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Mollie #56 - La Marina, Chile - A Messy Perspective to Understanding Eternally
November 25
Hey all,
So no pics other than this white Christmas picture. The seasons are changing rapidly, and it is getting really
hot here. I am very happy. I bought a blender. It is absolutely
essencial in the summer. I am going to buy a big hat I think to protect
my face so that I don´t have the same problems as last summer.
I love the clothes. They all fit, and I really like the reversible skirt.
I love the clothes. They all fit, and I really like the reversible skirt.
We changed our focus here in the ward and are
working more on family mission plans. I think it will work a lot better
here. We have had success with people that don´t live here they live in
other parts of San Pedro or Talcahauno, but they are now going to church
and learning about the gospel from other missionaries.
It is amazing the miracles that we get to see.
People change their whole perspective on life. One second they don`t
believe in God, deny all scripture, and the next moment they are sharing
their testimony of God with their neighbors and best friends. The power
of prayer literally changes hearts.
Perspective on religion here is a mess really of
different opinions. Some believe that our acts don't matter that if we
believe in God. Many believe that religion is a kind of hobby - that it
only applies Sunday- that mankind must believe in something. Others
believe that they walk everyday with God in the heart and that it is
only our acts and prayers that are important. Others go to church
literally every day for an hour, because only through our closeness to
God are we saved. Others believe and always talk about the 144,000 elect. We talk
about a hundred different themes with all of the people here.
One area I've been focusing on and studying is the purpose of the organization of the church. It's so important that they understand and recognized that going to church is not enough. There is a real purpose to His church being here at this time. There's a real purpose that we should be living and striving toward.
Ephesians
4 talks about the organization of the church how we have apostles,
prophets, pastors, teachers etc., and their purpose for us, as saints.
11 And he agave some, bapostles; and some, cprophets; and some,devangelists; and some, epastors and fteachers;
12 For the aperfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the bedifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the aunity of the faith, and of the bknowledgeof the Son of God, unto a cperfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more achildren, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of bdoctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the atruth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the bhead, even Christ:
The purpose of the Christ`s church was to help us to perfect ourselves
through the perfect teachings of Christ, and to unite us in truth and love. This is the same purpose of his church today, and through being united we not only grow in truth and love, but we become happier understanding things eternally. All of the suffering of today is temporary, and we can help and change the things to lift others, which of course lifts our lives to be more Christ-like.
Love you all lots,
Hermana Bowman
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