Squishy Bubbles (In the Shower) (Cementista)

Friends and family,

I'll explain the subject line first of all, so you don't remain confused for too long. So, I heard about a gringo elder who was being trained by a latino, and the latino kept pestering the gringo to teach him curse words in English (like the mature teenager he was). Eventually, the gringo caved and taught him the worst word you can ever say in the entire English language: squ*shy b*bbles. So, obviously, the latino believed him and started saying that all over creation, because it means nothing in Spanish. (Well, it doesn't mean anything in English, either, but callate, I'm telling a story.) Then, in the next district meeting, the gringo told the other gringos in secret what he had done and they played along. One said, "¿Sabe qué sería peor? Decir 'squ*shy b*bbles in the sh*wer'", and the other gringos all cried out in surprise at the immense vulgarity. So the latino started saying that all over creation, too. "And thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell" (2 Nephi 28:21).

I lied. You're probably more confused now than before I explained. Pero ya fue, gringos. Madurar es para las frutas.

But for the more spiritual side of things, I am drawn now to the thought of worthiness for the Lord's work. The following scripture is a good place to begin: "And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted" (2 Nephi 4:19). Then I remember also that God qualifies those whom He calls. That has given me a heap of comfort recently, because this work I am doing is so incredibly expansive and heavy. But I know in Whom I have trusted. And this entire theme came to a focus because of the words of a song I listened to this morning:

When we grew up, our shadows grew up too.

But they're just old ghosts that we grew attached to.
The tragic flaw is that they hide the truth:
That you're enough.
I promise you're enough.
("You Are Enough", Sleeping At Last)

It is my unbreakable testimony that God is with me, and that I am serving in His work; if it were otherwise, I would not be able to do the things I do. I am so incredibly weak, but in His power I am made strong. A week ago, I wrote a note similar to that thought with a surge of the Spirit of gratitude and confidence: "And this is the greatest miracle of all: that I, a sinner, am allowed to be here; that the weak one has been given authority, and a crown and a scepter to govern, and a sickle to reap." None of this is me. He that supports me from one moment to another (Mosiah 2:21) is the source of this; I am only a tool, dead in comparison with His Life. But I know in Whom I have trusted.

"What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?... As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:31, 36-9).

I promise you're enough.

Con una sonrisa eterna,

Elder Hill

Fotos:

1. Super pancho
2. WWWWIIIIIIILLLLLLLLSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNN
3. Cómo cortar pan en Argentina (sí, Elder Mazzeo realmente hizo eso)
4. ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Manteca de maní!!!!!!!
5. Elder Mazzeo limpiando