Week 84: Cardi B Killed The Vibe

Monday night we put on friend BrieAna on date for baptism! We followed up on her praying about being baptized and I honestly thought she was going to say that she hadn't done it but she said she did and that the answer is yes! She wants some time to prepare herself so we set the date for March 18th. 

We almost set a baptismal date with Fabian but he might want his girlfriend's dad to be here to baptize him and he's currently out of state working. Fabian said he'll pray about it and get back to us.

We've also been doing some more member work and are starting to meet with some families who have unbaptized kids. Hopefully we can put some of them on date this week!

One afternoon while walking down the street, we began talking with an electrician outside and he went off about how God doesn't exist. He basically told us that the existence of salt proves that there is no God? He wasn't very convincing. Then he gave us Squirts and the person he was working for came outside and told us to leave the premises. He was very snappy and mean.

On Friday we had a lesson at Subway! We were supposed to meet at our friend's apartment, but when no one answered the door we called him and he told us to meet him at Subway. I thought it would be fun until I had to say a prayer with Cardi B rapping in the background. Thanks Cardi. Hopefully we can have our next lesson somewhere a little more conducive to the Spirit.

Last week I was studying the plan of salvation and gave a lot of thought to God's laws of justice and mercy and how Christ's grace plays such a vital role in that. Grace is something I've struggled to fully understand my whole mission but as I pondered it this week all of a sudden it clicked in my head. I created an analogy to help myself put it into words: Christ's grace can be likened to a credit card with an unlimited allotment that is used to pay for fuel. The fuel represents salvation from sin and the action of paying and pumping the fuel represent our faith and obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel (AKA keeping the commandments and repenting). Without swiping the card, selecting, and pumping the fuel could the credit card alone provide fuel to your gas tank? Surely the card has sufficient funds to pay for the fuel but personal action is required to obtain it. Christ's grace is available to all, but it takes effort and action on our part to receive it. This is done by exercising faith in Jesus Christ which is manifest by making covenants and a life of obedience to His gospel. Is it our personal actions, or works, that enable us to be saved from our sins? No, it is Christ's grace. He has already paid the price. The question is, are we willing to accept it and use it in our lives?

(This isn't church doctrine and it may not be the most perfect analogy but writing it out helped me understand Christ's grace a little better)

Jesus Christ loves you. He has the power to help you overcome any sin or obstacle you're facing. Accept His help and follow Him. 

- Elder Christensen

Pictures

☆ Still making quilts with Sister McHorse!

☆ Exchange with Elder DeWitt

☆ People still don't appreciate my Book of Mormon listing