The week was a week of miracles. There's so much going on. The progress record is two, stapled pages both of which are front and back. So, my life is chaos and I love the challenge of it. It's like people are finding us instead of vice versa at the moment. That's something I realize more and more. That every baptism is a team effort and that more often than not success comes DESPITE you as a missionary instead of because of you.
Case in point. The story of "T". So, "T" is the man. He walked into church last week and was like "Hey, I wanna learn! I have a friend who has taught me a lot about it, so what's the procedure?" And we peeled ourselves off the floor and set up a time with him. We went to teach him and he was ready with questions about what he needs to change about his life to be Mormon. The guy is a total stud and is so prepared. He chews through chapters of the Book of Mormon and sends back questions and commentary. He's basically what you wish everyone in the world was: utterly prepared. And it is because of his friend that "T" turned to the church when he needed it. So anyway, we are being taught the first lesson by "T" at his table on the sidewalk when this girl walks up and says "Hey, do you minister around here often?" We reply "Well, yes" and she responds with "Well, I live here now and I don't know where to go to church. I got baptized a year ago but then fell away." And we say "Sit down." So now we are teaching her, too.
So then we go to "W's" to teach him and he says "I just don't feel the fire" and we reply "Well then, share the gospel!" He queries "With who?" and then his roommate walks in and we all stare at him and he goes "What?" So now we have another Brazilian to teach!
I could go on and on. And in fact, I will go on and on. The next day, we go contacting on a college campus and this girl calls "Hey Elders!" She's ANOTHER less-active member who isn't sure where to go to church and wants to be taught. AND then, there's a guy who we contacted walking around an apartment complex. He wasn't wearing a shirt and so we asked why. And like the gospel. One thing led to another and now we are teaching him, too.
We also made pens last P-Day. There's a member who makes pen and he had us over to make them. It's sweet. We also put "L" on a baptismal date FINALLY. We had to monologue about how knowing the will of God and not doing it is a sin for a while, but it turned out right in the end. Other news: "B's" baptism is this week, and "J" might be going to Mexico, "M" might have moved, but everything is awesome. Haha I can't even begin to describe what all is acontecendo here but may I just say that the church is true and God's timing is perfect.
This week is going to be insanity. We are organizing a trip to the temple lights x2, we have ZTM (Zone Training Meeting), a mission temple trip, and it's everyone's finals week, and "B's" baptism (into a different ward...long story) is on Saturday "Far, far away on Judea's Plains" and people are going home for the holidays and I love being once more swept away in the chaos of useful and pursuant existence.
Which brings us to a fascinating gospel theme. Identity. I think I have discoursed on it here before but allow me a moment to express, once more, how essential it is. If only we could grasp our identity. Who we are and what it is exactly what that means. The great commandment is to live up to who you are. To do that, you must know yourself. And you come to know yourself by knowing the Father, which comes through knowing the Son. So around this Christmas time, come to know the Son and live up to who you are, because the fact is that you are so very special to Him. And more than you wanting a relationship with him, He wants a better relationship with you. So allow Him to have what He wants!
We also had stake conference this week. It was out of our mission, but we got permission to go and it was so good and so uplifting. The young single adult leadership is an all-star cast. The thing that was said that was most powerful though to me, though, was about the temple. It was "Consider what an acceptable sacrifice of temple worship is for you, and then do it." How amazing is that? It can't be done without setting a goal, committing, and then doing, so that's my invitation to you as the new year approaches. Decide what an acceptable sacrifice in temple worship is for you and then do it!
There are so many blessings that only come through the temple. So go and claim them!
Work hard pray hard!
Love,
No comments:
Post a Comment