Boise East 4 (Week 13)

Hello everyone!

I got to spend a wonderful morning in the temple! Today we got to go to the Meridian Temple and it was beautiful. Temples truly are the House of God.

This week we have had a lot of different teaching opportunities. First, we had the wonderful opportunity to go up to Girls Camp and do the devotional one night. We had dinner with all the girls and shared with them an anonymous poem called, "The Race." I would put it in here, but it is pretty long. It is amazing and I recommend anyone reading it. If you can't find it, email me and I will send it! It was fun to be up in the mountains with all the Girls and brought back many good memories of my times at Girls Camp.

We had a lesson with Alx and Toni this week. It has been awhile since we have met because of their busy schedules. Come to find out, Toni told us that she found a job and said that she has felt the effect of our prayers for her. That was a tender moment. They have struggled over the past few months and they are finally starting to see the goodness around them.

Some sad news, we found out that Femi will be moving at the end of the month. We will continue teaching him until then. We started working with a young girl (17), but she dropped off the face of the earth and we have not had contact with her for about 2 weeks. On Sunday she showed up at church and come to find out her father just kicked her out of the house. Her track coach has taken her in and she will be living with them for the rest of the year. She is really struggling to find who she is and is searching for answers. 

We helped teach the Sunday School lesson as well this Sunday. I am definitely getting more comfortable talking in front of people! And I will keep getting better. This next month Sister Dochterman and I will both be speaking in our wards. I am actually excited to have this opportunity.

Saturday night we received a referral in our new ward that we have had for one week. It was a self referral from a woman who had had her records removed a year ago. We were able to meet with her on Monday. She told us about her crazy journey and how she was very confused and misunderstood the church. She is currently a student at BSU and has come to the realization that the church is true and that God has been with her every step of they way through her life. She wants to gain a testimony on everything and really understand the covenants that she will make at baptism. We left that meeting and Sister Dochterman pointed out and asked, "Is it a coincidence we got this ward literally a week before she started this search for truth?" I don't think it was a coincidence at all. This ward was previously covered by Elders and they would not have been able to meet with her without a 3rd Male present. She has also had some bad experiences with an Elder in her past and would not have felt as comfortable meeting with them. This is a tender mercy of the Lord! He knew what she needed and we are now able to be instruments in his hands to help her really come to know and gain a testimony for herself. 

This week has been a whirlwind! I have never been more aware that our Heavenly Father helps to guide our paths to what and who we need. Trials are a part of the journey. If we endure them with faith and patience, we will be stronger because of it. Don't give up, and keep on going! Miracles are just around the corner! I love you all very much! Go help someone this week and help be an answer to others prayers. As you listen to the spirit, you will be guided in what you need to do and say. I know this because I have seen and felt the power of the spirit work through me to help those around us. There are people everywhere that need help! Just go and do it! Even if it's scary :)

Love,
Sister Beutler

   

THE RACE

By Dr. D.H. (Dee) Groberg

I

“Quit! Give Up! You’re beaten!”
They shout at me and plead.
“There’s just too much against you now.
This time you can’t succeed.”

And as I start to hang my head
In front of failure’s face,
My downward fall is broken by
The memory of a race.

And hope refills my weakened will
As I recall that scene;
For just the thought of that short race
Rejuvenates my being.

II

A children’s race–young boys, young men–
How I remember well.
Excitement, sure! But also fear;
It wasn’t hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win that race.
Or tie for first, or if not that,
At least take second place.

And fathers watched from off the side
Each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad
That he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they went
Young hearts and hopes afire.
To win and be the hero there
Was each young boy’s desire.

And one boy in particular
Whose dad was in the crowd
Was running near the lead and thought:
“My did will be so proud!”

But as they speeded down the field
Across a shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win
Lost his step and slipped.

Trying hard to catch himself
His hands flew out to brace,
And mid the laughter of the crowd
He fell flat on his face.

So down he fell and with him hope
–He couldn’t win it now–
Embarrassed, sad, he only wished
To disappear somehow.

But as he fell his dad stood up
And showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said,
“Get up and win the race.”

He quickly rose, no damage done,
–Behind a bit, that’s all–
And ran with all his mind and might
To make up for his fall.

So anxious to restore himself
–To catch up and to win–
His mind went faster than his legs:
He slipped and fell again!

He wished then he had quit before
With only one disgrace.
“I’m hopeless as a runner now;
I shouldn’t try to race.”

But in the laughing crowd he searched
And found his father’s face;
That steady look which said again:
“Get up and win the race!”

So up he jumped to try again
–Ten yards behind the last–
“If I’m to gain those yards,” he thought,
“I’ve got to move real fast.”

Exerting everything he had
He regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead
He slipped and fell again!

 Defeat! He lied there silently

–A tear dropped from his eye–
“There’s no sense running anymore;
Three strikes: I’m out! Why try!”

The will to rise had disappeared;
All hope had fled away;
So far behind, so error prone;
A loser all the way.

“I’ve lost, so what’s the use,” he thought
“I’ll live with my disgrace.”
But then he thought about his dad
Who soon he’d have to face.

“Get up,” an echo sounded low.
“Get up and take your place;
You were not meant for failure here.
Get up and win the race.”

“With borrowed will get up,” it said,
“You haven’t lost at all.
For winning is no more than this:
To rise each time you fall.”

So up he rose to run once more,
And with a new commit
He resolved that win or lose
At least he wouldn’t quit.

So far behind the others now,
–The most he’d ever been–
Still he gave it all he had
And ran as though to win.

Three times he’d fallen, stumbling;
Three times he rose again;
Too far behind to hope to win
He still ran to the end.

They cheered the winning runner
As he crossed the line first place.
Head high, and proud, and happy;
No falling, no disgrace.

But when the fallen youngster
Crossed the line last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer,
For finishing the race.

And even though he came in last
With head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he’d won the race
To listen to the crowd.

And to his dad he sadly said,
“I didn’t do too well.”
“To me, you won,” his father said.
“You rose each time you fell.”

III

And now when things seem dark and hard
And difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy
Helps me in my race.

For all of life is like that race,
With ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win,
Is rise each time you fall.

“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!”
They still shout in my face.
But another voice within me says:
“GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!”