Time to Leave Georgia

 December 14, 2020

დობილებო, ძმობილებო, მეგობრებო!

Well, I've been reading lots of email subject lines from sister missionaries that were in the MTC with me with very similar subject lines to my own. Mine, however, does not have the same connotation because I am not going home. Let me give you a bit of background.

Here in Georgia, Americans don't need a visa to stay in the country. We can stay for a year without any problems. Since we are here for 17-22 months, we just need to cross the border halfway through our missions. Elder Herr and I were in Armenia last year for Christmas, so we are coming up on that year point where we have to cross a border. Leaving is easy but coming back isn't for us since we aren't business travelers, remote workers, or students. Since obeying the law is important, we'll be going down to Armenia for 4-8 weeks until our applications to reenter the country are approved. Can I tell you how excited I am to live with other people? Unbelievably excited! I have nothing against them as roommates, but they are more than roommates. We literally spend every waking moment together. We are coming up on 9 months of that. Those of you familiar with human biology know that that is enough time to have a baby. 

To be clear, I'm not comparing our experience to pregnancy in any way other than the length of time. The other two might be willing to compare it to the pain, but you can bring it up with them.

Anyway, this week was good. When teaching a lesson on commandments to Davit I made a connection. Jesus taught that the two great commandments are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. He says that all the other commandments hang upon those two. Well, if this is true, then why do we have other commandments? There are many answers to this, but this is the one that occurred to me in the lesson. We don't actually have a good idea of what is important to God. At least without the commandments. They give us an idea of how we can show our love. As we continue to live in accordance with those commandments, we learn more about Heavenly Father and improve our relationship with him. What a wonderful thing!

That's the week. Have a good one all. Read your scriptures. Say your prayers. Be good. See you soon. 

--უხუცესი ფიშერი