Sois Hermanos?

Sorry no structure on this. Here we go!

This last P-Day we met with other Elders and explored the city of Badajoz. We got to explore the city, and when our train tickets were messed up we even stayed over at their piso. We also got to teach a lesson to this awesome guy over there. Later in the week, when he found out he needed to be married to his girlfriend to be baptized, he walks into her room, we're on a FaceTime mind you, and asks if she would want to get married. She said yes!!! Kind of the most wild proposal ever, but it worked! 

This week we visited some members home and I got to share some spiritual thoughts. I'm grateful for any practice we can get here because lessons are a little rare here in Cáceres. I also gave my first priesthood blessing and it was in Spanish haha. Never a day here where I'm not wildly out of my comfort zone, it's awesome. 

One of the lessons we did have this week was taking our amigo Jaime out to all you can eat pizza at Dominos haha. There is not a lesson that is under an hour here in Spain - everyone loves to talk. Another lesson we had this week was with our friend Raphael. He is leaving to France next Sunday, but said he would love to be baptized on Saturday, yes like in 6 days! Anyways, a three-hour lesson later we traded his coffee for a library of pamphlets. It will be wild if it happens, but we're always hoping for the best. 

Saturday night we have something called Golden Hour (let's be real - it takes like 3) to call all our friends and invite them to church. 50 calls later we were hopeful to get lots of friends in the capilla. Unfortunately (for the 4th week in a row RIP) none of our friends showed up. Definitely discouraging, but then a few friends of members came! We're always grateful for bits of good news. I also know I can be satisfied with my own hard work, regardless of the outcome. With that, I'm learning to make only healthy comparisons. My awesome cuñado sent me a talk all about comparison and gratitude and it was exactly what I needed. I'm now realising that comparison is a weakness of mine. Comparison grows out of self-doubt, and is like "drinking a jar of pickle juice" anytime anyone else succeeds. Replacing jealous comparison with gratitude is bringing me more joy, and less focus on myself. The truth is, I will never have the number of baptisms they have in Mexico, I will never speak Spanish like the locals, and I may never know the scriptures like my comp does. But how exhausting to ignore your own blessings because of the blessings of others. There are things I have been given, that others haven't, that I hardly deserve. I need to make the most of my talents and rejoice with others for their success, regardless of my own. Improvement is the goal, it will lead to greater fulfillment and gratitude. Sorry IK this is cheesy, but kinda what I need right now.

"...every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human. May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel, the truthfulness of the Church, our hope for our future, or the possibility of godliness. If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete—which is the New Testament meaning of perfection."

 -Be Ye Perfect, Eventually (Holland)

"Whenever I hear the song of a bird Or look at the blue, blue sky, 

Whenever I feel the rain on my face Or the wind as it rushes by, 

Whenever I touch a velvet rose Or walk by our lilac tree, 

I’m glad that I live in this beautiful world Heav’nly Father created for me. 

He gave me my eyes that I might see The color of butterfly wings. 

He gave me my ears that I might hear The magical sound of things. 

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart: I thank him rev'rently

For all his creations, of which I'm a part. Yes I know my Heavenly Father loves me" 

- My Heavenly Father Loves Me (Children's songbook)

This week, I invite you to think of these two questions:

What have I been given, that is completely out of my control, that I am undeserving of, and that I am grateful for? 

What does success look like for me? Does it depend on comparsion to others or myself?

I hope that as you think about these questions, you will be filled with greater humility and gratitude this week. Email me your responses if you'd like, I would love to hear your thoughts! 

-Elder Jake

PS. Thought of you Boppa when I took the picture of the Inca Cola

The screenshot of the text is for you Dad. Translate it haha. 30 years later and 4000 miles away, but the mission is the same...