皆さん!
Hope your week has been good! I heard it snowed pretty heavily up in Washington for everyone that's up there - did you all get a chance to enjoy it? It's been on and off over here, but it never sticks to the ground...
Little bit shorter of an email this week.
This week, we've done a lot to help the members. It's been a crazy couple of days. Last week, a neighbor's garage burned down because of an electrical fire, and so we've been trying to help them out as much as we possibly can. They're sweet people - really ice. But the work isn't nearly as physically taxing as much as it is emotionally taxing. Watching them try to smile and crack jokes about everything, but seeing the sadness behind their eyes... it's heartbreaking. And they'll often point out different things they see unrecognizable, charred beyond belief.
It's hard to watch. We're trying our best to help them as much as we can.
Other than that, we've been meeting with a lot of people who are struggling during this time - whether it be through loneliness, anxiety, or the loss of loved ones. Being able to bring them peace and love has been one of the highlights of this week. Seeing how the Gospel is able to bring so many people peace is incredible to see - and the Spirit is always incredibly strong there. We had one of the older sisters in the ward say to us, "After my husband passed away, I don't know what I would do if I thought I wouldn't be able to see him again. I'm just grateful to know I will be able to. It gives me strength to keep going, you know?"
It's incredible to see.
The balance of this week has been pretty half-and-half between service and teaching. Honestly, however we can help the people here, we're trying our best to do. I just pray that we're doing enough.
Life continues to move forward - and though each day brings with it new challenges, in the end, I can say that it has brought me so much joy. Being able to help people out of their burdens, to help them find peace... it's been interesting to see I've found my own. Perhaps that is why the Savior reaches out to so many people - throughout all of His ministry.
A story that struck me this week was from Matthew 14. We know it as the feeding of the 5,000, but it did not start out that way.
It starts with the passing of John the Baptist.
Jesus and John had been very close throughout their entire lives. They had grown up together. Had learned together. And ultimately, it was John the Baptist that had been the one to baptize Christ.
So when news of this reached Christ, it devastated Him. He and his disciples began making themselves ready to board a ship on the Sea of Galilee, to spend some time apart.
And yet, when they approached, they found a vast multitude of people, who had heard Christ was nearby. They were ready and eager to learn.
The Lord could have easily said, "No, not right now. The time is not well." But He didn't. He reached out in love. He taught them. He worked miracles amongst them. And when the hour for eating had passed, He wrought a mighty miracle to feed all of them - insomuch they had more leftover than when they had started with a simple, meager lunch. And every wound was healed.
I've found this principle particularly poignant throughout this week. I've seen people with enough struggles on their own reach out in love and kindness to others. I've seen the miracles that have been wrought in their lives. And I've seen as we've reached out, that we've been able to find that peace and joy, as well. It's amazing to see. And I've found that the Lord grants us just enough strength every day to get through what we need to do - and at the end of every day, though we are exhausted, we know that we have been doing His will. And that through us, He has been able to bless His children.
I think that's beautiful.
Take care, everyone - and take care of each other. You all are amazing.
Take care!
Elder Decker
デッカー長老
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