had to order through little speaking slots, and receive our food through a strange contraption. The following day, I witnessed a theft at a Walgreen's... Interesing neighborhood welcoming party for Hermana Hoer.
Also welcoming was the new apartment...My first morning was an adventure. Showering.
I turn on hot, followed by cold, until I arrive at my desired temperature. Twist the knob to turn on the shower part. As I look up, waiting for the water to ermerge from the showerhead, I hear a metal clank. My attention diverts to the shower knob. It is lying on the bottom of the tub, under the rushing water that I had been expecting from the showerhead.
I finally get the knob back on and twist and twist and twist. Nada. So, I push really hard and twist. VICTORY! I now have about 30% of the water coming from teh showerhead. Good enough.
I kept trying to turn on more water, because it just wasn't working so well. About the hair-conditioner stage of my shower, I get a Stan Hoer idea. I remove the shower knob and figure out how to work it manually. Success! I now have about 70% of the water. This is enough water for yet another discovery: the showerhead has a mind of its own. Sometimes hot, sometimes cold. Sometimes, both, but not combined. Hot parts and cold parts all at once. Marvelous.
One of the many adventures in the last week. But, it has been a great week! I love the people here. The members of the Church in my new area have tons of kids, and I LOVE it! I didn't have interaction with many kids in my last area. I am in heaven here, with all these awesome kids. They are so cool. Whenever I am around them, I experience a little bit of heaven. I laugh and play. I relax. I enjoy every minute.
I was flipping through some letters and writing Laurie Hoer back. I came across a letter from Taraleigh. She and Laurie had a similar analogy about climbing mountains. It's been on my mind a lot lately.
Sometimes we climb some really tough slopes. But, God knows we can do it. Everyday is a different path. Every week, month, or year is a different mountain. Often, we get really hard ones. We get so tired and frustrated that we just want to quit. However, if we press forward and keep climbing, we hit a vista point. Or, we may even hit the top - the peak of the mountain. Heavenly Father gives us these views, or glimpses, of something so incredible! They cannot be described. They cannot be captured in photographs. They cannot be contained because of the magnitude of their beauty.
Tough climbs are worth it. God has so much in store for each of us, just waiting up the mountain. Keep climbing! Keep looking forward. Know that you can do hard things. Look back at how you've grown after the tough climbs in life. It is so worth it. Every minute. From the moment we embark, to the moment we reach the peak, we are growing - we are becoming someone.
Keep climbing! That's my new motto. (Thank you Taraleigh and Laurie!)
Lots of love,
Hermana Hoer
Also welcoming was the new apartment...My first morning was an adventure. Showering.
I turn on hot, followed by cold, until I arrive at my desired temperature. Twist the knob to turn on the shower part. As I look up, waiting for the water to ermerge from the showerhead, I hear a metal clank. My attention diverts to the shower knob. It is lying on the bottom of the tub, under the rushing water that I had been expecting from the showerhead.
I finally get the knob back on and twist and twist and twist. Nada. So, I push really hard and twist. VICTORY! I now have about 30% of the water coming from teh showerhead. Good enough.
I kept trying to turn on more water, because it just wasn't working so well. About the hair-conditioner stage of my shower, I get a Stan Hoer idea. I remove the shower knob and figure out how to work it manually. Success! I now have about 70% of the water. This is enough water for yet another discovery: the showerhead has a mind of its own. Sometimes hot, sometimes cold. Sometimes, both, but not combined. Hot parts and cold parts all at once. Marvelous.
One of the many adventures in the last week. But, it has been a great week! I love the people here. The members of the Church in my new area have tons of kids, and I LOVE it! I didn't have interaction with many kids in my last area. I am in heaven here, with all these awesome kids. They are so cool. Whenever I am around them, I experience a little bit of heaven. I laugh and play. I relax. I enjoy every minute.
I was flipping through some letters and writing Laurie Hoer back. I came across a letter from Taraleigh. She and Laurie had a similar analogy about climbing mountains. It's been on my mind a lot lately.
Sometimes we climb some really tough slopes. But, God knows we can do it. Everyday is a different path. Every week, month, or year is a different mountain. Often, we get really hard ones. We get so tired and frustrated that we just want to quit. However, if we press forward and keep climbing, we hit a vista point. Or, we may even hit the top - the peak of the mountain. Heavenly Father gives us these views, or glimpses, of something so incredible! They cannot be described. They cannot be captured in photographs. They cannot be contained because of the magnitude of their beauty.
Tough climbs are worth it. God has so much in store for each of us, just waiting up the mountain. Keep climbing! Keep looking forward. Know that you can do hard things. Look back at how you've grown after the tough climbs in life. It is so worth it. Every minute. From the moment we embark, to the moment we reach the peak, we are growing - we are becoming someone.
Keep climbing! That's my new motto. (Thank you Taraleigh and Laurie!)
Lots of love,
Hermana Hoer
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