Finding Joy

Hello! Well last week I said we would be in 14 day quarantine because of our new Elder but we didn’t actually have to do that! Since he is from Arizona, they aren’t consider a high COVID case state, so we were let off the hook there! Our new Elder’s name is Elder Dinehart. He is from San Tan Valley, Arizona. He graduated in 2020! And was born in 2002?!?! That makes me seem old and I still feel (and look and sometimes act) like I’m 14! This week was fun because we got sort of a last minute heat wave. It was 65-75 all week and for a few more days, so it made things more enjoyable. The winter is coming fast though and both of my Arizona companions are getting pretty scared! Also Elder Dinehart was assigned to Moscow, Russia and is learning Russian. It is pretty crazy that so far I have had companions that speak (or are learning to speak) Spanish, Chinese, Portuguese, and Russian. I wanted to share this quote I came across from Elder Neal A. Maxwell. He said, “The cavity that suffering carves into our soul will one day be the receptacle of joy.” Christ suffered more than us all. The cavity carved into his soul is infinitely deep and because of his suffering he has an infinite capacity for joy. We can have joy even in our trials. There is joy in the journey to become like the Savior. It isn’t always fun or easy but how could we expect it to be, if it was never easy for him. At the end of D&C 122 the Lord basically tells Joseph Smith that even if he were to suffer every terrible thing and hardship possible, it would give him experience and be for his good. I try to remember these things everyday. I encourage you all to have hope, to build your faith, to believe, to search for joy in every circumstance and to be simple enough to see the everyday blessings. Have a good week. Read the Book of Mormon. Have fun! Love, Elder Souza