Le Chinois

So, with all the coronavirus stuff going around, a more than usual amount of people call us Chinese, and ask if we have that disease. And they avoid us more than normal, too. So that's fun. The store here still has a surplus of toilet paper and bottled water, so I think we'll be okay for a while.

The rat population in our apartment is slowly diminishing. We have now killed 5 in total, thanks to a heavy duty rat trap that we bought. I forgot to include a picture of it, but imagine a mini bear trap. I almost broke my hand when I forgot it was loaded, but don't worry, I'm okay. We still hear scampering above our heads when we shower but not as often. The rat in the photo of the first one we killed was small. It must have been a juvenile rat. Most of the rats are the size of my forearm. ROUS's require mini bear traps.

My health is doing better, I've been taking anti-parasite medications and should be back to 100% in a couple days.

Mutation came and... I'm staying here with Elder Diaz again! But, after the 25th, we are going to be working with Elder Ngindu as well. Elder Tehiva is going home that day and so we will become an equipe de trois. We will be working in 5 different sectors and 3 different wards for some time. That's probably normal for some other missions, but here it's a crazy amount. One of the sectors is an island, which would be cool to visit if we ever go. I'll update you guys on how that's all gonna work when the time comes.

Many of our good ami's were at their village this week or were at work, so we didn't teach as much as normal. We did find this one really cool guy in Vridi 2. His name is Fr Gabriel. He lives in this really nice area of Vridi Cite, and he's always very kind. We taught him about the restoration, and Elder Diaz and I felt the spirit very strongly throughout the lesson. He said he was going to pray about it soon, and I feel like he can gain a testimony. I'll update you on what happens. 

I learned a very special lesson this week about the Atonement. Because Jesus suffered and died for our sins and transgressions, we are able to become clean and pure. But there is another aspect of his eternal sacrifice that is often overlooked. I read in a Liahona about this subject, and here's the scripture that best portrays my message for today:

"For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25:23)

It is through His Atonement that we can overcome our trials, afflictions, and sufferings, after we have done all that we can to support it through our own efforts. Often when we ask the Lord for help, we ask Him to change our situation. Take, for example, a medical condition or a financial crisis. Sometimes we expect to see instantaneous changes, but most of the time, we simply pray for change. That is a good, but there is a more effective way to ask for help. Instead of praying for the Lord to change our problems, we should pray to have the Lord change our problems through us. Pray to have the strength to overcome our challenges. Like Nephi, when his brothers tied him up, he didn't pray for the Lord to change what happened, but he prayed to have the strength to break his bonds.

There are great lessons to be learned and eternal treasures to gain through our trials and tests. It is after we have endured until our breaking point or done everything in our power, and we rely on His saving Grace, that we will be comforted, and see His divine influence in our lives. Our faith grows as we overcome our trials with His help. He lives, and He is able to help us in any of our problems, because He has "descended below them all." He loves you. Infinitely. I know that's true with all my heart.

Love you guys, I'll try not to catch a cold. Until next week.

-Elder Lyman