Change and Olive Trees

Hello Friends and Family!!!

This week was interesting to say the least. For starters the weather here has been so insane that I got really sick and am still feeling crummy. For another, we saw 21 lessons and committed Corinna to baptism!!! That's what I'm talking about! I'm so excited to be here. We're doing good and I know it can only go up from here. Obviously some days won't be as good as others but I'm keeping positive about it. :)

Last Monday we went up to Elkhart and I got to meet the Elders. Being in a zone full of Elders is always entertaining. But I did what I do best and made cupcakes. Needless to say I think this will be a great transfer! Tuesday I started getting a cold with the weather flip flopping back and forth on us. But like I said I'm doing a ton better. :) Wednesday we taught Corinna. She is a former we picked back up and the Spirit was so strong there! She wants to read and pray first before she truly commits to a day and even to baptism. She did that all on her own too! We were so excited. We're going to meet with her again this week and talk to her about the Book of Mormon. :) I'm so so so happy for her! Thursday was the worst of the sick days but we weekly planned, I got a blessing, and then crashed pretty much until about 2. Then we went out and worked and saw lots of miracles. :) Friday was First Friday. They do this thing here in Warsaw on the first Friday of every month and our ward puts on a booth to help us get the Church name out there as well as helping them with whatever. It's pretty cool. We did a "job fair" on Friday and put out information on the Church's job search info. There weren't many people but it was cool to see how it worked. And despite the freezing cold, we made the best of it. Saturday was pretty much just a chill day. We ate at this awesome restaurant called Mad Anthony's and the food there was AWESOME. So good! A member took the four of us to dinner right before we had sports night. I think I got my companion sick on top of it...whoops.

Sunday was a great day. There is a returned missionary in the ward who gave a talk on Change. She saw a lot of wonderful people in Chile change and bore the sweetest testimony on it. The next speaker gave a great talk on forgiveness and in Relief society, she gave an awesome lesson about letting go of the past to learn from it as well as looking towards Christ who can help us in our processes to change and become more like Him.

President sent us a letter this week with the Olive branch Allegory in the book of Jacob and I wanted to add it in because it's just that awesome. So here it is!

"Thoughts on The Tame and Wild Olive Trees-An Allegory of our Saviors Love" ( Jacob 5-6 )

An allegory is a story that uses symbols to explain important truths. The allegory of the olive tree in Jacob 5 teaches us about the Lord's purposes in the scattering and gathering of the house of Israel. In chapter 6, the prophet Jacob summarized the major points of the allegory. The story as we have it was originally contained on the plates of brass, which are not available to us today. Jacob, however engraved the story on the small plates of Nephi.

Before Nephi died, he committed the small plates to Jacob, instructing him to record only what was precious-sacred preaching, great revelation, or prophecy for Christ's sake. (Jacob 1:2-4) In keeping with this charge, Jacob taught his people to have faith in the Savior.

As Zenos, (Jacob 5:1) begins the story, he defines the primary figure: the tame olive tree, which he said represents the house of Israel. He speaks of the tree growing old and beginning to decay. From the opening verses, the love and concern of the master of the garden are evident as he seeks ways to help the tree survive and bear good fruit.

At the end of Jacob 4, Jacob asked how the Jews could ever build on the "sure foundation" of Jesus Christ after they rejected Him. The answer to that question is found in Jacob 5 and 6.

Understanding the Allegory:

The Vineyard - The World
Master of the Vineyard - The Lord
Servants- The Lord's prophets
Tame Olive Tree - House of Israel, Lord's covenant people
Wild Olive Tree - Gentiles, or non-Israelites, later in the allegory apostate Israel
Branches - Groups of people
Roots of the Tame Olive Tree - Covenants the Lord makes with His children, constant source of strength and life to the faithful.
The Fruit - The lives or works of men
Digging, Pruning, Fertilizing - The Work of the Lord helps His children be obedient and fruitful
Transplanting the Branches - Scattering groups of people throughout the world, or restoring them to where they came from.

Application
1. What are some things the Lord has done in your life to "prune" and "nourish" you?
2. What do you learn from the allegory about Heavenly Father's concern for all His children?
3. What part of the allegory do you think we are living today?
4. Why do you think Jacob was willing to record this long allegory on the plates?

I don't really know how it ties in to this email but I thought a Spiritual message to you would help in some way. :) Hope you all have a wonderful week! No pictures this week! I'll be sure to send some next!

Love,

Sister Halverson