Buenos Dias!
Things are starting to get more normal around here! We have met all of the other sister's investigators and they are now feeling like our investigators. We are working with some awesome people and there are, of course, many challenges, but that doesn't stop the work from going on!
Austin is a smallish town, but then there are little tiny towns/farming communities around it. We had dinner with a member who lived out in one of these places and we found out that there was a less active man who lived out there as well. We stopped by before dinner, but he wasn't there. We decided to try again after dinner too in case he had gotten home. We found him outside and he was just about to leave again so it was perfect timing! His name is Michael and he's very nice. He invited us to come back again and teach him and his wife and son who aren't members! We're really excited to see what happens!
We are working with an investigator named G from Benin. He comes to church just about every single Sunday and has been for about a year. His teaching record doesn't make much sense so we just decided to teach him from the beginning and see where he is at with everything. We brought a member on Saturday who had taught him in the past and she said that it was a lot different this time. We aren't sure why or what changed, but we are really excited to be teaching him. He understands English pretty well, although it is difficult to teach him certain concepts. He has really good questions though and is doing well!
My little heart did kind of break in half the other day when we called Ma and he told us that he couldn't meet any more. He told his family that he was pursuing the LDS faith and a war of screaming and crying began. They didn't necessarily have a problem with the religion, just that it was something different. He told us he still is interested but doesn't want to cause problems in his family. He did agree to meet one more time with us though in a few weeks after things blow over a little so we are hoping and praying he can overcome their opposition! Hermana Maravilla and I were talking afterwards and we felt peace because if it is the right time for him, all will work out. She shared some stories with me about how some crazy things happened to some of her investigators before baptism and it ended up making them stronger, more faithful members once they overcame. Hopefully the same happens with Matthew!
I have been working a lot this week on developing charity. It's funny, this life is full of learning the same lessons over and over because sometimes we just don't get it! I let myself get a little frustrated with some situations and people this week. There were a few people we met that said some of the most ridiculous things about the church and our beliefs without knowing anything. I also was getting sick of hearing every excuse in the book and more from less active members about why they don't go to church. I finally realized that being annoyed with these things was not helping anything, and really just hurting myself. I have been praying for more charity and I've already seen a big difference in just a few days. Sister Clements had an analogy that we have to be like a cork. No matter how hard you throw a cork into a bowl of water, it won't go down; It's resilient. I'm learning all over again to be a cork and its a great thing because I am more happy and more effective!
I know that this is the Lord's work. No matter what we do, it will go on. But we are the ones who are blessed with joy and growth when we diligently serve Him. He does His work through us. He knows we aren't perfect and that is why He let's us serve. Take every opportunity to choose the right and every opportunity to help others to do the same!
I love you!
-Hermana/Soeurs Pierce
No comments:
Post a Comment