Week 68 – Holy Frijoles

You never knew that I knew that much Spanish, did you? This last week has been exciting for a few different reasons, really the Lord is blessing us and allowing us to see that He is really in charge. We have been praying like crazy to find someone to teach. As much as doing personal finding at least 5 hours a day was fun and all, we both wanted to be teaching. This week we ran into a fella named Michael. I actually had talked to him in the past, maybe a month or so ago while doing some tracting near his home, just on the other side of the street. He had pulled up at the time from the store, so we figured we would go ahead and chat with him, he accepted a mormon.org card.. life was neat. This last week we ended up knocking into his door, he was home, and invited us right into his home. He is going through a few different things right now, and because of that he is searching for God and trying to make that connection rather than distance himself like most do. He said he checked out Mormon.org, looked at the videos, and really enjoyed it. Okay for one, I don't know how many of those cards I have given out, probably hundreds, rarely do you find someone who actually goes to the site! Anyways, we got into his home and began to teach him what we offer, got to know him, etc. He says that he is truly interested and wants to learn more. Honestly, it has been the biggest blessing and assurance that although we may not be teaching, this is not a sign that the Lord doesn't trust us, or that our Father in Heaven doesn't trust us with His children. We will have to see how he kinda moves along.. Great guy though. 

Another great moment of the week happened just last night. We had a few minutes before our last appointment of the night and I felt that we should go down into an area that is considerably distant from where we needed to be.. upon pulling into the subdivision I felt to knock a certain stretch of doors, rather than go to a house of a couple we had initially planned for. I have to interject into the story here of how I have felt recently. Because of the super cold weather, simply you just aren't out there and able to talk to people like you would hope.. we have been feeling like we are just not fulfilling our purpose, not doing what the Lord wants us to do.. kinda thinking along the lines that we were losing that trust. Yes, I do demand of myself a very high standard.. ANYWHO, we knock this door and this guy is truly listening to what we have to say. We are talking about the restoration, of God's love, of our Savior. He ends up inviting us in. He is there with two of his friends; they are all in their late 20's, and early 30's. They are all from Burma also. We talk more with everyone and share more about the Restoration, at the end he asks us to pray with him and for him. He started talking about how he felt that we were good, and we represented Jesus Christ. He says he trust in God, and knows that if we can pray for him it would help him with his citizenship test the following day (today). We ended up praying with him and honestly I have never seen such gratitude on someone’s face for simply just praying for them. They wanted to have us back when he gets back from his shift in the oilfields. He wants to hear more. They wouldn't stop thanking us.. What an experience though! The absolute necessity to have the spirit in all that we do has really been something I have grown such a strong testimony of lately. There is no reasonable substitute for the spirit, for any of us. We must be willing to follow the spirit in all phases of our lives.. this is how our Heavenly Father leads us through each day, so long as we desire. 

A scripture that has hit hard this week is in Revelations 3:19-21..  

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

He is ever going to be drawing us to Him. He is always going to be on the other side of the door, but are we willing to let Him into our lives? We must be willing to sacrifice. We must be willing to put aside our own wants or desires and seek that of our Father's. His will, must become our will. He will correct us, because he loves us. We are promised Eternal life as we follow this pattern, so what really holds us back? Super grateful for this.

Well, I do love you all! I'll talk to you soon!

Love, Elder McFall