Hola amigos,
This week I had a touching experience with Hermana C. As you have probably realized, we have been
working hard and seeing very few results of our efforts in the past weeks. But, after the trial of your faith comes the
miracle... This Sunday we passed for about ten investigators and no one wanted
to come to church, so we went by ourselves to go take the sacrament. When we got there, there was a 15 year old
kid sitting there in the congregation in his blue jeans and tee shirt. When we talked to him he explained to us that
his name is D and that a few years ago he listened to the elders, but later had
to move away. He still had his Book of
Mormon and told us that he was faithfully reading and wanted to be baptized now
that he lives here again.
... WHAT?
So obviously we went looking for him that same day. When we got to his house, he wasn't there. But, his older brother M received us. There wasn't a woman in the house so we couldn't
go in. Instead we huddled together in
the cold rainy street and began teaching him the first lesson. When we got to the first vision his eyes
welled up with tears and he looked at us and said
"I felt something really good in my chest when I heard
that.... I really want to know if what you are telling me is true. But I think
God is trying to tell me that it is."
We testified of the truthfulness of the restoration and then
asked him to say the prayer to finish the lesson. He was a little nervous and explained that he
had never prayed before but agreed to give it a try. This was his prayer..
"God, thank you for sending me these sisters to teach
me about the truth. I really want to know
if what they told me is true, but I felt in my heart that it is. Please let me know if Joseph Smith was a
prophet. I want to be baptized on the
17th, please help me prepare, I am ready to change my life."
The Spirit was so strong, and I just felt incredibly
grateful that I have this opportunity to be here and bring the truth to the
people of Guatemala. It is moments like
this that I am reminded of all of the anxiety and fear that I felt before
coming out on the mission. Honestly,
there was a while there when I didn't want to come, but I am grateful that I
did. This is the best decision that I
ever made in my life.
I know some people started reading my letters from my blog
post "You Don't Have to Freak Out" and now that I have a year in the
field I testify that really, there is no need to fear. When we live righteously and follow the guidance
we receive from God, we really do see miracles.
This decade of decision thing truly is terrifying, but I know that as we
seek the guidance of our Heavenly Father, he will direct our paths. There is a scripture in Jacob that I
absolutely love reading with investigators who are beginning to doubt the
answers they have received to their prayers.
It reads...
"The Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore it speaketh of things as they
really are, and of things as they really will be, wherefore these things are
manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls."
The Spirit does not and cannot lie. Thus, when we live righteously, we qualify
ourselves to receive personal revelation from our Heavenly Father through the
Holy Spirit. We won't receive this guidance
all at once, but it will come. I think
that a lot of times as humans we want God to hand us a detailed instruction
book or a blueprint of everything we need to do, but God doesn't work like
that. He requires our faith. He will grant us the guidance we need line
upon line and precept upon precept.
Personally, I love the example of the Brother of Jared. When The Lord was going to destroy his
people, he cried unto the Lord to save them.
For his diligence and his faith, The Lord granted to him according to
his desires. In the first chapter of
Ether we read the instructions that God gave to him
"Go at the head of them down into the valley which is
northward. And there I will meet
thee."
The Lord didn't promise to walk with the brother of Jared
down into the valley, but He did promise to meet him there. Likewise, God always requires action on our
part before we can see His direction.
Frequently we must make those first few steps into the darkness before
we can be further illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
God has found me in my valley. He has met me there. Those who have been reading my letters know
that my mission has not been easy. I
have battled parasites, dengue, falling in holes, trips to the hospital and
many disappointments. But, the mission
is an experience of joy. The mission
truly is those best 18 months. It isn't
the best because it is the easiest or that it is always the most fun. But it is the best because it draws us closer
to The Lord. It teaches us who He is and
helps us become like Him. The mission doesn't
change us, the atonement does. But being
here has helped shape me into the person who God wants me to be.
But I first had to go
into the valley. The Lord requires
ACTION. But when we act righteously, He
will always guide us. So really, there
is no need to fear.
I am glad I came.
I testify that God will meet us in the valley when we move
forward with faith.
Just like he is going to meet Hermana C.... Who received the
call to train this next change....
I am going to be a grandma, people!
But I will be staying here in SE. Pray for M and D!
Love you guys!
Until next week!
Hermana Wise
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