Hi family!!
Update on the haps of Coulee Dam, Washington!
We're still quarantined. The stay-at-home order has been extended to May 31st so... that's fun... not. It's not fun. But it's okay because there are perks to quarantine! Namely, we've listened to some great podcasts as a mission! David Butler, Emily Freeman, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Meg Johnson, Brad Wilcox, and John and Jean Groeberg! If you want to listen to any you can find them on the LDS Living podcast.
We had Zone Conference this week (all over Zoom) with some guest speakers for the kick-off and finale firesides. Hank Smith and John Bytheway both Zoomed in and we had great discussions about Tender Mercies and Keeping our Focus on Christ. My favorite takeaways were when Brother Smith said, "We don't get our meaning from where we are in the Lord's vineyard, but from who we are." This means that either missionary, Relief Society president, nursery leader, or high-councilman, it's who we are and how we serve that pleases God, not what our calling is.
Brother Bytheway said many great things. One of my favorites being when he said people often leave the temple and say, "Well, back to the real world." But this is false. What happens in the temple and the world it belongs to is what is real. This fallen world is a temporary one and what is permanent is what is real. That touched me because I've found myself saying that as I've left the temple in the past. But he's right, this world can and will burn and fall apart and be ravaged by war and disaster, but what we do in the temple, that is real. That is what matters.
We're teaching a young lady who is very excited to attend church! Haha, so are we. She has many strong beliefs in God which is great. Updates on her later, hopefully!
I usually listen to a General Conference talk every morning while I make breakfast. The other day this stood out to me, "Love without service is like faith without works; it's dead." -- Jose L. Alonso. Love is more than just something you feel, it's something you do. You do it by sacrificing comfort or effort for others; you do it through compliments, and communicating and being a peace-maker. Lasting love doesn't just happen, it is earned through our efforts.
I love you all.
Elder Craig
