Already? (3/1/21)

Our friend Patch

I always try to find a good heading for the email but I can't ever think of anything cool or profound. I wrote something down this last week and I was like oh, that would be a great weekly, aaannnnnddddd I don't know where it is now haha. But already can refer to a few different things: I finished another journal, we finished another month, I'm getting another companion, transfers are happening again this Friday, some sisters from my MTC district finished their missions (I think, if Facebook hasn't deceived me), people are getting mission calls, people are posting about their 6 months, 1 year, etc. Life goes on when sometimes you just want it to stop moving and stay still for a bit. But whaddya do? 

This last week was pretty cool. I think I said it last week, but I was just chillin, thinking, pondering, as one does like Nephi (I'm giving myself too much credit; I wasn't really paying attention to anything), and out of nowhere I had this big feeling: President Nelson is God's prophet on earth right now. Woah. Wasn't expecting that. Good info to know, though. I've been asking about that one for a while. Sadly, I didn't even know who he was before he was the prophet. Ignorance isn't always bliss. Educate yourselves.

Elder Anderson with a lil kitten

We had some more service opportunities, and it was great. Sometimes I think about the Apostle Paul saying we are sometimes unknowingly entertaining angels (Hebrews 13:2). Kinda a fun thought sometimes. That thought chain always invokes the question in my mind, "Who was it?" And then I try to think about their social network and where they came from, how they remain unnoticed, if they went back to God and were like yeah he's doing good, etc. Then I think about the 3 Nephites and John the Beloved. Where are they? What are they doing? Have I been lucky enough to be like Mormon and Moroni and have them minister to me? Have I been in their presence? (Mormon 8:11) Just fun little harmless questions that in the next life when we are watching our lives we will see the big picture. Soon we will have our eyes opened. 

I was thinking about Brazil recently because there were some people here that were super familiar and I remembered I had taught people who look like them when I was in Brazil. I tried remembering their names, but I can't. I can see where they live, who they are, what I taught them, who I was with, but I just can't remember any names for some reason. The next life will be a wonderful time for everyone. I will be able to see and remember things haha. What are some imperfections you have now that will be perfected through Christ during the resurrection? 

Prayer is such a wonderful thing to have and use. I invite every single person reading this to take a few seconds and pray and thank God for something. I have learned that communication between those you live with, love, and associate with is far more important than just about anything else. Why do we think it isn't the same with our Father in Heaven? He loves us, and we love Him. He wants to hear from us just like our earthly parents want to hear from us. He wants to respond to us just like we respond to others. He usually won't respond without us asking for something. Don't ask; don't tell. Simple. Ask and ye shall receive. From a quick little Topical Guide search of the word "ask" there are 15ish references to this concept, ask and ye shall receive. I know there are many, many more throughout the scriptures. This is an eternal, never-changing truth. Just as Joseph Smith did, you too can pray and ask God for guidance and help, and you will receive. He will not be mad; He will be glad. Go and do, my friends! You will be blessed for it.

A horse we fed treats to that tried bucking the
other horses so they wouldn't get treats.

I didn't know there were deer here. There are bears,
too. Haven't spotted any alligators yet, though.