Lots of ups and downs this week. But, it was still AMAZING.
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life
So far, I have learned a lot on my mission. But the second great commandment is what I have learned the most. Matthew 22:39
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself
My whole life I have depicted service as: Feeding the homeless, donating money for shelters, or community service. But the greatest service we can possibly do is for our neighbors. In the October 2017 General Conference, Bonnie L. Oscarson address in her talk, "The Needs Before Us," she said, "What good does it do to save the world if we neglect the needs of those closest to us and those whom we love the most? How much value is there in fixing the world if the people around us are falling apart and we don’t notice? Heavenly Father may have placed those who need us closest to us, knowing that we are best suited to meet their needs."
I love when she says, "Heavenly Father may have placed those who need us closest to us." Our neighbors need us.
I watched the second great commandment in action this week in our ward. On Tuesday night, we were driving home from mutual when we came across this car accident on 210. Hwy. 210 is a curvy one-lane highway...where the speed limit is 60. A drunk driver merged into oncoming traffic and crashed into another car head on. I had this overwhelming feeling that it was someone from our ward.
When we woke up the next morning we received a text from our Relief Society President saying that it was in fact a new family from our ward. A dad and his two daughters. Both the girls were life flighted and the dad was rushed in an ambulance. They were all in separate hospitals. It was so cool to see our ward come together and serve our neighbors. Everyone planned out every meal that was going to be prepared for this family, who was going to stay with who at each hospital (since the mother could only be at one hospital at once) and who was going to take care of their youngest daughter.
The second great commandment shouldn't only be used in times of tragedy. We must be looking for ways we can best serve those around us
I want to challenge y'all to pray to your Heavenly Father and ask who you can serve this week. I know that through your sincere prayer, you will have someone come to mind. Love your neighbor this week. Serve them in new ways.
Love you all. CTR <3
Sister Copeland
Pics of the Week
1. It's freezing in Florida... who knew?
2. We got to go with a less-active family to World of Golf and send off floating lanterns..I loved it
3. The frog I ran over...poor guy
4. Service Day by the Beach
5. What a small world! A couple in Sister Copeland's St. Johns Ward invited her and her companion for dinner. They figured out that the couple's brother and sister-in-law lived in Sister Copeland's Ward in Utah!
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