Faith in the Risen Lord

First off, if you haven't seen it yet, go immediately to www.lds.org and watch "Because of Him." It will change your life, your entire view of Christ, if you open your heart and listen well to the Spirit.

Second, I promised I'd explain what I meant last week when I said that Christ is more than a celebrity...As I pondered a simple scripture in Helaman 14:8, the following flowed:

 And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall ^abelieve on theSon of God, the same shall have everlasting life.

"So many people are speaking of Christ like a movie star instead of our Savior. Maybe I'm even guilty of it...Do we really know Him? We've 'seen the movies' or heard a lot about His life. We may even have posters of His finest moments on our walls. But is He in our hearts?

What does is MEAN to have faith in Christ?

It's not a simple belief that He lived in Jerusalem and did many marvelous things. No. It's more than sitting-in-church-once-a-week-because-that's-what-your-mother-taught-you or asking for some "greater being's" help when times get tough. It seems to me that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ includes not only the CONVICTION that He lived, and lived again, but the absolute TRUST that He will make all things right again. It's not just saying "I believe IN Jesus Christ." but honestly saying, "I BELIEVE Jesus Christ,"   It is a constant hunger to learn more about Him, a thirst to be perfect like Him. It's is doing what He asks us to do.

FAITH is falling at His feet because you know that's the only way He can lift you up again. 

I don't know Him perfectly yet, but I'm trying to understand, feel, and share the love of my Savior. Jesus Christ is more than just a celebrity to me. "

I share my testimony of the risen Lord. This Easter was perhaps the most special of all because I was in His service. I know that Jesus died for us, and because He did so we all will live again. Because He suffered for us, we don't have to suffer. We can start anew, every day, That's what I'm doing, and that's why I'm happy. :)

...In other news...

In a Sister-Trainer-Leader meeting, President emphasized the need to find more new investigators. We returned to Macul and found two new people that very day. Felipe was first interested in learning English, but soon asked us to teach him more about Joseph Smith. The woman whose patio we swept last week, Carmen, listened to the first lesson and accepted a follow up appointment. She reminds me of Grandma Lu. :) Plus, earlier in the week we met a less-active member's 12 year old non-member son, Javier. He's more interested in English practice than in our message, but line upon line we'll teach him the Gospel. 

Transfers came and went and I'm blessed to stay in Macul 1st ward with Hna. Urzagaste from Argentina:)

The picture is of me mimicking the picture on the wall. I got bored during deep cleaning and started playing with a magic skirt I bought. They say there are 12 ways to wear it, but I invented the 13th way. 

Here probably 90% of the population belongs to the Catholic church (inactive or active, that depends) and they have traditional things they do each day of the week like celebrate Palm Sunday with real palm leaves, or mass on Sunday, things like that. Plus, the only things they show on television the entire week leading up to Easter are videos of Jesus. 

We, on the other hand, didn't do anything special. It was Hna. Urzagaste's birthday on tuesday, so we celebrated with a lot of cake. Yes, things are better between us:)  We're both pretty open about communicating, so that  makes it easier to overcome rough spots quickly. 

Regarding the earthquake here in Chile, it was way north so we didn't feel it, don't worry. But, we do often feel "temblors" which are earthquakes of about 6, but the buildings are built for them so nothing happens.:) We just feel a shaking in our bones for a few seconds and then it stops. They happen about twice  month. Don't worry! It's actually quite fun. 

Much Love and Many Laughs,

Sister Sharp