This week turned out to be pretty interesting! A lot of unexpected things happened and it helped the week pick up after I recovered from being sick.
Being sick was kind of rough. I woke up Monday morning and felt awful. My throat looked really disgusting and so I figured it was strep or something. I get strep pretty often. Elder Pace and I borrowed the other elder's car and then we drove to the doctor. We were supposed to have DDM that day, but I didn't go because I was
feeling sick. I wasn't able to share what y'all sent me, but I'll be sharing it at the next DDM! It's in a couple of weeks. Elder Lee took over the meeting for me and did a really good job.
I felt better on Thursday, and we went out to work. We were walking on a bridge and there was this awful smell in the air. I looked over the side of the bridge and you could see pieces of a spine under it. We kind of were suspicious and so we went to check it out under the bridge. We found more spinal pieces and some ribs, and then we started digging around and found an old leather belt that was buried!!! We actually thought it was like a dead body or something. We took a spine piece and looked online to make sure it wasn't. It was just bones from
a dead deer hahaha. Weird story but it was fun.
Anyway, on Friday, I was supposed to go on exchanges with the Blythewood Elders since I was sick and Elder Lee went on Tuesday. As the Blythewood Elders are supposed to show up I got a call from President and all he says at first is "Elder Bills! Do you feel like being spontaneous today?" And I went "I can do that" and he said "Good because I'm going to have to impose on your plans to exchange today" hahaha
He told me that he was going to be doing an emergency transfer with Elder Wing and Elder Robinson. So Elder Wing is now with Elder Lee in Ridgeway and Elder Robinson is with Elder Snelson in Blythewood. President thought that making this switch would be a better fit for both companionships. So yeah that was pretty fun to do.
Also we had news that hurricane Erika was going to hit the state. Brother Hasty was really worried about his house that he is building himself and so we helped him out for a little while on Saturday so he could make sure his house wasn't going to blow over and cost him thousands of dollars that he has had to spend. He got an extra nail gun and so I was able to go around the entire first floor and close off the entire exterior with sheets of plywood. We also laid a good amount of sheets in the roof, but it's not entirely done yet. It's starting to go up pretty quick now! It's been cool helping him out, teaching Cole, and learning a ton about carpentry and construction.
We had some good meetings with Brother Luke too! We should be getting a Ward mission plan going soon. Sunday was awesome. We had a great 3 hours of church. Elder Lee and Wing had a investigator and two less
actives at church today. We had a couple of less actives show up too. The chapel seemed more filled than usual. It was a good feeling for everyone in the Ward.
Although being sick got me down, I was able to see the good in it and feel better quickly. I had a great week after I recovered and I'm really motivated for this next week! We should be getting the area book planner app on our iPads on Friday and so that will make all of the things we do 100 times easier! No more pocket planners haha.
I hope yall had a good week! Love you!
Elder Sean Bills
I asked Elder Bills to answer some questions during the time he was sick so he had something to do while he was out of commission:
1. What did you study this week that strengthened your testimony and how are you applying it in your life?
Well this week I came across my two favorite verses in the Book of Mormon again. They are two verses that I have tried my best to apply in life and they've taught me a lot.
Mosiah 2: 40-41
40 O, all ye old men, and also ye young men, and you little children who can understand my words, for I have spoken plainly unto you that ye might understand, I pray that ye should awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression.
41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
My patriarchal blessing specifically says "I bless you at this time with health and strength, that you will be protected in all the things you do, and that you will be wise."
I've been studying wisdom a lot lately and how I can fulfill that part of my blessing. It's hard to give wisdom a specific definition because it encompasses so many different things. But one way that I have defined it for myself is in those verses. King Benjamin invites all to look at the situation of those who are around us. Are they happy? Do they do good things in the world? Do they cope with their own struggles very well? Etc.
Those who are wise follow these instructions. They stand back and look at the example of those around them. They aren't judging, but learning from them.
To be wise is the ability to learn from everything that others say to you, and the actions they perform themselves. A wise man can learn life lessons from simply observing the cause and effect of his peer's choices.
There's a reason why we are asked to ask ourselves "what would Jesus do?" When we are confronted with choices. The Savior is the example that we should observe the most. If we are to be wise in all the things that we do, we need to always "consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God" and "awake to a remembrance of the awful situation of those that have fallen into transgression". We can learn which choices in life are good and bad for us by remembering those who faced the same decisions, and the result of that choice. We will even learn these things before we are faced by these choices. If you do that, you will be many miles ahead of most of the world today.
2. Were you able to bear your testimony to anyone this week? Who was it and what did you testify?
The sisters in Blythewood had two baptisms on Saturday. The wanted me to give the talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost at the service. I was able to speak on it and testify that they will receive the most valuable gift they could ever get and that it will help them through the their life.
3. Have you had a tender mercy this week that showed you that Heavenly Father loves you and is aware of your struggles and needs?
I guess just the things He teaches me through the spirit when I study or think about things. He always helps me understand things and remember things when I need to.
Elder Sean Bills