Hello Family!
I hope you had a great Canadian Thanksgiving! It was a good Thanksgiving for us. Its a little weird for me to celebrate it so early. But it has its pro's and con's- the main con I feel like it has is just that it seems way too early. And its weird that its before Halloween. I like the "Trilogy of Holidays" (as GB likes to call it) of Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Years, being in that order. But, I was excited to find out that its so early, because that means you can play Christmas music right after Halloween. Although, no one really does that (so I've heard). Good thing someone in the ward here burned a Christmas CD for us! Because of that, I started playing Christmas music in our car already! I'm not sure if Elder Pitre is okay with it... but he hesitantly agreed to listen to it anyways :)
It was a wonderful Conference weekend. I am so excited about the age changes. The amount of missionaries is going to skyrocket because of that! I couldn't believe President Monson was making that announcement. As soon as he started saying those words about how successful 18 year old missionaries have been, and "after giving it some consideration" (or whatever he said)- Elder Pitre and I looked at each other with total shock. But it was an awesome announcement, and definitely historical, and a sign that the Lord is "hastening His work." I think it is especially awesome that Sisters can serve when they are 19 years old. That is going to open a ton of doors.
With it being Thanksgiving time, I've been continuing on my theme of gratitude (from my email last week). But along with gratitude, I've been thinking of service. As I was watching conference, ideas and thoughts about these two principles stood out to me quite a bit. The Prophet spoke of prayers being answered, and about "seeing others not as they currently are, but what they can become." There were a few strong themes I pulled out from Conference: 1) Make your home a safe haven NOW! Because the world is NOT a healthy enviornment. "Build Zion in the midst of Babylon." 2) Serve others. Love others. NOW is the time to pull together and work in unity! and 3) Focus on the positive and uplifting. "Count your many blessings."
Every Friday afternoon at 2 PM, Elder Pitre and I visit a long-term care facility called Brierwood Gardens. At that time every Friday, about 25 people gather together, and about 10 will play bowling on a shuffleboard table. These men and women are so sweet. Many of them who don't participate usually just sleep in their wheelchairs. Their poor health and lifelessness is tragic to see. The people who do play are very positive and energetic, and happy despite their circumstances of being extremely elderly, lonely, and much of the time- very confused. I'm going to write about service and how great it is in just a minute, but I want to draw this point- sure, people could say "Oh thats great, the Elders go over and help these elderly people bowl and have fun for about an hour every Friday! That is nice of them!" But that's not the point of service, nor is it the point of any "work" we do in the Church. One quote sums up the principle pretty well: "The most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves. The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others." (Gordon B. Hinckley) If you serve others sincerely, you will be happy. You will learn more from them, than they learn from you. You will gain more from the visit with them, than they will from you. Focus on sincerely loving and helping others, and you will find more balance to your hectic life. I'm not sure how it all works or why it works, but its a promise and a principle taught by Prophets of God, and I know it works. Serve others. Love others. Respect everyone despite the differences.
Thank you for your prayers, support, and love. Like always, all of you are in my prayers. I love you.
Love,
Elder Brett Simper
No comments:
Post a Comment