Like the Army of Helaman  

(Finland Week 67)

19 APR 2016

This week we went to interim! That's the three day training for new missionaries at the mission home. We enjoyed lots of good food, very blessed food. I was asked to bless the food on one of the days, I said a great long prayer, one of those prayers where I'm sure people are wondering when we are going to actually EAT the very blessed food. I prayed for lots of great things, and ended, and realized I never actually blessed or thanked for the food. They had me pray again. Thankfully, God is patient and hears all of our prayers, and no one starved.

At interim we talked about our first memories of the Book of Mormon. I thought as far back as I could, and I remembered one night reading Alma 56 as a family. This is an amazing chapter about the stripling warriors, how they were so brave and strong in their faith. (They knew from their moms :) Yay moms!) Really though I remember it because I didn't understand what was going on. Armies and people were moving and someone was attacking someone and whatnot. My parents had us act it out so that we would understand. I remember running around the couch as the army of Helaman with a sibling and we were fighting as Antipus' army was on the other side and excitement was happening. It was a lot of fun. I thought the Nephites were super smart. Now that chapter means a lot more to me. It taught me never to fear as long as I was doing right, for then God would protect me. This meant a lot in big things like when my dad would be deployed, and in small things like "wow I have a super huge test and am way stressed". When we put our trust in the Lord, it all really does work out. Here is a great passage from Alma 56, verse 47, about the faith of the stripling warriors, "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death;...yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." I know that Heavenly Father really does exist, and He is watching over us daily.

IN OTHER NEWS, MY LITTLE BROTHER JUST GOT HIS MISSION CALL TO NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK!!!  I'M SO EXCITED AND PROUD AND I'M CRYING A LITTLE. YAY TAYLOR!!! LOVE YOU LITTLE BRO!

Here is a picture from interim, and a picture of me eating sardines.

 

Have a wonderful week!

Rakkaudellani, Sisar Mendenhall