Let Freedom Ring

Week 70  July 6, 2015    4:15 EDT     Let Freedom Ring

Happy Birthday, America.

The Fourth of July is a bit different for missionaries (actually, every day is a bit different for missionaries, but I digress.)

We were able to knock early, focus on sharing family history, spend the day with members, and be in early enough to avoid too many shenanigans.

It's the time of year when fireworks and gun shots intermingle and become indistinguishable (which may almost send your companion into cardiac arrest on occasion.)

We talked with people about family history, genealogy work and cultural heritage and actually found people who were super interested (one man even used to be a host at the family history library in Olympia and brought out family histories he had written and lots of old pictures.) #SpiritOfElijah

It's been hotter here than most of us are comfortable with, but thankfully Sister Harris found a way to cool down.

yes. those are ice packs and various frozen foods.)

And as a general rule, if you are able to befriend the neighborhood dogs, they probably won't bite you.

We were invited to a Samoan luau in the afternoon - complete with a roasted pig. Needless to say, we left happy and well-fed.     #AllenmoreDreamin'

We spent the rest of the day with members and missionaries - chilling in the cool of the trees and playing games

Independence Day - our day of freedom. The 4th of July is the one holiday that allows us to celebrate every other holiday (and holy day). It is our privilege as a free people.

It is our privilege to "stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage" (Galatians 5:1) 

"The Spirit of God which is also the Spirit of Freedom" (Alma 61:15) gives us opportunity to remember Christ's sacrifice in our behalf and lets us retain "the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Romans 8:21)

"Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17)

- Elizabeth

p.s. Mindy and Chloe set a temple date: August 27th!

p.p.s. the trunky papers came in (talk about underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time.)