HOSPITALITY AND NAMES | 9.23.19

an excellent week here in Garland!!! i got a new companion and she is simply a whole huge dose of laughter and charm. I like her a lot because she automatically helps us have immediate connections with all the hispanics and basically all people because she is just so charismatic, adorable, and kind. I am very blessed to be her companion!! she is also teaching me to cook many things, like horchata, fresas con crema, tacos, etc. Stay tuned!!!! 

MIDDLE EASTERN HOSPITALITY
over the past week and a half we have had the opportunity to be welcomed in to 2 different homes, both of which left a huge impression on me...
they were both families who had recently immigrated from the Middle East. The first family we found were very recently moved from Iraq, and immediately let us in and let us share a message. I felt the spirit really strongly as we testified of God's love for them, and though our return appointment didn't pan out, I was so blown away by the amount of immediate acceptance and love I felt from this family!!
the second family was a really sweet experience. We had knocked on the door of a member who was not home and were heading back to our car... they were out in their driveway and, without skipping a beat, lovingly invited us into their home for tea!! Such a radiant crew of 5 from Afghanistan. They told us of the condition of their homeland (not good) and of their religious traditions. It was simply a transcendent conversation and I was just so grateful... After they showed us their stunning, silk-clad qu'ran, we shared a simple and humble verse from the Book of Mormon. All the while we snacked on fancy nuts and delectable fig bars they provided. 
I was so grateful to be able to meet this family... and I was so amazed at how strongly I felt the manifestation of the Holy Ghost in their home... light is everywhere, folks. 
I developed a strong sense of respect and a desire to emulate that sense of hospitality!! Like what American would invite a complete stranger off the street into their home for conversation and scrumptious snacks... I am so impressed :-) and grateful to have met them.  I want to be more generous, giving, and hospitable because of their example. 

JESUS, THE CHRIST AND NAMES 
I have been enjoying my study of the book "Jesus, the Christ" so much!! I am still at the very beginning, but every little bit I read I am amazed. For a lot of my life I have really struggled to understand who Jesus Christ even is... which is kind of interesting but truly His character is so deep and so misunderstood. This book is helping me a lot. I learned Jesus Christ was the creator of the world, under the direction of Heavenly Father! ( did not know that) and so many other pearls of knowledge that hit me hard. I loved, particularly, such an amazing part about names... Names are so powerful!!!
here is a little snippet: 
"God is righteously zealous of the sanctity of His own name and of names given by His appointment. In the case of children of promise names have been prescribed before birth." It talked about how Jesus Christ and all His names are so much more than just designations, but statements of character. It pointed out so many beautiful scriptural examples of when God has given others new names, and how it was a sign of their very self, their very character changing! I loved that. So much to learn in this packed, excellent read. 

A CHALLENGE
study the names of Jesus Christ, and choose your favorite!! I will do this, too. I am making a list of all the names of Jesus Christ I find as I study Jesus, the Christ. 

alt. challenge if you aren't into that:
Write out why your name is important to you, and the identity that it brings to you!! is it connected to an ancestor you love or have an association that is special to you??

let me know!!
I wanna hear, and I will do this too. 

love you all...

with ohhhh so much love from my fun little corner of Texas, Garland!

hermana ras

here is my address, if anybody would like to write me letters or send postcards or really anything or fanmail ;););););););)

2854 Belt Line Road
Apt. 293 T 
Garland, TX 
75044







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