I had
another great week here in Western Australia! We had exchanges this week and I
was able to go to Murdoch university with Sister L (from China! how cool is
that?!). It was AWESOME! Working at a university is incredible. Although when I
first walked in the library it made me kind of miss studying at BYU. Didn't
think that's what I would miss. It was just weird because it smelled JUST like
the BYU library, but I got over it real fast. The students are so receptive and
we were able to teach some incredible lessons. Sister L is on her last transfer
and she's an excellent teacher. I was able to learn a lot from her. I think I
benefit more from these exchanges than the sisters do! I love being able to
learn different ideas from so many different sisters! It's amazing. We were
also all able to contact people at an open day there. We set up a booth and we
would talk with everyone who passed by and invite them to sign up for
missionaries or a bible study class or FHE. SO many people were interested and
it's the best way to get over any fears of contacting! Ah! I loved it!
The
next day we were able to do a companionship study with another set of sisters
who have been struggling. One of them has really wanted to go home. She
doesn't realize how great she really is. I was able to pull her aside and chat
with her a bit. I talked to her about Dr. Taylor that I have been talking to
and at first she had the same reaction that I did. She thought it was weird and
embarrassing, but she and I have a really good relationship and I think she
realized that if I could do it she could do it. I was able to tell her that she
wasn't alone in thinking a mission is hard. She was one of the people that was
told that missions are just amazing and they're like skipping in the sunshine.
So it's been a real shock for her; especially because she's only been a member
for about 3 years. She doesn't see how good she really is, but I think I was
able to see more of the goodness that she has. I also felt strongly how much
God loves her. I know that part of the reason that I have experienced the
things I have was so that I could help her see that it's ok to need to talk to
someone. Oh goodness I love her!
Speaking
of Dr. Taylor I chatted with him again this week and we're actually going to be
chatting less and less because I have been feeling GREAT! Not because
everything has gone perfectly, but because I'm really learning how to “eat the
carrot and throw away the whip”! I love it! He reminded me of some great things
that I think a lot of people would disagree with, but I think he's spot on. He
talked about how just because an area is struggling it doesn't mean the
missionaries are bad. There are so many more factors that play too big of a
role. It all comes back to just not comparing. Just measure yourself against
yourself and the effort that YOU put in. Progress is what matters. Ah! I love
it. It's hard to actually change my way of thinking to this, but it's happening
slowly and I can already feel incredible effects!
Another
cool experience of this week was on Saturday. We had all of our appointments
fall through in the morning and people are not very fond of us knocking on
their doors at 10am on a Saturday, but we really needed new investigators so we
decided to tract. We prayed for a street and got out of the car to walk there
and we saw a former investigator that we've been trying to catch up with since
I came here. I only talked to her because I am really trying to talk with
everyone, but I didn't think much would come of it. Oh me of little faith. She
told us that she had kicked all of the bad people out of her house and that she
had been praying and that she was ready to learn from us now! We have been
working so hard and we have honestly had very little number success, which is
ok, but I started crying when she told us that. Not like full on crying, but
just wet eyes and I could feel so strongly that God loved her AND us! It was
amazing!
I was
also able to sing at a baptism on Saturday. That was an amazing experience.
Singing is by far my favorite way to share the gospel because God really takes
over and I can feel Him making my voice more than it is on my own. I can't even
describe it. Music touches people's hearts in a way that nothing else can. I
think I love it the most because I know it's not me. I know that without God,
my voice would be nothing, but with my voice God touches people. He is the
reason that the Spirit was there. I love
that I get to literally be an instrument in God's hands.
And
despite all of these incredible things that happened this week Satan tried his
hardest to get me down. He tried to get me to compare and look down on myself.
The punk. I wanted to give in, but I remembered the things that I have learned.
I wasn’t going to let Satan poison the good that was happening. I'm
glad he tried though because it gave me an opportunity to put into practice the
things that I learned.
I
learned today in my Book of Mormon reading that even Moroni compared
himself sometimes! He asks God why he can't be mighty in writing like the
brother of Jared, not because he wants people to think of him as awesome, but
because he wants to help more people come unto Christ! He is also a little
worried that the people may laugh at him. Turns out Moroni is human and I can
totally relate to him. I just want to be better so I can help more people,
but I loved the Lord's response to Moroni expressing his insecurities. He says,
"Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace
is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness."
It
doesn't matter if we're not as good as someone else because the meek or elect
will listen and His grace is sufficient so that they won't be able to take
advantage of my weakness. Then the Lord goes on to say that as we come closer
to Him He will show us our weakness so that we can stay humble and so that we
can improve. That's what it's all about! Improvement and progression come as a
result of falling short. God is just keeping me humble and helping me to
progress. It's a beautiful process. I am so thankful for the Savior’s grace. I
couldn’t do it without Him. I am grateful that I'm not the perfect
missionary because it's through the times that I fall short that I learn the
most and I truly rely on the Savior and my relationship with Him is
strengthened.
My
testimony has been richly blessed through the experiences that I have had
with others this week. As I mentioned before I have been able to see people for
who they are and their efforts more this week. I have felt God's love so much
more fully because of this. I can feel more of the intense and unconditional
love that He has for all of His children. It is amazing to me. I felt that
during my Book of Mormon reading today too. God told Ether to go and try again
with Coriantumr because God loves him. Ether went and Coriantumer still
rejected God's servant. As a missionary I pray to be sent to the elect and that
is a good thing. Sometimes I get frustrated that I end up being led to a lot of
people that aren't interested or who are but don't get baptized. I realized
today that God loves His children so much that He may lead me to some so they
can have the chance to have a better life. They may use their agency to not
accept that, but God will still lead me to them because He loves all His
children perfectly. I know that this means that He loves me perfectly and He
doesn't get impatient with my imperfections, but encourages me to continue to
press forward and use my agency to become more like my Savior.
I love
you all and hope you MAKE it a great week!
ps I
have been having trouble sleeping and last night I was awake for about two
hours so I decided to read the Ensign with a torch while I laid in bed. It was
a blessing in disguise because a lot of the things I read were answers
that I have been seeking! You should all read this ensign! It's AMAZING, especially
the one on teaching and the one by Elder Oakes about revelation. SO good. :)
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