Sounds like that could be on some Hallmark card. I am really getting good with those subject lines. Not really, but hopefully you all had a great Thanksgiving. When I really got thinking of things and what I was grateful for, now the list could go on for days it seems. I tried to decide on one thing that I could write again this week and tell you all I am grateful for. I could pull the cliché and say the gospel, or my mission, or my testimony, my family!, friends, the list goes on… but when it comes down to it, I think one of the things I am most grateful for is probably my trials. Trials come with all of the other things I am grateful for also, but really I decided trials simply because without them I would not be anywhere near where I am now in my life. Whatever the trials I went through to get onto my mission or trials on my mission here or there, they have taught me valuable lessons. Let us broaden our look on this, if it weren't for the trials the Savior went through, we wouldn't understand the lessons he has taught us. The whole Atonement was a trial, and the world has learned numerous, if not countless, lessons from that infinite act. So to cut things off there, Trials are what I am grateful for this year. Hopefully we all can do better about showing our gratitude by our actions rather than simply word.
The work is a bit frustrating at times. Simply put, we just cannot meet consistently with our investigators; that is our whole problem right now. I have said it, but I don't think it is so much the lack of desire, in fact I couldn't say that is much of the problem at all, it is just a huge culture thing. Filipinos all work 2-3 jobs and send most of that money back home to the family and stuff back home. So it isn't that they don't want to meet, simply they just don't have the time. On the ones we did meet though we have really been working hard on getting them fellowship and getting members at every lesson possible. That has been a huge push here in the mission. The investigators really do progress so much better with a solid person doing some fellowship, and it allows us to get things truly developing into something more. This week we were able to see Lorie. She is still looking into things, but we aren't sure if it is just because she is bored. Her situation is better with not working though, her husband works either oil or gas and is a Canadian so she doesn't have to work.. so she is home. We are really pushing to figure out if she has that real desire; looking for that broken heart and contrite spirit. The lessons do go well though and she has still just been trying to take things as a factual experience rather than go to the ultimate source and ask our Father in Heaven.. we will see. Her big question this week was, "if there is a prophet on the earth, why doesn't everyone know about this??" Pretty much it came down to us saying, we are working on it!!! So we shall see!
Ivy is still going really well. We brought her a fellowshipper and everything which should also help. She is still very accepting of things and seems to want to know for herself.. she just needs to come to church! The lesson was a one that the spirit definitely attended. She really has been curious about the Prophet Joseph and it seems to be going well there though. She doesn't deny the occurrence, well at least the probability, so that is a step in the right direction.. just needs the spirit to confirm that truth.
Picked up a couple new investigators this week.. one is Perlyn, and she has been taught in the past and lives with a member up near downtown. She is also looking at this as more of a learning experience to "understand your religion" but we are working on getting that to be more of a I want to know the truth type of experience.. we don't shy away from boldness with these people though! A big problem with our work is they look at this as just a change of religions rather than the whole coming from false doctrine to the truth, to put it bluntly, so we just try to get them to change their outlook and understand our purpose.. we will see how that develops.. the other new investigator is a man named Abner.. he sure is a nice guy.. has met with the missionaries for about a year.. and has been loving it but honestly it seems like his biggest concern is not having a solid ride to church each week.. he feels the "Baptist is truth" so we are working on that one.. ha we will see what happens. We are still kinda team teaching him with the elders that have been teaching him as he is on the complete opposite side of the city.. so about 30 minutes or so with no traffic.. working on it!
Couple thoughts I would just like to share with ya from Sacrament yesterday and church really.. It was a good one I tell ya. It just got me thinking, especially since the Thanksgiving time of the year for me it was a lot just how grateful I am for the Savior in my life. For his teachings, for his ever perfect example. A couple of His names that have stuck out to me lately have been the Great Physician and the Good Shepherd, simply because I have felt his awareness, his infinite and personal love me for, but also his ability to lift up and help me overcome those trials I have been experiencing, however great or small. I am so grateful for the scriptures that so eloquently describe his selfless act of the Atonement. In the last while I have been studying the Life of Christ, the way he taught, the way he interacted with the people, and the way he spoke to the people. It has been eye opening to say the least. You may think you know the Savior, however that journey is one that I believe is endless. It excites me to be able to still have the time to study His life more and understand Him more.. to become very well acquainted with my Redeemer. Hopefully you are all doing the same!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.