Sunday Learning

This morning, I woke up early to get wrapped up in my sari, but got some of my breakfast on it, so I just wore  chuddadar and pants. They finished a building just two hears ago. it is a beautiful building in Chennai. before that, they met in a basement down the road. They alternate those Rising Star kids who want to come -- girls one week, boys the next. They really do keep the boys and girls separated here in India. It was a great meeting. There was a young woman who spoke on Personal Progress and what it means to her. She said it has taught her that she is a daughter of God, and she has a glorious purpose. She said that the program has helped her strengthen her testimony, learn more about the Savior, and prepare her for her future endeavors, both spiritual and temporal. She felt that Personal Progress has helped her develop all of the attributes in Alma 7:23-24: being humble, patient, submissive, easy to be entreated, being grateful, having faith, hope and charity. She quoted Alma 37:6 "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." Personal Progress teaches line upon line, precept upon precept that add up to increasing a young woman's confidence in herself and in her Savior. Here at Rising Star this year, the "theme" is "Little and Mighty". What we are ding here may not be huge by many standards, but there are mighty changes happening in these children's lives. She did a wonderful job. Then Krishna, one of the young men from Rising Star, spoke on the Duty to God program, and how it has taught him how to be a man. A man of God. He said he had never spoken in church before, and that he was nervous and hoped to do a good job. He did. The Spirit was so sweet. These youth are going to make some changes. And finally,  Nery Ralon (construction coordinator) spoke on tithing. He's 24 years old, and served a mission in Paraguay. He has been serving in the Young Men's Presidency for the three months he's been here. He is leaving Thursday, and was released today. He said something that I loved. He said he hoped that we would be able to feel the Spirit. That what he had to say really didn't matter much. But that what was important was that we had an experience with the Spirit. That we were able to feel God's love and guiding influence in our lives. Loved that! It really was a great meeting. The members here are humble, they live simply and faithfully. So grateful for the experience.

We came back after stopping at the store for provisions for the coming week. It was a relaxing evening filled with conversation and catching up on emails and such.

Tomorrow, Annie, Jennie, Perry and I will go wit Klorisa (medical coordinator) to the leprosy colonies. I anticipate it will be a whole different kind of powerful. Something we talked about with Kim the other day is being careful to to use the term "leper", But leprosy affected patients. They are not their disease. These are real people dealing with a very difficult disease. Not just physically, but emotionally. Throughout history, they have been known as the "untouchables". Perry commented that it would be like saying, "We're going to the hospital to visit the "cancers". An important distinction, and definitely food for thought...