Dear Family,
Hey!
This week was a good week for me. But... I don't actually have much to write. Oh well. :D
I got to draw a little bit for some of our lessons for Tuesday... Alright, so more like I attempted to draw for our lessons... I drew flowers... Nice and simple to draw. They turned out... interesting... and then the investigator that we drew it for got sick... so it actually didn't get used... perhaps that's a good thing. :D Haha, no, we're actually going to try to use it this week. It's times like that when I wish Dallin were around so I could use his creative abilities.
But Tuesday was really really good. Right now I'm really trying to figure out how to help Emy, he wants a connection between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, as an affirmation that it's true. Yet, he's not actually reading the Book of Mormon or praying about it, and we've tried to answer the questions he has... But, any advice would be wonderful.
On Wednesday we went to the Wennerlunds and they had us translate something into English for them... It was really funny though, because the Wennerlunds speak really good English, so they could have done it themselves, and probably done it better... But they had us do it, and they let us do it... But it was awesome for me realizing that I could translate something, for the most part at least, but then it was written... that's easier to translate then people talking and translating from that... But still, it was really fun.
And then another of our lessons got cancelled due to sickness... Sickness is such a pain, I'm so grateful to be healthy right now!
But... really, nothing super big happened on Wednesday either... Yeah, super uneventful week I know. You're probably falling asleep right now as you try and read this.
And then on Thursday... we had Zone Meeting... We have a new Zone Leader whose name is Elder Moe... And you are probably wondering why this information is important... it's not, but before I met Elder Moe I thought he was going to be short... Why? Because his name was Moe. And I heard it and thought... Eenie Meenie Minie Moe. And that made me think... short. I think it was the Eenie... But no, he's tall. And... that's all... But, Zone Meeting was super fun, we talked about the Holy Ghost... and we know that Zone Leaders are Elders because they likened the Holy Ghost to the 'perfect basketball player' but it was actually super good, and I really enjoyed it.
Something that I thought about though was, even the perfect basketball player in the world doesn't always have the ball, in fact the perfect basketball player knows how to help all the other players play better, and be better... Likewise, we can't expect the Holy Ghost to do it all, we need to do our part to help the team win, and the Holy Ghost will help us 'play our best'.
But, the part I think I liked best was when they were talking about how to make sure that the Holy Ghost is on your team. And the number one way to do that, is to talk about his 'coach' to talk about the Savior. If we talk about the Savior, if we testify of him, then the Holy Ghost will be there, he will be there to testify to the hearts of those we are talking to.
It was actually a really good Zone Meeting, I quite enjoyed it. And then we got to eat Pizza... I quite enjoyed that too... Although it was pretty spicy. But it was good.
And then Friday... Friday was hard, we ran stairs as our exercies for the morning, and we came back in... and I scared Syster Lowe half to death by nearly collapsing in the bathroom. She said that I was whiter than the fallen snow. And I was in a lot of pain. But a few hours later I was doing better, if a little shaky for the rest of the day, and we headed off... into the fallen snow.
That's right! We had SNOW! (I know, I know, you guys have had LOADS of snow and it's been nice and cold for you guys... but that was not the case for me... I've been in SWEDEN without snow...) We got SNOW And it made me so happy, and I don't even care if it is cold, because we have SNOW! (Yes, I'm very happy about this.)
And then we went with the Elders to go give a single woman a blessing, because the Elders needed someone to come with but couldn't find anyone. So we came, and it was good... if a little interesting...
And we also had dinner with the Sandelins that night. The Sandelins are just super amazing and fun. They are also so sweet to have us over for dinner so often. They have us over every other week, and the weeks we don't go they have the Elders over. So they have missionaries over every week, and I just think that is so sweet of them. But it was sort of funny because we managed to spill the juice four different times. And four different people spilled the juice... Yes, I was one of them... I know, what a suprise! Haha, no, it was really funny actually. And then Noah spillt some juice and it landed all over me. But it was ok, I was wearing a pretty dark skirt, so it wasn't a big deal at all. But Noah kept singing for all of us during dinner. It was fun.
And then on Saturday... well, we got to try... FUFU! At least I think that is how it is spelled, but it's a super popular African food. And Emy made it for us, and it was actually really good. I admit I was a little nervous to try it, because people had kept telling me about how you couldn't chew it or it would swell in your mouth, and I could picture me choking and dying on it... but, it was pretty tasty... and... well, I didn't die! it actually tasted a bit like Mashed Potatoes. And I do like Mashed Potatoes. But, no, for real it was good...
And then, you will NEVER believe this. I won a game of darts. Emy challenged the Elders and Syster Lowe and I to a game of darts... And I won. Twice. (And there were only two games.) I was so happy... And I got a double bulls eye.
And then the lesson we had after was really really good. We left the Book of Mormon issue alone for a short time and just talked about Joshua 1:9, you know that's one of my favorites. But, it was good. It was good for Emy, and it was good for me and Syster Lowe, and the spirit was there. Sometimes that's my favorite part of going off-script with lessons, I feel as though I, myself, learn so so much. And even when it's just talking about my favorite scripture. Even when that's all it is. I still, learn SO MUCH. It was good for Emy... but It was also good for me.
Then Sunday was good, this time around there were no suprises in store for me. For which I was super super grateful.
And then today we made breakfast for the Elders and Tobias, Tobias is doing community service here at the church, we made them pancakes... As a thank you for all that they do.
Tobias is actually interested in taking the lessons. So, we'll see what happens there.
