Look mom at I what I found today!

Once upon a time...there was a man named Naaman. And he was a captain of the army in Syrie. And he happened to live at the time the Old Testament was written, because you can find his story in 2 Kings Chapter 5. He was a just man even though he was not a believer. However, he was a leper. 

One day, he went to the prophet in Israel to ask him to heal him. And when he came with his chariots and all his glory, one of the servants of the prophet came out and told him to wash himself 7 times in the Jordan river and then...he would be made whole.

After this, Naaman was so disappointed and he became upset as he complained about the task. It was too simple! He wanted the prophet to come out and heal him himself! However, one of his servants turned to him and asked him, "If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldst thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" Sometimes, we expect the prophet to ask of us great things like: sell all we own and go to Africa or to accomplish some special, incredible task (which is wonderful). But how do we feel when we are asked again to study our scriptures and to better observe the Sabbath day?

There's a moral for this story too! Before Naaman went to the prophet in Israel, there was a little maid that was carried captive out of the land of Israel. She becomes the maid of Naaman's wife. And it is her who, knowing that Naaman is ill, turns to her mistress and says, "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy." 

Naaman, after receiving the council of his servant, decides to humble himself, go to the river and wash himself 7 times. Then he was made whole again. Thanks to a little girl in a foreign land who knew there was a living prophet, he was made whole.

Often times, I feel like this little girl. Far away in a foreign land speaking to people who have no idea that there is a prophet today, called of God. However, like this little girl, I know that his word can heal us spiritually. May we all listen to his word this weekend and invite those around us to do likewise! #generalconferenceoctober2015 Yep, that's my conference jingle for you!

Today we went fishing with a less active. They just sort of handed this little guy to me and said, "Here, hold this!" 

I have also learned that the secret to fishing clam is to "make sure it cries."Or, at least that when you stick your shovel into the sand, that a little conduit gives way with water...I thought it was kind of a very barbaric way of putting it. But, maybe, I'm just sensitive.

So as much as I would like to apologize for this being a grocery list of events, I would like to confirm that we did indeed have a week full of wonderful experiences and miracles.

Monday: We went to Arradon and starred at the ocean. It was gorgeous! And then we had an awesome family home evening at the church. General conference prep everyone!!

Tuesday: Zone conference. Soeur Waite's "dying" testimony and the best jumping photo you'll ever see with her, prez and his wife.

Wednesday: all throughout the week, we ended up visiting a member in the hospital. (Surprisingly enough, we have never before found so many people to teach than when we were walking over to the hospital. Miracles!) We brought an iPod with us to play music for her because her phone had died. But people just kept on coming in, asking questions and we stopped the music every time. Finally, we finished one song and then a nurse came in to go her some tests so we ended up leaving. However, the member was in such good spirits. Went and visited the calves family that night. They gave CDs of an accordion soundtrack their dad and uncle made. Best accordion music ever! We've been listening to non-stop. 

Thursday:We visited Letendre family and Yvelise. We shared the story of Naaman being healed of leprosy and invited them to invite someone to general conference! 

Friday: Service at the Devine's home (an English family). We shoveled dirt and talked about the history of England and their stance on the revolutionary war. We moved mountains! (Dirt mounds).

I would absolutely love it if this week I could hear about your experiences with general conference and finding responses to your questions! Have a wonderful week everyone and thank you so much for being heroes and examples to me!

Our ward mission leader and his daughter also came. AND, Soeur Waite and I found our first oysters. Yeah!

Soeur Hopkins