I found out one of my weaknesses this week: Balsamic vinegar salad dressing! :) I have never been pro-salad but this discovery was a game changer. On Monday it was the only dressing left during our office lunch so I was forced into trying it and I got hooked faster than a dutch guy playing Pokemon GO for the first time, which is very addictive to the dutch for some reason...
Story of the week: Last Sunday me and Elder McConkie made contact with a less active member named Michelle, and set up a lesson with her. So on Wednesday we go to our lesson and spend about 25mins getting to know her when we hear a knock on the door. Michelle goes to answer it and we hear an oddly familiar voice, so me and Elder McConkie poke our heads around the corner to see the other Leiden Elders. They went to look her up at the exact time we were having our lesson! Once we walked out of the lesson, we all ended up bursting out loud because of how perfect the timing was!
Today's thought comes from my 2nd religion: Sports. I was listening to a Michael Jordan commercial/talk earlier this week and one of the lines struck me. Jordan said "Maybe I lead you to believe that basketball was a God given gift, and not something I worked for every single day of my life". This made me think about two things that I (and others) often do.
1#. There have been many moments when I use talent as an excuse to not try something. For example I would say that I am absolutely untalented with singing or playing music. While this is true, I could become good at it, if I put the effort in to it. Often we try something and if we aren't good at it the first time, we get frustrated and quit. Imagine what would have happened if Michael Jordan had gotten frustrated and quit playing basketball after he was cut from his high school team? So the next time that you try something new, or work on something you aren't to good at, please be patient with yourself and endure with it until you do become good at it!
Next thing #2. On the other hand, each of us have our own talents and abilities, but how often are we practicing them? Are we hiding our talents in the ground or are we working with them and bringing them back with 2x or 3x what we were originally given. I read in one of my ancestors mission call blessing, that was given by Joseph Smith, the following: "thou hast been rebellious against the work of the Lord, in that thou hast buried thy talents, as it were in the earth" Yes, this spoken to one man yet it could apply to all of us. I think it shows that God cares a lot about what we do with the many talents he has given us. This brings me to my last challenge. Pick one talent this coming week and make a plan to use it or practice it! I know that our Heavenly Father will bless you as you make the most of the talents he has given you!
So thats what I got for you this week! Love you!
--
Elder Talyon Anderson Perry
Belgium/Netherlands Mission