Elder Corey Miles - Ethiopia Addis Ababa Mission: WK 87

Since this week was the Ethiopian New Year, I wanted to make the same joke as last year like "new year, new me" or "haha looks like I have to live 2015 again" but to be honest lately the saying has been "new day, new me" so that is kind of irrelevant. It is 2015 here though now, and it has been fun seeing the festivities going on.

"Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground..."

I had one of the coolest p-days of my mission this last week. We were talking about how we wanted to see the inside of an Orthodox church and a member overheard us, then invited us to go with her to see one. It was so cool, especially considering I've been around those of the Orthodox faith for a long time. They made us take our shoes of to go in, so I wandered around in my Charmander socks instead. There was an upper floor that had a hallway with huge drums (that we got to play) that led to an inner chamber with a high ceiling and a Holy of Holies in the middle. We thought that was the end, until the guide opened a trap door and we went into basement where there were huge marble tombs, old books, and even a Michelangelo painting. The coolest part is that I could see some parallels with the Temple: it just goes to show that Christianity originates all from the same place, but that full truth really has been restored.

We had MLC this week and we talked a lot about leadership qualities and the importance of councils in the church. It was interesting to me how much we can learn about leadership from Christ and the scriptures, and these qualities can be applied in any situation, because in the church, honestly, we are all leaders.

We were trying to catch up with our friends Mulatu and Shelema, but they were working at a huge New Year's Bazaar, so we decided to pay them a visit there and meet some people along the way. Sadly, it absolutely poured the whole time but we were able to see them.

Some new people we met this week:

- Kefyalehu: A bit of a miracle find. We actually found him while looking for another friend of ours. They work at the same place, so we asked Kefyalehu to help us, and I guess he liked us enough give us a call and come to church!

- Bienvenue and Clarisse: These two came as referrals, so we visited them in their home soon after and they are awesome! They actually come from the Congo but expressed great interest in learning more and coming to church.

- Dawit: A guy who called us randomly because he talked to missionaries a year ago, told us a very interesting origin story, but is super nice. He might live outside of our branch boundaries though sadly.

We had a visit where I felt more like the one being taught than the one teaching. We visited a member in our branch who is from Russia and is a neurosurgeon here in Ethiopia. His wife is away, so we thought we would give him some company. This man was actually the first Stake President in St. Petersburg and is a spiritual powerhouse. He told us the cool story of how he got called by President Nelson (Elder Nelson at the time), we had the opportunity to give him a blessing, and this sweet man fed us.

I hit my 20 month mark this week. Time is flying and the more it does the more I don't want it to. It's time to make the most of it. I need you all to keep me accountable 🤣

Elder Miles

እግዚአብሔር ይመስገን