Chinchina, Valar Morghulis, Week 55

I guess this week was Thanksgiving?!? I honestly don´t now dates of Holidays. I think we ate chicken, rice, and potatoes for our Thanksgiving lunch and then at night I think we went to a bakery and bought bread...

We didn´t buy anything on Black Friday because none of the stores had deals, and then the power went out so all the stores closed at like 5 in the afternoon. 

This Sunday was the Sacrament Meeting of the Kids! I think we call it the Primary Program... a three year old kid bore his testimony literally like this, ¨I want to bear my testimony that I know that Joseph Smith was taken, put in prison, and killed. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.¨ Everyone was dying. 

We helped a family put up Christmas lights this week which reminded me of old times! Like every year putting up lights all by myself. Except this time it was easier cus we just hot glued the lights and I didn't have to get on the roof... 

I´d like to share a story from D and C 105:1-5

Verily I say unto you who have assembled yourselves together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of mine afflicted people. Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now. But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them; And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom; And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.

A little context, basically the original saints of the Church were receiving much persecution. They found that it was hard to be a Mormon! They knew it was true, but they were going through really hard times. They had heard promises of blessings and building up Zion when they decided to be baptized, but they quickly found out that being Mormon didn't give you a free pass to an ez life.  The Lord basically cuts their heads here saying that Zion is not being built because they are not obedient, they are evil, they do not share what they have, and they are not united. 

As members of the Church, our responsibility is to build up Zion where ever we are. We have to learn how to follow the Celestial Laws so that we can be received by the Lord in the last day. Obviously there are places that are more Zion-like than others, in these places we need to change ourselves first in order to be in harmony with the Zion that already exists. Being a Mormon does not give us a free pass to Zion. Building up Zion requires sacrifice personally and as a community. 

Love you guys lots! Have a good week! 

1. The classic way in Colombia to mark a huge hole in the ground is to put a piece of bamboo in it.