Letters from Lauren: Woots down deep.

Our area is a bit deadbeat right now. Sister Muñoz and I came into the area to find that truly there was only one investigator, years worth of unorganized paperwork, differently color coded maps, in short: a mess. Nothing like a fixer-upper! Literally, this has happened cada vez that I've been transferred, so it's nothing new to me! We are currently doing a combination of visiting every person on our ward list in our area, checking up on former investigators, and following up with old media referrals. Day in and Day out.

I have never really understood the concept of inactivity. It just doesn't make sense how someone can go from temple worker/institute teacher to completely inactive. We've been talking a lot about how important daily scripture study is how it's something that I pledge to do for the rest of my life. Just as easy it is to follow Christ and His example. It is also easy to take that first step and decide to not do a daily study of the Book of Mormon, or to not kneel in personal prayer, or to not attend church. I shared the following scriptures with a less-active we visited this week:

"And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.

But if ye will nourish the word, yea nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst." (Alma 32:40-42)

I love that first verse especially, if we are not constantly nourishing the tree, how can we expect to pluck fruit? My companions and I have talked about how at times before the mission we would take "spiritual binges" we'd read for hours in the scriptures to make up for a slew of days that we had missed. The gospel doesn't work like that. Our Heavenly Father has us depend on him daily. Everyday is different, with different challenges, different circumstances. We are beings constantly changing!

Have you ever noticed how many tree references there are in the scriptures, and throughout all facets of the gospel really? I made a brief list of tree references in church yesterday: Lehi's dream, Alma 32, Adam and Eve and their trees, Family trees, the Allegory of the Olive Trees, the Sacred Grove. Basically: we love trees. The Holy Ghost brought to my remembrance yesterday as I was pondering on this concept of trees, a CES Fireside message that I had heard shortly before my mission: Stand in the Sacred Grove by Elder Mariln K. Jensen. It's a great message, and if you have the chance, study it!

In my current calling as a missionary, I'm striving to strengthen the roots of the ward that I'm assigned to. I have a garden to tend to! It reminds me of a dream my mother had a couple of months ago while I was still serving in Pecan Park.She wrote:

"Hi I had a dream about you last night! You were in your apartment and then you came out. You started to walk down the stairs and I was at the bottom of the stairs. You started to tell me about your beautiful garden. You were growing all kinds of vegetables. You were doing such a great job of planting seeds and making this garden grow. The garden was covered up with a blanket and I asked why. You said, 'the seeds don't grow as fast as in California, Mom! You really need to nurture the seeds here in Texas. There is harsh weather here. Lots of obstacles that can make the plants die or not produce fruit.' Your garden was beautiful and it looked like you were taking great care of it."
Oh Hispanic Mother dreams! How I love them!
Lake Charles is no different from my other areas! There is a great work to be done, before we can plant the seeds, we have to tend to the weeds (unorganized records!), add some fertilizer (contact tons of potentials), and then plant away, and nurture.

My grandfather Jesus Quesada was an amazing gardener and I frequently think of all that he did to tend gardens. I can always remember his happy humming of church songs. I can still see him dressed in his blue jeans, cowboy hat, and musky brown jacket tying young trees to sticks for support. It makes me smile!

As for the title of the post, There was a song I always used to sing with my brother Ezra when he was a toddler, "Each of us is a flower, growing in life's garden." Part of the chorus talks about watering and caring for the roots of the plants. Ezra would always say, "woots down deep" instead of "roots down deep." Oh the memories.

I love being a laborer in the Lord's vineyard. Even when it seems like the harvest is forever away. I love Louisiana!

Love,
Sis. Flores