January 30, 2010
Looks like I typed in your email address wrong last week but the email is attached to this one.
It’s been another good week here in the good ole mission office. Highlights of the week include a missionary from one of the mission branches going out to serve (though as all understand it he has been living elsewhere but decided to leave from where his non-member parents are living so we got to send him off after he got here to Salvador) Concerning missionaries from the mission area we are coming up on an important mark in church growth here as we come closer to sending out more missionaries then the number we have here in the mission serving. Who knows, maybe in just a bit Salvador will have the privilege of building one of the next temples in Brasil. President took us all out to a crazy Brazilian barbecue place called Sal e Brasa. Along with the amazing hunks of perfectly grilled meat brought out on giant spits which they would cut off as you ask for a piece but we also ate a variety of "gourmet" sea food, including muscles, shrimp, octopus and/or squid.
In my studies this week I came across a parable in Lucas 17:7-10 where Christ is speaking to His apostles,
"7 But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
8 And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
Likewise in our lives whether we be missionaries, Relief society presidents, Home teachers or 2nd counselors in the ward primary presidency even if we all that is asked of us we are unprofitable servants and yet God still blesses us for doing so. Let us always remember this and then go forth and learn our duties to act in the office in which we are appointed, in all diligence that we may be counted "worthy to stand" at the last day (DC 107:99-100)
I know that as we do our best to be obedient to God's commandments and the duties of our callings that we will be led to complete the Lord's work and to one day return to His presence. In the name of Jesus Christ, amém.
Love,
Elder Pettit
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:58:06 +0000
Thanks for the many emails I received this past week I feel blessed to receive so many which have left me feeling edified and determined to press forward in this the Lord's work. This week has been a good one as I have been getting to know Elder J. and we have also been leaving the office pretty much every night to work in our area. Sidney, his wife and one of their daughters are excited to go to church tomorrow though it is still sad that he doesn't want to get married. It is interesting to see the difference the gospel can make in our lives. I hadn't ever thought about its effect in my your (mom and dad's) marriage. The gospel truly does teach us to love, to forgive, to help, learn and teach one another all of which are essential principles in a successful marriage. It is sad to see some of the people with either a lack of commitment or trust in their marriages keeping them from receiving God's blessing of an eternal family let alone Eternal Salvation. I am grateful for the protection the Lord gives us missionaries here on the mission and the righteous desires he gives us as we seek and ask for them. I am grateful for the testimonies of the apostles and prophets both ancient and modern that strengthen my own and help me to learn. I am grateful that our family can be together forever that Christ paid the price so that we may become clean if we but repent and come unto Him. The Lord lives and loves us and this testimony I leave with you all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amém.
Jacob
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
January 16, 2010
It went through eh? Well that was easy enough. My current Companion Elder W. will start at BYU-I that semester as well. Speaking of companions we have a new one here at the office, Elder J. of Salt Lake ( I think) just came in.
In other bug news we started going out at night and have been blessed richly for our efforts. On Thursday night we went on splits so Diego (a kid going on a mission in a bit here) and I went out to work in the area near his house. After contacting some of his friends and neighbors without much success we were heading over to visit a Brother's house in the area and we ran into Sidney. After talking with him a bit, inviting him to church (to which he said yes) and asking if we could leave a message with him we got to meet some of his other family members (his "wife" with whom he has been living together with for 17 years and their 3 kids though only 2 were home that night) He has been a member of several different churches the most recent being the Baptist, but he described himself as inactive but wanting to stay firm in a certain denomination with his family. What a blessing he will get in the true church of Jesus Christ where we know that as we make and fulfill our covenants in the temple with may receive the promised blessing of being with our families for time and all eternity. Pretty much the whole family is going to go to church tomorrow and we hope to help them get married asap to help them prepare to one day receive the fullness of the blessings God has in store for them.
I was talking with a good friend Elder S. at transfers while we were all together here in the Salvador stake center and we had an interesting discussion about things that we are learning. He said something that kind of struck that I have been trying to apply in the work here. Why question promptings to do good things? Just do them. I feel that we found Sidney because I was trying to apply that principle.
I know this is God's work and that our family will be eternal if we but do our part, those small and simple things that allow the Lord to guide us and shape our lives and characters. In the name of Jesus Christ, amém.
Jacob
It went through eh? Well that was easy enough. My current Companion Elder W. will start at BYU-I that semester as well. Speaking of companions we have a new one here at the office, Elder J. of Salt Lake ( I think) just came in.
In other bug news we started going out at night and have been blessed richly for our efforts. On Thursday night we went on splits so Diego (a kid going on a mission in a bit here) and I went out to work in the area near his house. After contacting some of his friends and neighbors without much success we were heading over to visit a Brother's house in the area and we ran into Sidney. After talking with him a bit, inviting him to church (to which he said yes) and asking if we could leave a message with him we got to meet some of his other family members (his "wife" with whom he has been living together with for 17 years and their 3 kids though only 2 were home that night) He has been a member of several different churches the most recent being the Baptist, but he described himself as inactive but wanting to stay firm in a certain denomination with his family. What a blessing he will get in the true church of Jesus Christ where we know that as we make and fulfill our covenants in the temple with may receive the promised blessing of being with our families for time and all eternity. Pretty much the whole family is going to go to church tomorrow and we hope to help them get married asap to help them prepare to one day receive the fullness of the blessings God has in store for them.
