As we contemplated the message we wanted to send with our blog
this week, our hearts were filled with many thoughts and concerns. This has been a sobering and challenging week.
We shared in the happiness of Betty and her family at their safe arrival and move into their beautiful new home. We
pray that they will quickly learn to know and love the people of Klamath Falls.
We have read the news and comments on the Supreme Court ruling
on marriage. We have been troubled by
the harsh and sometimes hateful things that are being said. We have pondered what message we should share
about our feelings.
We have been sobered and worried as we learned of Stetson’s
accident and Shelby’s serious illness.
We mourned the loss of President Packer but rejoiced in the
thought of the glorious reunions he must be having in heaven.
We witnessed the glowing face of a young woman who was baptized
last night and the joy on the faces of the sister missionaries who taught her.
In all, we have had a week of many contrasting feelings. A scripture we read in Sunday School today
seems to sum up our thoughts: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Only when we put our full faith in Christ, and focus on
living as he lived can we have peace. We
need to remember that the Lord knows the end from the beginning. The winds and
waves still blow but the Savior is in control and will always direct us for
good. As it says in D&C 14:7, “if
you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life,
which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”
With that in mind, we want it known that we support the
Prophet and the Proclamation on the Family.
We are aware that not all agree with us, but that does not in any way
affect our love and respect for them. This is part of God’s plan: that we learn to love and respect all people
whether we agree or not.
We believe that the Lord allows tribulation in the form of
disease, accidents, and evil because that is part of the mortal experience that
teaches us love, patience, and humility.
Life is like a 3 act play, said Boyd K. Packer. Act 1 was our life before we came to
Earth. Act 2 is life on Earth, and act 3
is life after death. We come into act 2
as actors on the stage not knowing what happened in act 1. Part of our test is to come here without
remembering our Father in Heaven or knowing what will happen in act 3. Only in act 3 can we live “happily ever after”. Because of this plan, we cannot understand
everything that happens around us. That,
too, is part of the test of our faith.
Ultimately, we believe that how we live it is far more important than what we believe. We see
goodness, kindness, and charity in all of our family members. We believe our love for you has grown even as
we are apart from you while serving a mission in Kiribati. We are grateful for your love for us, and
look forward to being together again next year.
Love,
Elder and Sister Sumner(aka dad and mom or grandpa and grandma)
On Wednesday, July 1st, I had fun showing students the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter.
My youngest observer!
On Friday we had a pep rally for our track team which will compete next week in an island wide competition. Here the parents are garlanding their athlete sons and daughters.
Saturday we drove out to the Eco Farm near the airport to buy eggs. This is half of the eggs this fellow just delivered on the back of his scooter! We didn't see any broken ones.
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