Law of the Fast

Dear Family & Friends,

We have not been able to do anymore finding with the fan chart. The weather has not been good enough to break them out without getting them soaked. We have them covered in plastic but the rain still gets through.

My favorite moment was just playing basketball with the Ward this week for games night. We have a games night every Friday and lots of people are coming out to it. We have about twenty members that come and a couple of investigators.  Worse moment of the week was that it was just raining down yesterday after Church.  It is about a twenty minute walk home from Church and we were soaked by the first five. But we didn't melt.

We have been talking and learning lately about the traditions of our fathers. One of the Europe area Presidency gave a talk in the Mission about how it takes up to the fourth generation for the bad traditions to be broke and the only one for the good ones to be broke. 

The best part of the week was...... Fast Sunday! Fast Sunday has become one of my favorite Sundays on my Mission. At first when I got into the Mission I was like I have to fast for two meals! What are you kidding me!  But the more I have learned and grown the more I have come to enjoy going for two meals.  It is hard but worth it all the time.  I was reading in the Old Testament in the Book of Isaiah this week about fasting.  In the Book of Isaiah Chapter 58  he talks about the true law of the fast and the blessings that come with it. And I really like this verse from it. But I love the whole chapter.

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

 4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.

 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?

6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

I remember when I first fasted for two meals I fasted and complained. But this chapter has really helped me see the real reasons we fast. To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free. I honestly almost copied and pasted the whole chapter in this email but stopped myself. Read it, it is good.

Thanks for all of your letters and support.  Not much has changed here in Derby but seeds are being planted for the next generation of Missionaries to come.

Love, Elder Nielsen