You see we know that God's word is for everyone
And now that our song is done, we'll take a look!"
-- Veggie Tales
Nothing like Christian vegetables to speak the truth!
Okay, so I've been thinking about Catholics. And as I say this, I don't mean any offense to any friends who are Catholic, but (being in Italy) I tend to think about Catholic things a lot.
We are often asked about why we don't do the sign of the cross when we pray. One of the favorite missionary answers is that, "We believe in focusing on the resurrection of Christ, not the crucifixtion." Which may be part of it, but I'm not thoroughly convinced of this answer. President Gordon B. Hinckley said that while many Christians use the cross as the sign of their Christianity, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints strive to use our lives and our actions as a sign of our Christianity.
I lean more to the second answer. When I walk in a Catholic church and see the crucifixtion as the main focus, I wonder: "How does me seeing this help me become a better person?" or "How does doing the cross when I pray help me commune more with God/change/be the person he'd want me to be?" Maybe the Catholics have an answer. Maybe I'll try asking some of them this week. But I feel like the religious things we do should have every day application. They should help us become better people, kinder people, selfless people. I wish I was any of these things. But I do feel that my religion helps me get closer to those than I would be otherwise.
Okay, end random religious ramblings!
This week I started teaching... Japanese! Bwahahaha! Or rather, tried to. A daughter of one of our recent converts is not a member. She knows some things about our church and isn't really interested in learning more. But we found out she wants to learn Japanese! And we've bargained that we can teach her Japanese if we can do a spiritual thought at the end. That we she can learn Japanese and also more about religion (so she can actually know more before she rejects it). Because my Japanese is relatively limited, I hope she becomes more interested in religion before I run out of things to teach her!
We also had a visit from a General Authority of the LDS church (i.e. a "Big Wig"), Elder Kent E. Richards. It was INCREDIBLE! Elder Richards knows the scriptures very, very well and -- most importantly -- he knows how to apply them to real life! Did he know that was one of my favorite things? He taught us how when we try and teach our own opinions and use our own language, the Holy Ghost can't testify of the truth. In other words, stop using silly examples and weird teaching techniques. Teach the doctrine simply and help them undertstand that (see 1 Cor 14:6-9). And many other great things. Like Veggie Tales, I recommend the scriptures to everyone!
Otherwise? Let's just say I had a GREAT Valentine's Day as all of my CHRISTMAS MAIL arrived! YEEESH! A shoutout tooooo:
Jesse Sheets! I now have letter number 1 and your postcard! Thank you so much for the present. I promise to use it wisely... probably on an all you can eat Chinese buffet this Firday :)
Grandma and Grandpa Fuller: Got your annual Christmas letter. Thanks for keeping track of anyone, it's fun to read.
ANNA-SAN! ICHIBAN! Don't worry, my Japanese is also horrible, ne. Je t'aime ^^
David Ruvalcaba: Thank you so much for the photo book with you and the boys! I'm glad to know you had a good trip and holidays (and I know beause you sent me evidence!)
Hey, my brother is getting married this weekend! In France! To an awesome French girl named Chloé! I'm very excited and hope you all have happy things happening in your lives as well.
peace
sorella fuller
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