Not exactly sure where that title came from but hey, its
kind of catchy so I am going to keep it. Boy has it been a week. As the Elders
in our ward lost their car we were asked to switched apartments so then they
may be able to live at least remotely close to their area without always having
to take a thirty minute bus ride. For taking over an elders apartment it was
actually pretty spotless and is one of the best apartments in the mission so we
most definitely lucked out with that.
However with the move we had a couple of just ridiculous
things happen. We had agreed that we would move our food but the condiments
wouldn't stay in the apartments. However this must not have been as clearly
explained as we had believed so we arrived to an apartment where there was
absolutely nothing there. Not even salt and pepper.
After realizing this we called the Elders asking if we could
swing by and grab at least some of the spices that we had left. After a small
pause they informed us that after arriving there the first action that they had
undertaken had been to throw everything away. Not only food mind you, but
dishes and pans and cups and you name it. Including the Tupperware and dishes
that members had loaned to us and we had been planning to return back to them that
Sunday. How a pair of Elders could have chosen to keep plastic containers and
throw away the high quality glass ones loaned to us? The world may never know.
Needless to say Sister Ford and I were not harboring the most righteous of
feelings towards them. However we chose to stop it. And instead of acting on
those feelings we bought the Elders dish soap that they didn't realize that
they had needed.
However things just kept happening. And happening. And
happening. It literally felt like it was one of the worst days I have had in
this past year. Finally the time came where we both said "if it happens
one more time..." then citing the scripture about if your brother
offenedeth thee a fourth time then do ye have a right to act. Ironically this
no good very bad day "just happened" to be on the day when our recent
convert Martin, whom I had helped baptize three months ago, was receiving the
Melchizedek Priesthood. As we were about to leave the car we turned to each
other and realized we did not have the spirit with us. And decided to say a
prayer before leaving the car.
During the ordination the thought came into my mind to
prayer even harder. It was then that the words came into my head "If you
forgive and forget then isn't it always only the first offense?" A feeling
of love came over me and as I later was told over my companion as we realized
that no matter how annoying or ridiculous these two Elders were, they were
righteous children of God, trying all their might to serve him.
My message this week is a message of forgiveness and
longsuffering. Sometimes the Lord sees fit to test our patience and chasten us,
but if we always put our trust in him these moments do not seem as hard as they
could be. I love you all and thank you for the prayers that you send my way.
May God be with you as you go about doing good.
Sister Cummings
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