Week 38: Bidding Adieu to Family

What an interesting week it was.  To cut to the chase, I'm being transferred to Sumterville which is in the Leesburg Zone.  I'm going to try to swing an exchange with the Apopka Elders.  I was also informed that Elder Lester is going there.  That's going to be so awesome.  Elder Hekking got his visa and left for Madagascar today.  Elder Changchum is going to stay in Viera 1.  I'll give a brief recap of the highlights of the week.

Tuesday night we were able to teach Daniela one of the new member lessons.  When I walked in the house and saw her, I was thrown back.  It was the first time I had seen her since her confirmation on Sunday and she looked physically different.  She had this absolute glow about her.  She was smiling more, laughing more, bearing testimony more.  It was amazing.  I have seen a very real change in her.  She always asks why she hasn't had this in her life sooner.  I am so excited for her to go to the temple and continue in this wonderful gospel.  She is a living testimony that the saving power of the atonement of Jesus Christ is real.  I have witnessed it.  I wasn't the only one who noticed the glow.  My companions and her aunt in the Viera 2nd ward noticed too.

"And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts? ... I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name."  (Alma 5:14, 48)

We went over to a guy's house on Saturday.  His name is Ben and he is planning on making a pathway in his backyard.  We dug up a lot of sand and moved it another part of the yard.  We also cut up some roots that were deep in the ground.  Something that would have taken him 4 times as long.  We sat down, had some water, and got to know him.  He is such a nice guy.  He really appreciated what we helped him with and respects what we do.  He was more than willing to have us back over.  He has so much potential.  I wish I could go back and talk to him more.

On Sunday, I had to say goodbye to a lot of great people.  I'm definitely going to miss Viera 1.  I've made so many friends and met some amazing families.  It was bittersweet to say goodbye to people yesterday.  People were very supportive and loving.  I'm so grateful for the members of this ward.  It has been a life changing experience for me.  I have learned and grown so much.  My heart is overflowing with gratitude for the great times and the hard times in this area.  I don't want to leave, but I know that the next chapter in Sumterville will be good for me.  I love this work and I know that Jesus Christ is at the head of the Church.

Elder Poulsen

Cocoa Zone

Brayden (A youth in our ward)

Little Brynn Baird

Brother Rojas (Our ward mission leader)

Daniela

This is something Brayden always does

Week 38: Matthew 26:39

I wanted to share an excerpt from a talk I was reading.  It's from Elder Uchtdorf's talk in the April 2014 General Conference titled "Grateful in Any Circumstances".

"We can choose to be grateful, no matter what.  This type of gratitude transcends whatever is happening around us. It surpasses disappointment, discouragement, and despair. It blooms just as beautifully in the icy landscape of winter as it does in the pleasant warmth of summer.  When we are grateful to God in our circumstances, we can experience gentle peace in the midst of tribulation. In grief, we can still lift up our hearts in praise. In pain, we can glory in Christ’s Atonement. In the cold of bitter sorrow, we can experience the closeness and warmth of heaven’s embrace.  We sometimes think that being grateful is what we do after our problems are solved, but how terribly short sighted that is. How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain?  Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges.  This is not a gratitude of the lips but of the soul. It is a gratitude that heals the heart and expands the mind."

I know this statement by Elder Uchtdorf is true.  We don't have to happy with what's going on, but when we have a full grateful attitude, we will be happier and the Lord will bless us.

Elder Poulsen