But... Like I said, not much happened this week.
So I'll go to responding to Dad.
First off, I loved that story. Is it a true story?
I had several thoughts on it.
The first thought was the natural, 'who am I in this story' And of course, I liked to see myself as the Eagle. As a daughter of my Heavenly Father, I have divine potential, there is SO much that I can become. So much that my Heavenly Father wants me to become, but sometimes it is easy to get caught in what the world would have me be, to live my life in 'a coop', but the Lord KNOWS what I can become, and he is so desirous to help me become the eagle I am meant to be. And so sometimes he puts me through things that I don't understand. Maybe small step by small step, or maybe sometimes it's something large, but it is with the intention of helping me become what I am meant to become.
But I could also see myself as the Naturalist. I have investigators, and I can see what they can become, I have the knowledge that they are Children of their Heavenly Father, I KNOW that. But they do not know that themselves. I want them to know who they are, what they can become, the potential that they have within themselves. And I try so hard to help them understand, to come to a knowledge that they are a child of God... But it is always the Eagle's choice to accept that, to become the Eagle it is meant to become. But I need to do my very best to help them come closer to their Heavenly Father, to come to a realization of their divine potential.
My third thought was the three steps. The first two times the Eagle couldn't see the vision that the naturalist had for it. It could still see the chickens, the coop, the lifestyle it had always lived, and couldn't imagine or see why it would need something else. But the third time he took the eagle to the cliff, there, the Eagle wasn't being pulled down by anything, there was some definite fear for the Eagle, there was hesitancy, but it was there that the Eagle was able to spread it's wings and fly.
I thought that something important was that the naturalist kept mentioning the Eagle's heart. It is what is in us that is important. And within us we have divine potential.
So what are we a product of? Our past or our future? Definitely both. We are sculpted by what has happened to us, we are shaped by what we've experienced, yet we are also capable of change, of seeing what is possible and going for it, so we are shaped by what lies within our hearts, those desires. We do not always have to be what we once were.
Thank you so much for this story, I know I will definitely put in a little more thought. I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
And if I have any good ones this week I'll add them into my letter next week.
Again, thank you, and I just want you to all know that I love you all so much!
And I know this letter was short this week, but there wasn't much to say!
It was just good!
Love,
Kjanela
Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.
Just when the catepillar thought the world was over... it became a butterfly.
It's unrealistic to walk into a room, flip a switch, and expect a light to turn on. Fortunately Edison didn't think so.
Kjanelas' comments to her Dad about the Eagle story stems from this story that he sent to her.
Once upon a time, a naturalist heard that an eagle was living the life of a chicken in a chicken coop. Curious, the naturalist made a visit to the farm to see for himself this most unnatural behavior. When he arrived, the farmer showed him a majestic golden eagle hopping on the ground among his chickens The farmer said, "I found this baby bird. Not knowing what to do, I placed it in the coop and watched it grow. I was shocked to see it grow into an eagle. And even more shocked to see it act like its adopted family—they brought him to the farm, and raised him in a chicken coop among his many chickens. The eagle grew up as a chicken. Today, the eagle thinks it is a chicken."
The naturalist was horrified. No majestic eagle should live the life of a chicken, pecking the ground for seed. He assured the farmer that the eagle could be reformed, saying, "This bird has the heart of an eagle and belongs to the sky." The farmer laughed, replying, "That may once have been true. But, it is true no more. This bird is for all practical purposes a chicken!"
The naturalist responded, "That is impossible. This bird is an eagle—the king of the sky. Let me show you." Assenting, the farmer said, "Go ahead. Give it a try. But, I'm telling you, the bird believes it is a chicken. Don't get your hopes up."
The naturalist jumped over the fence and hefted the eagle, lifting it high into the air and said, "Eagle, thou art an eagle. Stretch forth your wings and fly." The eagle's head bobbed momentarily and then looking to the ground, the eagle hopped out of the man's grasp and dropped to the ground where it began pecking for seed among its friends the chickens."
The farmer shrugged, saying, "I'm sorry, but that bird is no longer an eagle." Undaunted, the naturalist said, "Give me another try." The farmer said, "As you wish, but don't get your hopes up." The naturalist bent over and picked up the eagle. This time, however, the naturalist asked, "Where is the highest point on your farm?" The farmer said, "that would be on the roof of the old red barn." Together, the naturalist and the farmer climbed to the roof. Standing on top, the naturalist raised the eagle to the sky and said, "Eagle, thou art an eagle. Thou dost belong to the sky; not in a coop. Stretch forth your wings and fly." The eagle cocked its head, looked around, and spotting the chicken coop down below, hopped out of the naturalist's hands and glided back to its home. Discouraged, but not beaten, the naturalist asked, "Will you give me one more try tomorrow?" The farmer replied, "Try as you wish, but the bird has become a chicken."
Early the next morning, the naturalist arrived at the farm. He gathered up the eagle and invited the farmer to come along. They drove to the break on a butte several miles away. Standing on the edge of the cliff, the naturalist raised the eagle high into the air and looking into the rising sun cried with a convincing voice, "Eagle, thou art an eagle! Thou dost belong to the sky. It is your heritage to fly. Now, stretch forth thy wings and fly." Hesitantly at first, the eagle stretched forth its wings. Then, with greater power the eagle began to flap his massive and mighty wings. With a shrill call, the eagle leapt into the air and flew.
So, are we a product of our past or the product of our future? Who makes the choice? Who makes it possible?
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