I hope that all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day. I know I did, talking with my family was so fun. I love them so much and receive so much love and strength from them.
Elder Platter and I experienced a miracle this past week as we focused our attention on the blessings of baptism and the Savior's role in our redemption. Recently, I have felt feelings of discouragement. Up to this point on my mission I have worked hard, learned a lot, and grown tremendously but I felt like I hadn't done much to help others. Nothing I had done seemed to have that great of significance. There were many ways that I received confirmaton about Heavenly Father's specific plan for me and this is one of them .We met this woman on the street who had just been crying. Her family has been expierencing a difficult trial for the past three months. It has been difficult. She told us that this was the third time she left the house crying and searching for an answer from God. She then said it was the third time that she had people approach her discussing Christ. The first time it was a Catholic group, then protestant, and now us. She knew that this was an answer from God. He taught her the cleansing, burden-lifting power of the Atonement and that through baptism we can access such blessings. She agreed to read from the Book of Mormon for answers. She didn't give us her number or set up a meeting but I know that we had been placed in her path. I know that Heavenly Father does have a work here for me to do more than just my own personal development. I am excited to serve and be an instrament in the Lord's hands.
Along with this frustration I have had an increase in impatience with the people I meet. So many are, in a word: rude. We were talking recently about how, as a missionary, you just don't have pride. You have to get over yourself and move on. At the beginning of my mission I remember looking at the more senior missionaries and wondering why they were so quick to get annoyed with people. Now I understand but I also understand that I need to be more patient and full of charity. Like last week I need to stop worrying about myself because those people that are rude are not my problem. There are people that I was sent here to help but that doesn't mean everybody. While reading in the scriptures I noticed how often the hearts of the people were softened. When you think about it we are disrupting others' conversation/ peace, sharing a message and then asking them to spend more time to meet with us as well as give us there personal phone number to be in contact. When you look at it like this, it's no wonder people reject us so often. However, here is the other side. When we can bring the influence and power of the Spirit then others' hearts will be softened. They will feel something as we talk and have their hearts softened (if they allow) to open up to us. It's hard when many don't but some always do feel that influence and are led to let us into their hearts and lives. Those are they for whom I was sent to find here in Poland.
Many of our invesitgators lack personal motivation right now. Our goal this week is to show them why they want the things we speak of and to emphasoze that only by their own actions and experiences can they know of the truthfulness of our message by the peace, clarity, and joy it brings.
Enrique is a really cool man from Spain that we are working with. He has committed to make some difficult changes in his life to get baptized on the 28th of June. He could use prayers to receive the knowledge of God's plan for him and then have the strength to follow through, trusting and relying on Christ.
I love you all. I love the women in my life, of which there are many. I am grateful for their strength and examples. I am grateful for my mother who loves me and gives endlessly.
Starszy Kimball
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