We've been attending the Rose Parkas 15th ward and I gotta say, we really enjoy it. I think I enjoy it more because Alex loves it and knows lots of people in the ward. He knows more people than I do and I'm samoan (Giggle to myself) but he did grow up here. I don't really know anyone so of course I don't really talk to anyone. There are a few people I've met and have had a few conversations with, one being one of Lee's bffs who is nice and has 2 adorable girls another one grew up with Alex and is also nice and also has 2 adorable little girls. Maybe I'm bias because I have 2 adorable little girls (GTM) But I'm grateful for them and for the small lessons I've learned thru their kindness.
Recently, I was called as the 4th Sunday teacher in the English Relief Society class. I was really terrified when Bishop called me and offered the call to me. As we know, I la la la la LOVE Relief Society. Especially now that I'm married and have a family of my own, I need and look forward to this class every Sunday. Since I was in the singles ward and gained a testimony of Relief Society and all that it offers, it has was a huge comfort then and is even more important now. I loved being around my fellow single sisters and hearing/learning from their experiences because sometimes it was things I was struggling with too. And now being a wife and a mother being in a home ward, Relief Society lessons are such an amazing blessing. Even tho I don't know or speak to anyone. Being around them in class and hearing their struggles or pains and how the Lord has blessed them is a comfort that the Lord is here for me.
As we know, I hate public speaking, but for some reason I'm given MANY opportunities to speak. It's like the red light is blinking to go and I'm just standing there frozen. Most times I've denied the opportunity to learn. After discussing it with Alex, of course I couldn't turn it down. My first lesson was a couple weeks ago and I had been preparing for a whole month. I felt confident and even went over it with Alex the night before. The morning of went thru it again and still felt confident, but very nervous and now scared. Once we got to the class, it was like the red light was on and I freaked out and froze like many of our videos. All the sudden I'm reading my lesson. Oh and I forgot to say that 4th Sunday is the Ensign Sunday and so I have to prepare a lesson from a talk. Let me add that I think preparing a lesson from a talk is way hard and for someone who's never taught ever it's even harder. During my lesson I tried to get class participation and got some, but not enough to make it to the end of time. I ended up reading the talk because I got nervous. I had ten minutes left and since I finished early people started sharing their thoughts and experiences which was really nice. It turned out to be a discussion. By the end everyone shared was crying. There are 2 things I know to always be true. 1st the Church is always true. 2nd I always cry.
The lesson was on Followers of Christ by Elder Walter F Gonzalez. And these are the things I wanted to share with you. It talks about how there are 2 characteristics that help members follow Christ. 1: Love 2: Making and keeping covenants.
1st LOVE: I can totally see why love would be the 1st characteristic to be closer or follow Christ. If you love Christ, you will forsake all and follow him. Amen. haha no but for real. If an obstacle arose and I had to choose to participate in something negative whether it be saying, seeing, being, or doing something bad, because we love Christ it would be easy to stay away or turn the other way. One thing that I loved was learning a little more about Peter. In John 21:15-19 it talks about how the Lord asking Peter 3 times if he loved Him and 3 times Peter tells the Lord he does love Him. And the Lord tells Peter to feed his sheep. It goes on to say something like how when you're young, you can do or go where you want, but when you're old someone has to clothe you and lead you where they want you to go. So why not follow Him now. I discussed it with Leen over text. When I thought about Peter and the day he denied Christ 3 times what he could be feeling. Leen said something like it must've been like pouring salt on a wound for Peter on that morning. I'm amazed that after he denied Christ 3x, how loyal and faithful he was to the end. After that experience, he never left Christ again. Now I know I still have more to learn about Peter and I might be wrong, but this is what I've gotten so far. I also loved that in the lesson they shared an experience about visiting somewhere in Africa and how so many non-members all believed in God and you can tell in their conversations, billboards, ads, everywhere. In the lesson it said that it's our responsibility to bring the gospel to add to the great things they're already doing. I just think what am I doing to help bring the gospel to others.
There's so much I wish we could dissect and talk about. But I know that this church is true and I know that he loves us and is always with us. I'm kind of grateful for the calling He's given me haha I'm still learning and glad that the Lord trusts me to teach His daughters His gospel all while I'm gaining experience and testimony. Love you both, g
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