Dear Family,
Monday night we were invited to the Bignell's house for dinner and FHE. Elder Naiker and Elder Fermanis came also. Elder Naiker is Indian from Malaysia and Elder Fermanis is Greek and Maori and he is from New Zealand. Elder Naiker is very small and Elder Fermanis is tall and bigger. (Look at picture on Blog) Interesting, Elder Naiker is the trainer and leader of the two. They are both "cute kids" or elders and they always have a smile on their face.
Tuesday we went and saw Bridge of Spies with Tom Hanks. It is a very good movies about Gary Frances Power, a pilot that was shot down over Russia during the cold war. It was quite intense and based on a true story.
Thursday we were alone in the office all day. We couldn't leave because the other couples were gone to zone conference and looking for new flats. It makes for a very long day.
Friday was zone conference for the Maroondah zone. It was held in the stake center where we have our office. Missionaries were in and out all day. It makes for a busy fun day. They were practicing carols for the Christmas party program. They also were practicing Called to Serve for stake conference, which was held yesterday. All full time missionaries, including the not so young missionaries, went up and sang Called to Serve. This song will forever be a favorite hymn. We will always remember the first time we sang it at the MTC with 2000 missionaries. The emotions we felt that first time will always remain with us. Singing at stake conference was wonderful.
Saturday we went to the city with Sister Jose. She and her husband are from Perth, Australia. She wanted to wander with us so her husband stayed home and watched Cricket on the tv.
The missionaries have been asked to read the 4 Gospels again. We have learned some great insights into Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The next four weeks we are going to write about each one starting with Mark. We hope you will enjoy our insights and have the desire to read the four gospels again.
MARK
Scholars agree that Mark was probably written first, and that the other writers had access to it when writing their gospels. Mark was not one of the apostles. He was young. He likely was alive when Christ was alive, but he would have been a child. After his conversion, he became the younger missionary companion of Paul, and later Peter, serving mainly among the Gentiles. Therefore, he wrote his gospel from his missionary perspective: a Jew writing the Gentiles. One can see he assumed that the reader would be unfamiliar with Jewish customs and terms and with Palestinian geography, because he explained and described those things. One can also see that he assumed that the reader was familiar with Latin terms and customs.
" Mark's object is to describe our Lord as the incarnate Son of God, living and acting among men. The gospel contains a living picture of a living Man. Energy and humility are the characteristics of his portrait. It is full of descriptive touches that helps us to realize the impression made upon the bystanders." (Bible Dictionary) It is "fast moving, emphasizing the doings more than the sayings of the Lord." (BD) Notice how many times Mark uses the words "immediately, straightway, anon" all translations of the same word. This one word is used eight times in one chapter alone, in verses 10,12,18,20,21, and 28. Reading Mark leaves on breathless. The intensity of the ministry is emphasized. No time to rest, no time to eat. Mark is full of miracles.
An interesting experiment is to read it in one sitting and you will catch the energy in the telling. (Adrienne and I read it in two sittings the same night and we understood Mark much better).
In closing we leave a thought;
"Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not... for God shall be with you forever and ever."
D&C 122:9
We love you all,
The moms, The grandmas, The Sister Sisters
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