Define Charity.....Joliet Illinois

How would you define charity?

The life of the Savior reflects His pure love for all people. He even gave His life for us. Charity is that pure love which our Savior Jesus Christ has. He has commanded us to love one another as He loves us. The scriptures tell us that charity comes from a pure heart (see 1 Timothy 1:5). We have pure love when, from the heart, we show genuine concern and compassion for all our brothers and sisters.

President Thomas S. Monson reminded us that there are those who need more than material goods:

“Let us ask ourselves the questions: ‘Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need?’ [Hymns, no. 223]. What a formula for happiness! What a prescription for contentment, for inner peace—to have inspired gratitude in another human being.

“Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved” (in Conference Report, Oct. 2001, 72; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 60).

For this past week I have been blessed to be able to move to a new ward the Joliet first ward. The people here know the word (charity). The first day in my new area brother Ranchero was there for me and elder Fia. He took us around and showed us the boundaries to our area and then took us to lunch. Brother Ranchero has a son serving on a mission, so being around the missionary's and serving with them is a way of his gratitude for what us as missionary's do. I love brother Ranchero. There isn't a day that goes by that he is not keeping us on his mind. Every other week he takes us to out to eat. 

So the apartment we live in is pretty cold there is no working heater and brother Ranchero found out about that and has now offered us to go live in his house. We contacted president but have not heard back yet. We are praying for it.

Now there is another person who has taken the role of being the mission mom. Her name is sister Abeene. She feeds us every Thursday and she makes sure that we have everything we need. She too found out that we have no heat and sent her son out to Walmart to get us a space heater not only did she get us one but she got us two of them. She always has a inspirational quote or saying each time we are there. A lot of the time it's what I needed to hear. 

Now a lot of you might ask well what about mama Tammi? mama Tammi is still my missionary mom. She will always be, but sister Abeene wants the chance to share with the missionaries what mama Tammi got to skate with me.  And that is charity. 

Charity Is the Greatest of All Virtues

The prophet Mormon tells us, “Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—but charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever” (Moroni 7:46–47; see also 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Nephi 26:30; Moroni 7:44–45, 48).

What mama Tammi and so many others are doing for me will always be in my heart for there love of Christ is shining forth and is blessing be and many after me. They are lighting the world in my eyes [#LighttheWorld] 

My week has been full of many blessings and I feel as if I got to cared away with thinking of myself and not of others.  If I would of taken the time to think of what others are doing and what they have done for me I would of seen the blessings a lot earlier then now.  I think I'm still learning how to be humble ️. 

What a great day and a great start to a new year to already be learning something I like that I like that a lot. 

Elder Fia taught me a great lesson this Week. We are at a members home and we were talking to the boys about what sports they played and after we talked about that for a bit one of the boys asked me what sports I played. I briefly said football, baseball and I ran track. Then I was like but you wouldn't be interested in that my companion on the other hand you will enjoy, he plays rugby. Elder Fia went on to tell them about rugby and after we left elder Fia told me to take pride in what I did when I was at home and share my experience don't boast but take pride and that was it.

That experience reminded me about a story in the book of Mormon about Captain Moroni he took pride in his duty as captain but as well as in his religion. If you all remember captors Moroni food not like going to war he did not like shedding peoples blood but only wanted peace, but due to the Laminite leader Moroni had to go into battle but he went with the Lord for his religion and his freedom for his family and for his God, if you remember that's what he put on his coat that he fastened to a pole and took it and cared it to battles with him so that they always remember that the Lord was with them thanks to elder Fia I learned a great lesson for the week. 

There has been a couple pains this week my uncle Jay and a great friend/boss Will Wolfley passed away. What a blessing it is to know that death is not the end and the grave is not the resting place.  What blessing it is to know the plan of salvation and know where we came from, know our purpose, and know where we will go in the next life.  And what a blessing to be able to share that message with other people here in Illinois.  We only have a short while to prepare before God calls us home but we have eternity to be with our love ones and what a great message to share. 

I want to thank my friend Zach for being a great example to all of us he had the opportunity to go home for the holidays to spend time with his dad Before his passing but he left a promise to us all I will be back to continue to fulfill my mission. He has done so and now he has a greater knowledge of the Saviors love.  Way to go Zach, the mission field is glad to have you back. 

Other then that there is nothing really to say. I'm getting used to the city of Joliet now common in slow but it's coming.  I get fed a lot and work out a ton.  I got the wonderful experience to go to dinner with the Streeter family they took four of us elders to Lunesta steak house made our night a special one.  We have done a lot of finding this week and even though it's been cold we have been enjoying it.

HOW GREAT IS MY CALLING!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL 

Elder Vickers -Jacklin