So much to say and so little time. It'll have to be the highlights of the highlights.
We started biking this week. No more car. It's actually been pretty refreshing and full of unique opportunities and struggles.
There's this one young stanford couple in our ward from New Zealand and I could talk to them FOREVER. Like holy…
We preached an impromptu sermon to a group of 30+ after they brought us in their garage to help with their family home evening. My mouth was filled with inspired words about overcoming opposition through faith in Christ. I found out afterwards from one individual that the reason their family had come together was because a relative who was central to the family had passed away.
We were walking down the street and we met this Mexican family who were out cooking a family dinner and enjoying the pleasant evening weather. We offered prayer but they said they didn't speak English. One gentleman using the little English he did know, started making jokes asking if we wanted to buy some food for $3000. I replied that I would if I had the money because of how delicious it smelled. They then generously offered us some food free of charge. As we sat and ate with them I could hardly describe the profound joy, gratitude, and love I felt for these people that I had just met. It was a beloved experience to me. I quickly searched up an applicable scripture in Spanish and offered them my most heartfelt appreciation and prayed that they felt my sincerity.
So how is it that I was able to feel such a sublime connection to these people I scarcely knew and could hardly communicate with?
One word. Charity. The pure love of Christ.
"Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
Though they may not have realized it, this family through their selfless service and compassion towards two oddly dressed strangers perfectly embodied what it means to be, "true followers of [The] Son, Jesus Christ." And so, together we enjoyed the exquisite hope, peace, and joy that comes from being filled with Christ's pure and perfect love.
Brothers and Sisters, Let's each of us "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that [we] may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ." Let us follow the example of this family and our Redeemer so that all people might be feel for themselves the wondrous love of God in their lives.
It is my testimony and promise that as we do, we will change the world, just as Christ did. One by one.
songs
Half Moon–Blind Pilot
See you soon.
Elder Winegar
P.S.
I forgot about the cool women from Turkey!!!! Suffice it to say they were really, really cool. Pictured
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