Yesterday in sacrament meeting we went to a missionary farewell. This soon to be elder shared an experience about how he was in a situation where he wanted to comfort his friend who was going through something very difficult, but he felt so helpless as he tried to give comfort. He said, "It's so hard to see people hurting, struggling and not be able to do
anything."
That's the hard part about missionary work I think. People can see the Sun and the rightness and greatness of it, but without recognizing the Son, they are kind of blind in a way, they don't know how to let themselves to be healed.
"Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me."
We have been praying and praying for a few of our potential investigators to have a change of heart and decide to let Christ in. And for a little bit it didn't look like anything was happening.
And then it was like a light went off in the room and I could see. Little tiny things, in the way they said things, or questions they asked, things they had said to other people– The Lord is changing hearts! For example. We were teaching one of our recent converts Garret, or I guess just stopping by to see him because we were in the area, and his sister, who is not a member, sat in with us. And sat in because she wanted to be there! I fumbled the ball a little bit and showed a random mormon message that didn't really apply (well maybe it did, but if it did it was completely by the spirit because I didn't get it). But we bore our testimonies of the restored gospel, and challenged them to pray every day. And then she asked us to pray for her friend who is having a hard health challenge right now. We said yes of course and then left. And I didn't think anything of that until I had that change of heart a few days later. I realized then that that was a little miracle, that she is being prepared by the Lord to listen to the lessons and be touched and taught by the spirit.
And then one day we decided to walk. And we never walk because our area is huge and usually we walk and we just contact members because we are in mendon haha. But we are walking and several things happened and we found ourselves at the top of a bigish hill just talking and walking because we couldn't find the person we had been sent up there to find. And we run into this man who is walking his dog. I think "Okay, talk to everyone, even if they are a member". And guess what! He's the Young Men's President of one of the wards! hahaha. BUT. He says he has a friend who wants to hear the lessons. From missionaries. From us!!! Can you believe it!!! Someone who is not a member wants to listen to us! It was such a tender mercy. We were in the right place at the right time. We still have not met this person, but I am so excited to do so tonight!
And last miracle I want to share. We went to visit a former investigator one day and she wasn't home. But we met this man who was house sitting for her. He's not from Utah and didn't know anything about the church. Another "whaaaa?" moment haha. We asked him if he would want to learn and he said yes! And then we left without giving him a Book of Mormon. I felt dumb. A few days later we decided to go and visit the former investigator again. As we left the car I felt impressed to bring a Book of Mormon to give to him just in case. He was there! As well as the former investigator. I gave him the Book and shared my testimony of it. He accepted it. It was a miracle because the lady didn't feel pressured to see us, and told us that she feels like she is ready to take the lessons again. The Lord knows His children and how they need to hear the gospel. We are still in the middle of her story as well, but I know that as we continue to follow the spirit we will see more and more miracles.
We had a "Spanish Conference" this week where all of the missionaries who speak spanish got together for some training. Which means I got to see Sister Ferguson and Sister Gonzales as well as Sister Rea and Michia and Bettey and some of my other good friends which was awesome. There was a couple there who shared their conversion stories (in spanish which was soooo good to hear... and understand :D ) and the biggest thing that stuck out to me from their testimonies is that the gospel is the way in which Christ transforms God's children. It takes lives and transforms them. The lady said that from the time that she met the missionaries and let them into her home, from that moment her life has been a blessing.
And I thought, that's what this life is. It is a blessing. But sometimes we lose that. And the difference I think is how much we are involving the Savior in our everyday lives. And that's what repentance does. In essence it is what repentance is. Letting the Savior into our lives to heal us and help us and transform us.
I feel like the Savior has given me a little better vision (reference to the story in Luke 18) this week. I am so grateful!
11 And he hath power given unto him from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance; therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls.
That's all I've got folks.
Oh wait, funny moment. I had somebody ask me if I was from Eastern Europe today. Apparently I do not have an East coast accent or a Utah accent.
I LOVE YOU!!!!
mle