Take it easy

We are back in Conani this week and loving being at home! I am feeling a million times better...thank you so much for all of your prayers, love and support. My companion is still recuperating a little bit and we are learning a lot of patience as we trust that she will be better in the Lord's time. Until then, we can only leave a couple hours a day and have to stay close to the house. Luckily our investigators and less actives are still doing well though and we have even managed to receive a few more amazing references from members that I think will progress really quickly.
 

In the Book of Mormon there is a story of a people called the Zoramites. This group of people had been faithful at one point but then had fallen into apostasy. When Alma and the sons of Mosiah found them they all offered the same prayer saying that they were better than everyone else and a wonderful people, then would go home and never think about God again during the week. As I read this chapter in Alma again this week I thought of ourselves and how sometimes we do the same thing. We go to church on Sunday and say "how wonderful to be in the true church" and then return to our homes and don't think about the Lord or serve anyone until the next week. How did the Zoramites get to this point? They neglected the little things. They stopped praying daily and keeping the small commandments. Daily scripture study, sincere prayer, weekly family home evenings, visiting and home teaching...these are the essential things. They are not just nice suggestions that the prophets give to us. They are commandments. I know that through diligent obedience to these things we will see the wonderful blessings that the Lord has saved for us and we will avoid the traps that Satan has prepared.
 

I would also add gratitude to the list. During the past few weeks I have learned much about gratitude and our attitude during trials. My companion and I could be frustrated that we can't go out and teach and work like we want to. We could have been bitter in the hospital. I could be annoyed that my companion still can't really do anything and I have to cook and clean and teach and coordinate everything. But instead we choose to accept these things with gratitude. I am so grateful for the health that I have now and that usually is my blessing to have. I am so grateful to have been born in the states and that I only have to deal with Dominican healthcare for 18 months. I was grateful for the knowledge I have and that I was able to direct our healthcare in the hospital. We laughed together as a companionship as we laid next to each other with IV's in our arms because it was just really funny to us. Each day I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to serve my companion the entire day. I always look for service opportunities and it has been much easier lately to find them! How humbling that the Lord and my companion trust me to take care of everything while she is sick. That is a tender mercy in my life. The Lord has commanded us to receive ALL things with gratitude and I have seen the blessings of this in my life. He loves us and wants us to be happy and when we are looking for the blessings that He pours out upon us and receive them with a grateful heart everything is better.
 

I hope you all are doing well. I hope that you will each take the time to do the little things. Look for the wonderful things in your life. There are many. Thank the Lord for all that He has given you and you will be amazed at the happiness you find. I love you all and I love my mission and this gospel.

Have a wonderful week!

Hermana Ewell