Iokwe from OK! Losing time

Iokwe!

Alright, confession time: English powers definitely came to me. I am starting to lose my edge on the Marshallese language. I still pray in Marshallese, but speaking it so infrequently has definitely made a difference. I'm going to appreciate opportunities I have when I go home to Skype friends from OK to keep up the language.

This week has gone by so so quickly. It seemed like each day was so short. I've realized more and more how important it is to make each moment purposeful. I've only got 6 months left here, but also time in my life here is either progressing forward or slipping away, depending on how I use it. 

We had an awesome service project on Saturday at the farm of one of our members. Attached are some before pictures. We didn't get to stay for a final "after" picture when everything was clean, but everything was clean. Seriously.

 

Those weeds were like trees, but everyone came in to help and chipped in with maximum effort and we got it done in a few hours. The Guthrie 2nd ward is so awesome. I really love these people. 

We caught about 85% of the solar eclipse today. We watched with President and Sister Mansell. It was pretty impressive. It will be a good story to bore the grand kids with.

This week, some of our members brought their friends to church for the first time. Afterwards, the husband commented that he really liked it, especially how much he felt that everyone was genuine. He said that he hadn't been in a church in years because it had always seemed to him like no one lived what they preached and it was all about keeping up with the Jones's. He said he felt like everyone here was there because they wanted to be.

I can't explain how much it means for us to be genuine. The world craves something real. I don't think it necessarily means being extremely blunt - more like really meaning what we say and do. I've found great value in checking in with myself to see if I actually believe in what I am doing and saying or if I'm just doing it because I know other people want to see me do it. It's brought a lot of inner peace to cut out the things I don't actually mean. 

Last of all, I want to leave you my ever increasing testimony of the Savior. I really believe that He lives.

Love you all! Have a great week!

Jerammaan!

Elder Josh Kilmer
Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Mission, English-Marshallese speaking
不動心
Fudoshin:  immovable spirit