Learning bits at a time

I am down in Orlando for 3 straight weeks- 2 more after that before my work here is done.  With Mike gone to CA it made no sense for me to drive home and then turn around and drive back with one day in Tallahassee.  So here I am in Orlando and today is Sunday.  It's been an interesting to be down here and finding myself with free time mostly during the late afternoon and evening.  The memories have flooded back with things Mike and I have done down here.  The temple was dedicated in 1994 and we have spend many hours and days in this wonderful city.  Mike and I love going to the temple and just being together.  We have enjoyed the times we have brought our children down for various temple trips and family vacations.  The time we went to Universal Studios close to Christmas and it was freezing.  Some rides were closed because of the cold and we found the best ride was the one where flames shot out at the end.  We all held our hands out to get them warm during the 10 seconds we rode by it.  It never really did warm up that day but we were together and loved being together.  So as I drive around O-town I think about my family and it makes me sad they aren't here.  I have been taught over and over again about how family is really the best part of life.  It's true!!!

Today while in church (11:00 start time yet I walked in late because it was Stake Conference) I had a few things I wanted to write down.  I sat in the foyer where the soft chairs were.  I don't do well on hard chairs.  I first noticed all the little boys at church.  Most walking with their dads.  Those little guys were so sweet and some jumped as they walked, some chatted in their own little language but kept looking up as if they were sharing something important.  There was a mom who walked out of the Mom's room with a sweet little guy in a plaid shirt and brown cord pants.  I am sure my ability to focus on these sweet boys is because in 3 short weeks I get to become a grandma.  I can't wait.  Brittany and Robby will be bring their first little soul into the world.  They will be awesome parents.  I can't wait for this little guy to come into their family and so I can snuggle, cuddle and kiss this little person. 

The second was what was said in church.  There was a bit of a theme of missionary work.  I loved what one young lady had to say.  She was a new member of the church and she talked about her conversion.  She said two things- A candle looses nothing by lightening another candle.  When we share the gospel we don't lose anything by lightening someones own candle with gospel knowledge.  I loved that image.  She also said God can't drive a parked car.  Gosh that can be used in so many ways.  I'll let you think about that one.

I learned a lesson a long time ago.  It was Pres. Packer who brought about this change in my life.  It is the concept that faith and fear can NOT occupy the same space.  If we have fear we can NOT have faith.  So if we push fear out with faith we will be happier in life.  I took that challenge and worked on that for a year.  It proved to be a marvelous year for me.  Today the Mission Pres. wife talked of course about missionary work.  She said- "Doubt and fear of sharing the gospel are tools of Satan."   That is true!  If fear and faith can't occupy the same space then Doubt and fear have to be tools of Satan.  Heavenly Father does NOT use doubt and fear as tools.  Ah yet another piece of the puzzle appears.  So many times I have thought oh what if...  and have used fear as my crutch to not share the gospel.  I have used doubt enough times alone in I'm  not sure I can share the gospel.  I don't know enough to share the gospel.   But today is a new day.  Those two words are going to leave my life.

Another story she shared was another stake was having their Stake Conference and Elder Neal A. Anderson was the visiting authority.  There was a young man who the missionary had met and invited to Stake Conference.  Upon hearing that Elder Anderson would be there they called this young man and told him he really needed to come.  They made arrangement with an EQ Pres and this young man was picked up along with his friend.  They arrived just after the opening song.  They stayed for the whole meeting.  After the missionaries introduced them to the Mission Pres and his wife.  He asked the missionaries if they had introduced their investigators to Elder Anderson yet.  No they hadn't and quickly joined the line.  When these two young investigators came to Elder Anderson he said to them "We can't live one more day without you joining this church."  They both will be baptized Nov 5th.

Since working I have had many opportunities to share things about the church.  I have loved sharing what I know.  Sometimes my co-workers come and ask me, and sometimes I hear the whisper to share something with them.  They have been sweet times and I have always been glad I followed in faith.  Recently my Uncle passed away.  I had a wonderful conversation at work about temples, life after death and forever families.  

I love this gospel.  It is why I am me.  It has shaped me in so many ways.  I am thankful I have it in my life.  As the world swirls and turns during these uncertain times I have knowledge of what, where and who I am.  I don't have to wonder!  Today was a wonderful day.