Spiritual Sunscreen

So this week has been really wet, and so it's been pretty interesting to be out in the rain.    We just bundle up, put our shoulders to the wheel, and push along.  It's been about every other day with rain, but we've been able to talk to some really cool people while we've been about.  One guy was in his garage when we were walking by, and after a minute or two of talking to him, he invited us to stand in the garage with him to avoid the storm.  He has read the bible, but wasn't religious at all, so when we offered him the Book of Mormon to read, he seemed really interested in what it had to say. 

The 4th of July came and went without too much fuss... It was rather odd to want to celebrate something that doesn't matter to Australia... I wore red, white and blue for it, and sang the Star Spangled Banner for companion study. :)  I might be in another country, but I still can celebrate in little ways.  What's one of your favourite ways to celebrate the fourth?

On the first Saturday of each transfer, we get together as sisters of the zone, and study together.  It's really cool to be able to get together with everyone and meet those who are new to the zone.  We got two new goldens to the area!  We talked about what we had learnt so far on our missions, and all of the advice that was given was really cool.  We talked about how our Home base should always be the Saviour, that we should chill out and be comfortable with the work, and that we should make sure that we're 'enjoying to the end' instead of 'enduring to the end.'  It was really good advice to hear. 

Shout out to my mission, who made it into the June Ensign!  It talks about Elder and Sister Millar about Self reliance and being prepared for education after our missions. 

Aussie terms:  Jelly ( Jell-O.), learnt (learned), and Tablet (My name, but not... quite there... Sister Tablet) :)

The Scripture this week is Mosiah 4:2. 

"And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men."

 I love the way that it talks about applying the atoning blood of Christ.  I've put a focus on the Atonement of Jesus Christ this week, and this scripture helped me think of it at a different angle.  I've been working on learning how to better use it in my life, and how I can apply it to me.  I thought of it like this:  It's like sunscreen.  We can use sunscreen before we're burnt to help prevent us from burning.  If we are burnt, we can apply it to prevent it from getting worse.  The same can be said about the Atonement and sins.  We can apply it to help us repent of our sins, and improve our lives that way.  Repenting doesn't even have to be from sinning.  If we have a desire to change something about our lives, the change is a way of repenting. :) We can also apply this 'sunscreen' before we sin, in order to help us grow strong and avoid sin.  It can be used in both ways.  I'd invite everyone to read that scripture and to think of ways that you can apply this 'spiritual sunscreen' into your life. 

Have a great week!

Pictures: All the sisters in my zone, and Sister Severson, who is one of the new goldens!

Sister Hollee Talbot

 Sister Talbot and Sister Severson