Perfectly Perth: I Signed Up For Marriage Counseling

We had a bit of a slow week as I was down sick with the flu a couple days. I am very grateful for a healthy body, but the rest was very needed. I was able to study a lot and search the scriptures more than usual. I wanted to study as much as possible and I feel like I was healed and strengthened spiritually.
We had some people from another religion knock on our door one morning. I didn't have my badge on yet, and when I answered the door, they immediately began talking about the bible to me and just talking and talking. Finally they asked me if I had any religious belief and I told them I was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They proceeded to try to prove to me why my religion was wrong. It was interesting to observe their approach at the door! It's a long story, but they helped me realize how important it is to observe, listen, and discern when we are tracting. They did neither of those things, haha! They were there for themselves. It's okay. Tracting is hard. It's a spiritual skill, I'll tell ya! If you don't have the spirit confirming your words, it's just words, no feelings.

We had a really good lesson with our investigator Roji. Thank you for your prayers. This lesson was filled with so many ah-ha moments, it was incredible! We taught her the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was so fun to see things clicking in her brain and her face light up! I felt the spirit very strongly as we explained how amazing this is, that we belong to the actual church of Jesus Christ and we have all the knowledge we need to be happy in this life and have never ending happiness in the life to come.

She came to church again this Sunday and was the most active participant in Sunday School and our 3rd hour combined RS and Priesthood class! Haha! She has a very good relationship with God and really wants to do what is right. You could call her a Dry Mormon (basically Mormon, just not baptized, haha).

BREAKING NEWS: I have been transferred to the Dianella area! My new companion will be Sister Gao from China! It's still a biking area, yay. #skinnylife The Perth temple is in my area and President and Sister Fife are in my ward!! This should be way good. I'm excited!

I've LOVED serving here in Waikiki, but I'm excited for the new experiences Heavenly Father has in store for me. Man, this mission is changing me. At least I think so. I hope so. ;)

Oh yeah, about the marriage counselling, we had a Sisters Specialized Training last week, and even though they were teaching us about matters in the companionship, they were referring a lot to marriage! It was SO GOOD! All 40 sisters in our mission got together and had a training with Pres. and Sis. Fife. What could be better?? Not much, maybe eternal life.

I forgot my notes at the flat, sorry, but they gave us such great training! Sister Fife talked about how much Heavenly Father loves us and how He shows us His love. I love Heavenly Father.

President Fife taught us about how to strengthen our companionships. He taught us about pride. Ho.Ly.Cow. Eyebrows singed. Not really, but yeah, he is so inspiring.

Basically I have been noticing the things I do that are prideful. I have been working a lot this week, stopping myself before I say something, changing my thoughts, changing my actions.

I'm so grateful he taught us how he did. Pride is real people. If you think about it, it is what caused wars and bloodshed over and over again in the Book of Mormon. Pride tears relationships apart. It creates feelings of anger. It is selfish and self absorbed. I hate pride. Pride is the root of all sin.

When you spend 24/7 with someone, whether it be a spouse, family member, or mission companion, if you want to be happy, have humility.

The first great commandment is to love God with all your heart, might, mind, and strength. And the second great commandment is to love your neighbour as yourself. Well, how can you love your neighbour if you don't love yourself? If you struggle with your self-worth, take the self out of worth. Turn the spotlights around and shine them on others. When the spotlights are on you, and it's all about you (pride), only feelings of sadness and misery exist. When you turn the spotlights and shine them on others (humility), you are filled with love, happiness, joy, peace, hope.

President Fife's dad always told him, "A truly humble man/woman doesn't take offense."

That's a hard one, let me tell you, but it's been really exciting working at it. Heavenly Father is helping me.

Have a great week!! See you next time. ;)

Sista B