Trust In His Will

This week was full of a lot of reorganizing. When I got here the area book, our apartment, and area in general were just all over the place. So, we sent most our time meeting friends, recent converts, and cleaning up the area book. It's a lot better now, but still some organizing to do. 

Hlalani Villa and Joza location are the townships here in Makhanda.  They're the only townships I've seen built on steep hills. The people there are awesome. The dogs, however, are not as awesome. It's like gang wars between dog packs here, lol. We came out of a lesson back to our car we had like 8 or so dogs fighting under and around our car. It took us a bit to get the dogs underneath all out. 

We had a pretty sad experience this week. Our first counselor in the Makhanda branch called us Wednesday morning and asked us to come give a blessing to his newborn at the hospital. As we were walking in with him he told us she had been born prematurely. She was born at 7 months and wasn't doing great. The father told us the doctors said there is nothing they can do. I've never seen a baby so small before. But we gave her a blessing and left. It was a heavy experience. The father the whole time was just so calm, which was surprising to me. He just told us as we were walking out with him that it's up to God's will now. That was really inspiring to hear. He has so much trust in God's will. But when we got back home, about an hour later, we got a text from him telling us his baby had passed away. That took my breath away. It was a heavy day, hard to not think about it. But at the funeral, talking with the father and mother, they kept telling us how much faith and trust they have in the plan of salvation. They know they'll get to see and have the chance to raise their child. Listening to them, and just this whole experience in general, has strengthened my testimony and understanding of God's plan. He expects us to put our trust in Him and His will. And he'll bless us for our faithfulness. 

A tender mercy I've come to see Is being able have a warm shower or just an actual shower, lol. A funny thing that happened this week is we have a recent convert who literally eats the walls of her house.  Her house is made of dirt and clay. She tells us it tastes nice and took a bit off the wall and ate it in front of us. That's just absolutely wild to me, lol. Turns out it happens quite a bit. There is some special kinda clay that a lot of people here eat. I think it's just weird.

Alma 8:18

"18 Now it came to pass that after Alma had received his message from the angel of the Lord he returned speedily to the land of Ammonihah. And he entered the city by another way, yea, by the way which is on the south of the city of Ammonihah."

This is after Alma was commanded by an angel to go back and preach to the people of Ammonihah. What I love so much about it is how it says "he returned speedily". This is what prompt obedience is. When the Lord asks us to do it, we do it right away. Alma is a great example of trust in the Lord and His ways that we can all learn from. Often times we all want to know exactly why something is commanded of us. But it is not necessary for the Lord to tell us all the reasons why He commands us to do something. We must have the faith and trust to exercise prompt obedience even if it is difficult. Being promptly obedient shows God we love him by putting our absolute trust in Him. I know I'll be working on prompt obedience and I invite you guys to do so. I know if we do so we'll gain a greater understanding and trust in His will and plan for each of us. In the name of Jesus Christ amen. 

-Elder Quick