2016-11-7 –
Birthday!
Kumusta
po!
Thanks
for all of the birthday wishes and the love sent from around the world, this
was a very happy week! Oct 31 and Nov 1 are holidays here, called Araw na
Patay, or in Spanish, Dias de los muertos. And from the glimpse I got of it,
this holiday is just the same! People flock to cemeteries and stay up all night
sometimes, respecting the souls of their family who have passed. It's quite
cool, I saw a ton of pictures of relatives with some food set out for them,
super neat.
The
sad part about all of the holidays this week is that it means an early curfew,
going home at 5 instead of 9. And we had an extra meeting this week which was
really far away, about 2 hours travel, so we didn't get as many opportunities
to work, which is the saddest thing ever.
Now,
some pictures from Nov 1! It's day of the dead here/Halloween, but to me it
means I'm no longer a teenager, but also not a legal adult. Somewhere in
between.
Sorry, but I had to include this: tatay P- getting rid of a cockroach the manly way
Here's a picture of
basketball this morning. Important details are that Filipinos will wear
anything, jeans included, except shoes. Yet they still kick butt. Hopefully I
come out of these 2 years being mediocre at basketball
To
sum this week up, it was full of fun times, and even more fun doing missionary
work. I wouldn't be out here if teaching people of the restored gospel of Jesus
Christ if it didn't just make me the happiest I have ever been. Maybe it's a
little selfish, but missionary work is tough as nails sometimes and the biggest
redeeming quality is the love and joy that comes from it.
Spiritual
thought:
1
Corinthians, chapter 12:
There
are two main themes in this chapter, maybe even more but on a first
read-through this is what I got out of it:
1)
Spiritual Gifts
Paul
makes it clear that there are many spiritual gifts, and different people will
have different gifts. They are kind of like talents such as music, drawing,
etc. because clearly some people are more naturally inclined to one sort of
gift than others. Likewise, we can practice our gifts and pray for spiritual
gifts, just like music and drawing. I am extremely grateful for the spiritual
gift of tongues, I have seen miracles in my mission, lessons where I didn't
realize but the Tagalog came out more fluidly than it ever had, or maybe the
Spirit was so thick even if I didn't have a perfect knowledge of what I was
saying. I testify that spiritual gifts are a powerful tool, and everyone can
access them. I recommend studying this chapter and other mentions of these
gifts. It is amazing to me how just like other hobbies and skills, the gospel
is something that is truly unique for everyone.
2)
The Body of Christ
The
body of Christ, or His kingdom here on the earth, is not a literal castle or
building, it is the members of His church. There is an extended metaphor in
this chapter about the different parts of the body. The concise meaning is that
one cannot live fully without certain parts, for example without a foot, or a
hand, or an eye or a nose. Each body part performs different functions, and it
is quite miraculous how they all work together to give us this experience of
life. The point of the metaphor, related to spiritual gifts too, is that
everyone has a different purpose, or in other words a different skill that they
add to the pool. Some people are hands that provide steady support, some people
are eyes that give vision, some people are feet, that work hard and provide a
foundation. There's all sorts of ways to find a personal understanding in this
chapter about our purpose in building the kingdom of God here in the earth
(missionary work)
I
especially love verse 15, which is about not comparing. I need to work on this
so much in my own life, now and forever. Don't compare! I have always been so
prideful, and part of humbling ourselves is not comparing with others. Don't be
envious of other people when they have success, be happy for them. Don't be
like the brother of the Prodigal Son, who would not join the celebration
because he was upset at his younger brother's loving reception, just because he
felt he deserved more.
Verse
21-22 are about the usefulness in everyone, even if we feel like we are
"feeble" sometimes that means we are all the more
"necessary".
Verse
26 says "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with
it" This concept has a sister verse in Mosiah 18:8-10 from the Book of
Mormon. If you lost a pinkie toe, would you notice? Of course! We should be
more aware and circumspect with other people's suffering and pains, because they
are a part of the body of Christ, and our fellow sons and daughters of God.
Now,
being a foot doesn't sound all that appealing. It's the smelliest, roughest,
most worn down part of the body, right? But when I thought of that, I was
reminded of which part of the body Christ focused on. Which part of the body he
paid specific attention to, washing and anointing with oil before supper. I
testify that we all have a role in building the kingdom of God, and sometimes
it's about understanding what that means for us, as well as becoming better at
it. "Seek earnestly the best gifts" (Greek translation) means to
practice and apply spiritual gifts to better fulfill our purpose. We are not
all called to be prophets and apostles, but like President Eyring has said
(paraphrased) we can all have the same joy and sense of fulfillment from even
the smallest of callings. I know that Christ's church has been restored to the
earth, and even now is being spread and offered to people willing to listen and
seek for themselves and hear the Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12:11). But it
is not spreading fast enough, because we all have more that we can give,
whether it's the worn down foot or the eyebrow, we all have a purpose.
Thanks
for listening to my ramblings :) I love you all, thanks for the birthday wishes
and a fantastic week. I can't wait for more to come!
Elder Fish
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