I was talking with a good friend Elder S. at transfers while we were all together here in the Salvador stake center and we had an interesting discussion about things that we are learning. He said something that kind of struck that I have been trying to apply in the work here. Why question promptings to do good things? Just do them. I feel that we found Sidney because I was trying to apply that principle.
I know this is God's work and that our family will be eternal if we but do our part, those small and simple things that allow the Lord to guide us and shape our lives and characters. In the name of Jesus Christ, amém.
Jacob
Saturday, January 2, 2010
January 2, 2010
Happy new year to you all!!
We had a barbecue in the house (yes I mean in the house, the way the wind passed through the house sucked the smoke right out the window by which the little homemade sheet metal barbecue stood) of the other Elders in our district which was quite good, I was able to learn a few helpful barbecue hints as well. I have a goal to pick up cooking tips and recipe with just about everyone who has them.
Our house is a bit of a sick bay these days with two Elders passing time with else while doing treatment at the nearby hospital. One of them, Elder R. has taught me by his example and just through some conversations we've had walking behind everyone else (he is on crutches at the moment due to a knee problem). I have found myself with a "second wind" of sorts these days, with a greater desire to do what I need to do, so I can learn what I need to learn and then be who I need to be.
Elder Zwick told of a complicated structural situation in Utah with a plan to build on top of an active fault line. He spoke of a complex foundation that if built properly would secure the building in earthquakes up to the 6th magnitude (I think that’s what he said, maybe it was 6.5, the idea being a strong foundation) he then pointed out a couple interesting facts. First, compared to the amount of material used in the part of the actual building, there was about three times the amount used in the foundation which extended way into the earth, and second that the slightest bit of impurity in this foundation, even the slightest bit of air, would foul up the whole process and leave the foundation insecure. Meaning that much care had to be taken to do it right the first time the whole time. He then compared this to our own foundation in the gospel and how we need to make the consistent effort now to build that foundation the right way so that when the 6.5 earthquakes come in our life, (and they will come) we can stand strong. If you find you have "impurities" in your base, take care of them now, confess the sins you need to confess, make the changes in your life you know you need to change, create the habits of scripture reading, and real, sincere, humble prayer that you need to create. If we don't do this know a day may arrive when the strength we needed in our spiritual foundation isn't there but if we do, we will find it being edified, tested, proven strong and our spiritual progress will continue onward until the day which we hope to all come to, when Christ will say to us, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, that through Christ we can become clean of our sins, work out our individual "foundation" and one day receive salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amém.
Elder Pettit
Happy new year to you all!!
We had a barbecue in the house (yes I mean in the house, the way the wind passed through the house sucked the smoke right out the window by which the little homemade sheet metal barbecue stood) of the other Elders in our district which was quite good, I was able to learn a few helpful barbecue hints as well. I have a goal to pick up cooking tips and recipe with just about everyone who has them.
Our house is a bit of a sick bay these days with two Elders passing time with else while doing treatment at the nearby hospital. One of them, Elder R. has taught me by his example and just through some conversations we've had walking behind everyone else (he is on crutches at the moment due to a knee problem). I have found myself with a "second wind" of sorts these days, with a greater desire to do what I need to do, so I can learn what I need to learn and then be who I need to be.
Elder Zwick told of a complicated structural situation in Utah with a plan to build on top of an active fault line. He spoke of a complex foundation that if built properly would secure the building in earthquakes up to the 6th magnitude (I think that’s what he said, maybe it was 6.5, the idea being a strong foundation) he then pointed out a couple interesting facts. First, compared to the amount of material used in the part of the actual building, there was about three times the amount used in the foundation which extended way into the earth, and second that the slightest bit of impurity in this foundation, even the slightest bit of air, would foul up the whole process and leave the foundation insecure. Meaning that much care had to be taken to do it right the first time the whole time. He then compared this to our own foundation in the gospel and how we need to make the consistent effort now to build that foundation the right way so that when the 6.5 earthquakes come in our life, (and they will come) we can stand strong. If you find you have "impurities" in your base, take care of them now, confess the sins you need to confess, make the changes in your life you know you need to change, create the habits of scripture reading, and real, sincere, humble prayer that you need to create. If we don't do this know a day may arrive when the strength we needed in our spiritual foundation isn't there but if we do, we will find it being edified, tested, proven strong and our spiritual progress will continue onward until the day which we hope to all come to, when Christ will say to us, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, that through Christ we can become clean of our sins, work out our individual "foundation" and one day receive salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amém.
Elder Pettit
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