Hey Everyone!
This week I don't have a lot of time, but can share a little
about Katarina and what we are teaching her.
So the Monday two weeks ago we had dinner with the
Fendersons who have a Greek foreign exchange student living there. That was the
first day we met Katarina and have met up probably five total times now. She
has taken English for 7 years so she is pretty good (though it is a little comical
to us when she says the wrong word like 'learn' instead of 'teach'). We were
able to share part of the Restoration with her and help her learn a bit about
the Gospel. It was really cool earlier this week she wrote me and Elder Welch a
note. She thanked us for talking with her about God because she has been going
through challenging things in her life. We were able to get her a copy of the
Book of Mormon in Greek last week and read some of it with her. She could really
feel the Spirit when we taught about Jesus Christ. We shared our favorite
scripture on Christ's atonement with her, Alma 7:11-13. If you haven't read it
recently, you should! I don't know if I would hold it up at a sports game like
John 3:16, but it is as powerful.
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions
and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which
saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the
bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities,
that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may
know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their
infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son
of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of
his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power
of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
It doesn't really roll off the tongue, but the message is
AWESOME. :) usually when people think about what Jesus Christ has done for
them, 'dying for my sins' is their answer. That is true as it says in 13, that
he blots out their transgressions and took upon himself their sins. But that
isn't where it stops! Have you noticed that not all the hardships in your life
come from sins? We experience pains, afflictions, temptations, sicknesses, and
infirmities that aren't associates with sins. What about those? Are we meant to
go through those by ourselves or does Jesus help us with those too? He does! :)
Isn't that awesome? We can receive strength from Christ if we had a broken
bone, if a loved one has cancer, if you lost your job, if you are tempted to do
something wrong, and more. He suffered for everything so that he can 'succor
us' or provide us the strength and nourishment we need to endure and triumph
over all of our experiences.
I love the Gospel. We believe that God is behind the
'coincidence' of Katarina staying at the Fenderson's home with the opportunity
to learn about how faith in Jesus Christ can bless an change her life. She was supposed
to spend her six weeks in America in another part of Colorado. But they
couldn't have her for the first three weeks so she has been here. God surely does
love His children and provides a way for them to learn about Him!
Have the best week ever!
Elder Jeff Campbell
Katerina is the one next to me.
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