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Monday, June 08, 2020

Fish, Chips, Drawings, and Hats


A member of the ward that Chance is serving in delivered some fish and chips to the flat for Chance and his companion.
Chance was very excited about this and recorded it with a picture to keep forever and ever. 
Food is very important in the life of a young man. Especially a young man who is spending lots of time in his flat during a pandemic.
It is always good to see that he is eating well and that there are kind people helping him find the good foods of England.
Chance has been able to spend some more time outside the last little while and we love getting the updates and pictures of the things he sees and is able to explore. 
Chance and his companion have been doing some creative things while they have been in lock down in their flat. 
His companion enjoys drawing and even drew a picture of Chance. 
Chance has been playing the guitar and writing little fun songs about what he sees happening outside.
Chance and his companion also put together an incredible video about Jesus Christ while doing a puzzle in their flat. 


The awesome picture of Chance that his companion drew.
Notice the hat.......it may not quite be a cowboy hat, but Chance is still wearing a hat. 
Here is what Chance shared last week in his email:


We were attending our wards Sunday meeting online yesterday and our Bishop came on and said that it has been the sunniest spring on record here which is awesome because we have been able to go outside and really enjoy the sun. I'm actually getting a tan too which I never knew would be possible in England ðŸ˜‚
We had the opportunity to reach out to a lot of members again and we also got to play spike ball with our zone leaders! It was so fun!! It was so weird to interact with other people, I almost didn't know what to say or how to interact with them, its gonna be a process getting my people skills back haha

It's been a good week y'all! A little update, it's looking like we won't really be able to do a whole lot until July 4th at the earliest. We can meet people outside of our household up to 6 people now so we're gonna start seeing if we can meet some of the members in parks and whatnot. Its gonna be so nice to see a few people face to face. 

The spiritual thought that I wanted to share today comes from Alma 4:13-14. It says: 
  "13 Now this was a great cause for lamentations among the people, while others were abasing themselves, succoring those who stood in need of their succor, such as imparting their substance to the poor and the needy, feeding the hungry, and suffering all manner of afflictions, for Christ’s sake, who should come according to the spirit of prophecy;
14 Looking forward to that day, thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy because of the resurrection of the dead, according to the will and power and deliverance of Jesus Christ from the bands of death."

I love this scripture because it shows the righteous people being such a good example despite what was going on around them. I loved their example of reaching out to help and serve others. I especially love the line "thus retaining a remission of their sins; being filled with great joy". 
I wrote down in my scriptures that because they were serving others and giving of their substance, keeping their baptismal covenant by willing to bear one anothers burdens and to mourn with those that were mourning and comforting those that needed comforting, they were able to experience great joy, and not only from that but because of their continual repentance. They retained a remission of their sins. 

My dear friends and family, repentance is crucial in our progression and also in our current happiness. I want you to think back to a time when you had a burden of sin, and then I want you to think of how it felt when you sought forgiveness, and asked God to forgive you of your sins. Do you remember how that felt? Do you remember the freeing feeling of that burden? Do you remember the joy and happiness that you felt? 
That is the great blessing and miracle of repentance. It allows us to not only change, but to replace our burdens of sin with feelings of happiness and joy. It allows us to feel the greatest freedom we have ever felt. Perhaps you feel that burden of sin right now, seek forgiveness. It is never too late, nor are you ever out of the reach of the Savior's great atoning sacrifice. Take the steps necessary to feel of the true joy and happiness of Jesus Christ and his gospel. I have felt this feeling on my mission, and it is amazing to feel it all just go away. I know you can have that same feeling too. I love you all so much, keep doing what you're doing, keep trying to become a little better each day. Y'all are amazing. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you, including prayers! Have a great week!