Note: For the duration of Riley's mission, this blog will be produced and edited by his parents, Daisy and Todd Stonely.

Monday, November 14, 2016

Week 74: dem mercies be mad tender!

Dear Friends and Family,

yep, those mercies be mad tender!

This week there has been a lot of tender mercies. Not really anything extraordinary or out of the normal daily routine. In fact, they have been more of the little things that most people tend to look over. One being the sweet children in our little branch. We had our Primary program this past week and the 10 children that are in our branch were able to sing, recite scriptures, and show their amazing spirits! truthfully, they have some of the most amazing spirits ever. I never fully understood and probably wont understand completely until I'm become a father of why my parents would cry when we would go up and sing primary songs. Though this past Sunday I was in charge of translating. you would think translating for little kids would be easy, but NOPE!!! one must really perfect the language of "baby talk" to understand some kids! anyway, that was a side note. As I sat in the meeting listening to the children sing and talk, I started to ponder on what it would have been like to live in ancient times and watch the Savior teach the little children:

"And it came to pass that he commanded that their little children should be brought.
"So they brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him, and Jesus stood in the midst; and the multitude gave way till they had all been brought unto him."
-3 Nephi 17:11-12

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God."
-Luke 18:16

I imagined what he would be saying and what he would teach. How he would act and show his love. As well as how the parents of these little ones would feel? And I realized that these little children are so much closer to the savior than most of us adults. They have pure clean spirits and they are full of the love of Christ! Sure they can be a handful sometimes, but children are what we should strive to be like:

"And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can n nowise receive these things.
"And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."
-3 Nephi 11:37-38

As you can see he told us that we must become as the little children. And then he REPEATED himself! you know its probably important if he repeats himself. HAHA So I sat there pondering these scriptures, and thinking of the children that were standing up on stage, and what I could do better to "become as the little children" So mom and dad! I now know why you would always cry when we went up to sing!

We also find ourselves with a lot of car time here in Tally. Probably a good 2 plus hours is spent in the car driving around. It wouldn't be that way if we were English missionaries, but we cover the whole stake which is pretty big so our ward is spread out. I always enjoy the car rides where I get to reflect a lot and think of those we are going to teach. Its perfect!

On a fun note, I learned how to be Bob the Builder this week! We helped a member put 5, 30 foot 6x6 poles in the ground for a porch that he is building! It was quite the project! There was one of his friends there helping him who wasn't a member, and he was a funny dude! So while we built this HUGE thing, we pretty much taught this guy a lot of the lessons and talked about churchy stuff. I would say thats the best Service, Lesson, Member fellowship ever! 

It was a fabulous week this week! And I cant wait for the next one to come around the corner. I love you all and look forward to writing next week! Be safe, and enjoy the upcoming holidays! 

I love you all!

Elder Stonely
 
Banana soda from Honduras.
A plate of the famous Papusas from El Salvador!  Some of my favorite food that I had in one sitting!
Service project - GIANT poles we put in with a tractor.

Awkward selfies.
 

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