I Have Obtained A Land Of Promise

We had a lot of adventures this week haha. Started off driving a van a couple hours up into the mountains to "visit" (more like "track down") our Relief Society President, Milja. She may just be the most self-reliant person I've ever met. Milja lives by herself in a stone cottage 8 months of the year, where she tends her goats, pigs and massive garden. We did some service and helped plant some potatoes, and then WE got served a huge feast of homemade prosciutto (literally cut off the animal hanging from the rafters), goat cheese, cake, fried bread, Kajmak, and this huge potato dish. I'm still recovering. I've learned so many lessons from Milja, but the biggest one has been that when we have faith, God provides a way. Even with her busy life, Milja relies on the Lord and faithfully serves Him each day.


We had a mini transfer before real transfers coming up in a couple of weeks! Elder Jones headed off to Belgrade and my new companion arrived, Elder Strickler! We've had an awesome past couple of days translating, teaching Sunday school, and visiting members, and I'm super excited to be companions with him.


My last companion, Elder Hanson, is very wise. A few days ago he shared this line from 1 Nephi 5:5 which has been in my mind: When Lehi sends his sons to go get the plates, his wife Sariah begins to doubt that they will ever return. Lehi responds with these powerful words, "I have obtained a land of promise." He and his family were still stranded in the middle of the wilderness, and had no idea how much farther they had to go before they made it to the promised land. He didn't even know they still had to build a boat and cross a whole ocean before they got there! But what he did know was that God's promises were sure. If God had promised them a promised land, and they were faithful, they would obtain that promised land. If God had promised his sons would return, they would return.
If God has promised you something, (and He has), trust in His power to fulfill those promises. They are sure. If we are faithful, we never have to question whether those blessings will come. They will. If we are living faithfully, we may say now as Lehi did, "I have obtained a land of promise."


Elder Neil


Pictures:
-Elder Strickler and I in Bar
-Visiting Milja 





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