Our Greatest Fear

It snowed here last week...strange you may say, but not for Rexburg. I learned to expect weather changes that were strange and fast. 
Yesterday I put some stuff on my lawn to kill the weeds, and it was not supposed to get any water on it. So, I applied it on a clear day no cloud in sight.  Shortly after that it started pouring.  So much for the money I wasted on that stuff.  

I have been addicted to a Turkish online show. It is very stupid and useless, but I can't quit watching. The good thing is that my Turkish has improved a lot. So, I justify it and call it useful. This past week I started using my Turkish to help Senior Missionaries learn Turkish. It has been so much fun. This one sister was so thrilled when I told her she does not have to say "soyluyorum" at the end of her testimony. She just could not say that word no matter how hard she tried. All this however is making me miss Turkey and want to go back. I miss the Turkish food and the sweet Turkish people.  I need to go back for a visit soon.

The church is now sending sister missionaries to Turkey. Nothing makes me happier than bringing the gospel to the good people of Turkey. I remember the many times I got asked the same question as I walked on the street with sister Ellett (a missionary). Talking to me they would say, "Why does she glow like that? tell us what she has?" I wished I could tell them that she had the light of Christ, the Holy Ghost made her glow and radiate.  But, at the time we were careful about sharing the gospel to strangers. We were even scared to invite anyone to church and worried about our safety because there were many anti-christian people around.

I still regret not sharing my testimony with that woman on the street who stopped me and said: "I don't normally talk to strangers, but I could not help but notice the light in your eyes." She told me how hard her life was and how alone she felt. Why didn't I tell her that she wasn't alone and that she was loved by a Father in Heaven? My Turkish was broken and not that great then...so, I just listened to her. 

Everyone will hear about the Savior one day...We had a missionary who spoke in church today. He said he left the church for a while and thought he was happy. But, when he came back he realized what happiness really is. He realized that it was the gospel that made him happy. He thought he would love to share that with others.

He was so excited to go on his mission, but said he was scared because he does not have the courage to talk to strangers. Yet He said the Savior will make his weaknesses become strengths. He said he had the answers to questions many people ask...He would be selfish not to share what he had with others.

My colleague Bonnie put this quote on her board, and I had never heard it before, so I thought I would share it with everyone...

"It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others."
—Marianne Williamson

 

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to those celebrating it today. Even though we don't celebrate Mother's day today (we celebrate on March 21st) I still think of my mother today and am grateful for the person she is.

Last week, I was asked to share a moment when my mother taught me something. I don't really remember mom teaching me using words. The only thing I remember her teaching me was how to read, and then she proudly would brag that her 2-year old daughter can read. 

But I remember many things that my mother taught my by example. She taught me the importance of education by her example. She would go to school in Jerusalem during the Second World War and her bus was often shot at, yet she went to school anyway. When her friend, Hayah, was killed by the Israeli army while working as a teacher along with the children she taught, my mother still aspired to be a teacher and still loved teaching. I still remember the love she had for her first graders as she would buy them all sorts of gifts to reward them when they would do well in their school-work. 

I love you Mom and miss you so much. I hope to see you next year.

Last week we went out to dinner to celebrate our birthdays. I have two friends that have birthdays close to mine and every year we go to Stockman's for dinner. It was a great meal and I ate so much I thought I would explode. We always get their cheese cake which is amazing, but this time I got Strawberry Shortcake and it was amazing too!

I was going to work in my yard this weekend, but I didn't. By the time I went shopping, did laundry and cleaned the house I had no time left. Besides, the weather is not helping. It really is not spring yet it seems. It rained so much on Saturday and today it is cloudy. So, I guess I will wait for Rexburg to decide to be warm. My garden is getting big and I don't want to leave it inside, but they keep saying the temperature will go down to freezing at nights and I don't really want the plants to freeze.  I guess I will wait!

My garden still looks horrible compared to others, but my grass is looking a little better after the weeds started to die (thank you Br. Richey).  The birds are also eating my worms, maybe I won't have so many and will have a normal lawn. We will see.