We had a ward Christmas Party on January 9. These are some of the ladies in the ward that were doing the cooking. The girl on the right just recently got her mission call- she is going to Scotland/Ireland. She is the daughter to the stake president, President Lumbama. Her mother is the one on the far left.
We were told that the party started at 11:00 but when we got to the church there wasn't a soul in sight. When we came back at 12:30 there were a few people. Then we got a phone call asking if we could help transport the food from the bishop's house to the church. Because of rain and power outages, they didn't start cooking until 11. We made 5 trips between here and the church and finally.....
at 4:00 we ate. Everyone just kept telling us that it's African Time. That's worse than Mormon Standard Time. There were a lot more people than we see at church. We barely had enough food to feed everyone but it was delicious. I made a potato salad but it was long gone before Craig or I got to eat. There was rice, macaroni, chicken, sausages, coleslaw and potato salad.
If you can't tell what this is, I'll tell you. It's the swimming pool at the gym we found close to our flat. We joined the gym and it has pretty much everything we need, except for maybe air conditioning, but we never see anyone working on the pool. I think it's going to be a while before it's ready to use.
Soooo, lots of people get their L's and their R's mixed up, right?
And right across the street is the local Dr.'s office. He wasn't in the office on this day, though.
Just about 20 minutes outside of Lusaka we found this little campground that had zebras and giraffes just wandering around and we got out of our car and wandered among them. They wouldn't let us get too close but it was kind of fun to get as close as we did.
I don't even know what this animal is called. Some kind of antelope. Abe, see if you can find out what this is.
Just so you know it isn't all fun and games out here, our work in self reliance continues. Our groups are growing in size and we will be conducting several YSA firesides on self reliance this weekend in Ndola and Kitwe. It is an inspired program and we love teaching it's principles.
This past week I read the talk given by Elder Larry R. Lawrence at the 2015 October General Conference. It is titled "What Lack I Yet?" I loved it although it's hard to look at your own weaknesses. One of my weaknesses is that I look at my weaknesses too much. What do I do about that? Tell me your thoughts on this talk.
Except for seeing the animals, I do not want to be where you are. You two are amazing. I have also read "What Lack I Yet?" One of the things I love about it is the way he teaches that the Holy Ghost can and will answer us simply and directly. I was going to pray about what I lack but first realized I hadn't been doing very good with my temple attendance. So I've been working on that and then I'll pray for something new! I love your posts. Hope you are happy.
ReplyDeleteCraig and Terry, you are two of my biggest heroes. Your dedication to the gospel and your willingness to serve truly inspire me. Thank you for all you have done for me and my family. Elder Bednar gives great council about your question. You are way better than you think you are. I want to grow up to be just like you.
ReplyDelete"Ask yourself a series of questions: Where am I in relation to where I am trying to be? What lack I yet? What do I need to do? Therefore, what?
Change always has fundamental building blocks. First, there is information. For example, students in school think they understand the material. They study hard, take a test, and get the results. Only when they have that information do they know, “I did not know this nearly as well as I thought I did.” Information helps us understand the size of the gap between where we are and where we need to be.
The question, “What lack I yet?” focuses on the information that reveals that gap. Next, we ask, “What do I need to do to reduce the gap?” And then the question “Ultimately, what will sustain that change in attitude, desire, and behavior over time?” is the “Therefore, what?” For me, this process of change is not regimented; it is not even sequential. It is an ongoing pattern of asking yourself over and over again: What lack I yet? What do I need to do? And therefore, what?
Change comes line upon line, precept upon precept. We would all like to get where we are supposed to be immediately, but it never happens that way. It is incremental. We often cannot even see the changes that are occurring in us.
Let me illustrate this from my own experience having served now for 10 years in the Quorum of the Twelve. When I am around our sons, I learn a great deal about the changes in me. We will discuss something, and one of them will comment, “Where did you learn that?” I say, “Everybody knows this.” And one of them will say, “Dad, nobody knows that.” By virtue of my experience with the other Brethren and learning for myself, I have changed. I cannot see that change in me very well, but others do. They help me get that first sense of where I am and what I still need to do.
If we want to come unto Christ and be perfected in Him, that requires a never ending process of having our weakness revealed to us. Given where I am, what do I do? Inspiration can help us to not be overwhelmed and discouraged at the size of the gap. I love Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s comment, “There is divine dissonance and the devil’s discontent.” If you look at the gap and say, “Oh, I quit; I give up; I can’t make it,” that is the devil’s dissonance. Divine discontent is when you look at the same gap and you say, “Okay, I cannot do this alone, but I know I can have heavenly help. I am pressing forward.” And that progression never ends. I believe that is how we ultimately offer our whole souls as an offering unto God—not all at once, but a little at a time, line upon line."