The Englishman and a Hymn  

(Finland – Week 56)  

02 Feb 2016

Terve!

First off, HAPPY BIRTHDAY FAMILY!! February has 5 birthdays for our family, everyone wish them the best from me on the right days.

This past Saturday was awesome! So many things went just right. One really great thing was a man we met (not on a bus this time, at a bus stop! I love public transport.) from England. We started talking with him and he laughed a little, and told us that many missionaries had talked with him before. We asked if he had ever received a Book of Mormon, he said no but that they had sure tried! He was not interested. We talked a little more, and found that he had almost the exact same question as the Lamanite King in Alma 22. We explained the story to him, and he started to pay more attention. We offered the Book of Mormon to him, and asked him to read that chapter. He accepted! It's wonderful to see people change.

We've been thinking a lot about this song, "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd",

1. Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are the sheep of his fold;
Dear is the love that he gives them,
Dearer than silver or gold.
Dear to the heart of the Shepherd,
Dear are his "other" lost sheep;
Over the mountains he follows,
Over the waters so deep.

This is the first verse, and I love how it addresses God's love for each of us. This last verse I love because this is how privileged we are when we get to be missionaries,

4. Green are the pastures inviting;
Lord, we will answer thee gladly,
"Yes, blessed Master, we will!
Make us thy true under-shepherds;
Give us a love that is deep.
Send us out into the desert,
Seeking thy wandering sheep."
(Chorus)
Out in the desert they wander,
Hungry and helpless and cold;
Off to the rescue he hastens,
Bringing them back to the fold.

This is a perfect missionary song! God truly loves each of us, and I love that I get to focus on that love so much right now.

Have a wonderful week!!!

Love Sisar Mendenhall