Oh
man, this week has been amazing! So different than expected, but good. Sadly, I
wasn't able to visit with the doctor this week so no updates from that, but I
have been really trying to apply the things that he has taught me and it has
made worlds of difference. I love how liberating it is to not feel like I HAVE
to do things but that I WANT to do things! It's amazing! I love it. I am still
doing the same things, but there is a lot less beating myself up and a lot more
love and contentment.
This
week was a bit trying for our faith. We went to our lesson with Claude, the
zone leaders came with us to teach in French. When we got there he told us that
he couldn't be baptized because of the responsibility that he has for his
church. It was so sad. He knows the church is true but he is just too scared of
the consequences that will come if he changes churches. I can understand that
it would be scary, but it still breaks my heart. They are like my family. Like
really, they want to fly me back from America to come and stay with them and
see their baby. I love them with all my heart and it kills me but I hope and
pray that some day they will join the church. That lesson was one of the most
powerful lessons that I have ever been in. You could tell that all four of us
were following the Spirit and we were bold and loving. It was the perfect
example of doing all that you can and then people using their agency to choose
not to accept it. It's so sad, but we keep moving forward.
Then
on Friday we had a lot of free time because we're really trying to stop seeing
so-so investigators and just spend our time with the elect or go out finding.
We
really wanted to find a new investigator so we mapped out some potentials and
we decided to walk and talk to EVERYONE and knock on a lot of door in between
each potential. We decided to not come home for lunch until we had found a new
investigator. We were supposed to be coming home at one... we found our new
investigator at 3:30 and we were still a half hour walk away from home. God definitely
let our faith grow. We found her when I was sure that we were just going to have
to give up. I was honestly contemplating just going home because I had blisters
on both of my feet and we were both getting a bit dehydrated, but we prayed
really hard to be able to find one and we did! It was amazing. We had to walk
for 4 hours to find her but it was worth it! We were soo sore for the rest of
the week. The next day we could barely even move haha. It was hilarious. We
looked like little old ladies. It was great.
Satan
really tried to get us after that as well. We got a call from two of our sets
of sisters saying that they had already found 11 for one companionship and 7
for the other companionship. I know that Satan was trying to make us feel like
all the hard work and effort that we put into finding that one investigator was
useless and that we should be better than that. I felt it for a moment, and
then I remembered that I'm not doing that anymore. I sure want to find 11
investigators, but it's a want not a need so it's ok that it didn't happen; especially
because success isn't measured by numbers. As it says in PMG, "your
success as a missionary is measured primarily by your commitment." or as
President Lindsay would say, your efforts. We definitely put in the
efforts and so we can be satisfied with our work. This new way of thinking is
so invigorating. I feel motivated to try harder instead of feeling like I
should give up or work myself to death. I love it!
And
then God was very good to us because He gave us a beautiful Sunday full of
lovely people who we love and they love us. Sometimes on a mission you just
need to feel people's love because often times you don't get that day to day,
but I have been in this ward for a while now and so they really feel
comfortable to me. I love being around them. They make Sunday's delightful.
Especially Aeronny (the one who's been posting fb pics) She takes such good
care of us AND she brought a non-member to church yesterday. She's gold. :) And
so is her whole family. They make us feel loved and welcome. It's an amazing
feeling. These are people I will never forget. They've already even showed me
the room I will sleep in when I come back to visit ha. I love it:) There is so
much love on a mission it's the best.
I also
LOVE Sister F. We have such a good time together and we work hard. It's the
perfect combo! She's so good at being herself all the time. Sometimes I fall
into the bad habit of awkward missionary robot but she is helping me remember
to really just be myself because God called ME to Perth, not just another
missionary. I also noticed that, as I am more of myself, people are more
willing to listen because we're real people instead of just weirdoes knocking
on their door.
Most
of all I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He loves us. I know that we will
all stand before Him to be judged at the last day and that is why I need to be
spreading this good news because His arm of mercy is extended to us always. All
we have to do is accept it. I am so thankful to be able to teach people how to
accept that help and show them a more beautiful and fulfilling way to live. I
love that I am on that path too. We're all on the path together, just at
different stages and the beauty is not in how far we are in comparison to
others, but in the personal progression that can occur everyday if we let it.
Thank
you all for your love and support. I know I say this every time, but it never
stops being true, I love you and can feel your support. Thank you all for
the many sacrifices that you have made and continue to make in my behalf. I'm
so excited to have Elder Tanner our serving too! Woot woot! I can feel the
power that comes from serving with those you love! He's going to be great. :)
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