Lessons on Pohnpei and Lloyd's Graduation Part Two

It's great that as I come across these names and events some of it is still so clear in my mind, like I could still make the walk from our apartment up to Menrose's house.

***June 30, 2004 JOURNAL: Need to Focus
          We met with Solitre today.  We learned that her husband is stopping her from coming to church and from getting baptized.  I kept thinking to myself, these people must be something special because Satan is trying so very hard to keep them away from the truth.
          Found someone new, Menrose.  It was kind of sketchy at the beginning, but when we invited her to read the Book of Mormon and gave her a copy, she got really excited.  We see her again on Saturday.
          Had a really great conversation with Brother Alfones.  It was actually a discussion with questions going back and forth.  So good.

15 July 2013

Here are the links to the video we took at Lloyd's graduation.  He did great on his speaking parts and we really liked the songs.

One of the videos won't load.  I'll try and get it up with the next post.

The rest of my letter to Pres. Pulsipher and Pictures from Lloyd's Graduation

Here's the rest of my letter to President Pulsipher

***June 26,2004 LETTER TO PRESIDENT: Part Finale
President Pulsipher,
          I'm almost half way through my 30 days of studying 2nd Nephi 9.  I can honestly say that in the past two weeks of reading I've gained a deeper appreciation for the atonement and that I've learned something new everyday.  Verse 18 talks about enduring the cross of the world and despising the shame of it.  I thought about that for awhile.  About how many things, in the more recent times, have become "acceptable" in mainstream American culture, that was looked down upon 50 years ago, or even sooner than that.  And about how the world puts more and more pressure on people to tolerate and accept such notions.  Teachings that go against gospel teachings are everywhere.

Quote to Sister Pulsipher:
          Do not be one of those described as one who tries to serve the Lord without offending the devil. -Marion G. Romney

9 July 2013

Pictures from Lloyd's graduation from Seagull Pre-Plus Preschool on 28 June 2013.

After graduation we asked Lloyd where he wanted to eat lunch, he said Costco!  Love this kid.

The Apostasy Cycle and your Hand, Babies Photo near failure success

Each week we were responsible for writing a letter to our mission president.

At the beginning (pre-Preach My Gospel) the body of the letter was completely left to us and we were responsible for reporting some numbers.

***June 26, 2004 LETTER TO PRESIDENT: Part One
President Pulsipher,
          This week we taught a lady named Lorline.  It was the first opportunity I had to teach, here in Pohnpei.  I'm grateful most people here have, at least, a slight grasp of the English language.  I got to teach about the apostasy pattern, and used that visual method with my hand.  She seemed to understand that pretty well.  We decided to touch on reformers, just a bit, to see how much she'd understand.  We got to Joseph Smith and the light bulb went on for her.  We all felt the spirit there helping us to learn together.

While we were in the MTC we learned (from another missionary) how to teach the apostasy cycle using our hands as a visual.

 

• Because God loves us, he sends us prophets like Adam.  Over time the people forget about God.  They fall into a state of disbelief and sin, so God takes away his power and priesthood from the people.
  
  But Because God loves us he sent another prophet, Noah, to help teach the people.  Noah cried repentance to the people.  They would not listen to him.  So God took his power off the earth again.
  
  But God loves us and sent Abraham, the prophet.  After a time the people would not listen to Abraham and God's teachings.  The people fell back into sin and disbelief.  God took his priesthood off the earth.
  
  But God loves us, so he sent a prophet to teach us, Moses.  After a while the people would not listen to Moses.  God removed his priesthood from the earth.
  
  But God loves us, so he sent his son, Jesus Christ who was more than a prophet.  Jesus Christ organized God's church.  He set the perfect example for us to know how to return to our Heavenly Father after this life.  But most of the people wouldn't listen to Jesus Christ.  After the people crucified Jesus, they killed most of the apostles and there was no one that had God's authority to use God's priesthood powers to  bless the lives of the people.
  
  
• As a matter of clarification, God still loves us and in modern times restored his gospel, his priesthood, his power and all the blessings related through a man named Joseph Smith.  Joseph Smith was a prophet of God.
• We are still led by a prophet today, Thomas S. Monson.  God still loves us.

5 July 2013

Grammy once bought these babies matching-esque shirts and we tried to take pictures of them when they were tired and crazy

Listening to The Spirit and Continuing (Continuous) Learning

Wow, what a week.  We were just getting ready for Lloyd's preschool "graduation."  Can't imagine how busy we'll be fore his real graduation.

Here's the rest of the talk I shared last week:

***ZONE CONFERENCE TALK: Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3 "How the spirit speaks to me"
          In, "Lord Accept Our True Devotion" it says, "Let they spirit whisper peace, swell our hearts with fond emotion, and our joy in thee increase."  A few weeks before I was to report to the MTC I questioning myself.  I felt like I had a lot going for me at home and didn't know if going on a mission was the right decision.  I took this concern to the temple.  As I prayed there, a feeling of peace came over me.  I wasn't confused about my decision anymore.  I felt good about it.  I know that was the Holy Ghost speaking to me.  Speaking peace to me and swelling my heart with joy.
          In, "Let the Holy Spirit guide" we sing, "Let the Holy Spirit guide, let him teach us what is true, He will testify of Christ, light our minds with heavens view."When I was at the MTC, I know i was blessed with amazing teachers.  One of them was Brother Robinson.  While we were studying about the restoration, I was having trouble seeing how that whole discussion fit together.   Brother Robinson went over it and as he was speaking, things started to click.  It all started to make sense.  I know that was the spirit.  I know that he spirit helps us to learn.  The spirit teaches us what is true.
          I know the spirit speaks to us.  I know the spirit speaks to me.  To my mind and o my heart.  It helps me to learn things when I am confused.  It brings knowledge to my mind and helps me to remember things i may need.  I know the spirit speaks peace to my heart when I feel conflicted or sand or angry.  I know the spirit testifies of Christ.  I know that if I learn to trust the promptings of the spirit I will be led to do the things that I should do.

1 July 2013

Yesterday our Sunday school lesson was on learning by study and also by faith.  Sister Porter mentioned about free online courses at BYU.  I did a little search and organized a new page of free online courses (see new tab /\ /\).

Last year I took an online course at the Univeristy of Georgia on food preservation.

I haven't used any of that information yet, but it was an informative class.

The class was not for credit, but I did get a pdf of a certificate I can print.

The class was slideshow style with pretests and quizzes in each section.

You needed to get at least a 70 in order to pass each section.

I could do it on my own time and was able to print out the lectures for future reference.

It was awesome!