I
guess I should have explained more of a backdrop of what the norm is in
this mission (or at least my norm because I don't know what others are
doing). Usually a baptism a week, 3-5 people with dates, 5-8 people at
church, 10-15 investigator lessons, 25-30 other lessons, and 5-8 new
investigators. I think that is why last week was so hard, because it's
like everything came to a stop and refused to start moving again.
You know how we are supposed
to apply scriptures stories in our life? These past two weeks have been
an application of Nephi's experience in retrieving the plates. First try--no go. Second try--actually ending up worse then the last time.
Third try--totally succeeding in maybe an unexpected way and actually
ending up with more than you planned on. That's my goal for this the
third week. Onward and upward! :) Though don't worry, not planning on
doing anything like what Nephi did to Laban....unless it's Satan of
course. :)
So...the miracles of this week...........hm....
Let's
start with yesterday. A member took us to visit another member who was
sick and is struggling spiritually too. It's hard to visit people like
that. They are tired and just ready to give up. She and her husband work
from home and it's been really tiring. Strained relationship in
marriage, at work, and with people at church. We tried to give her
encouragement but she just seems so tired. Obviously, we aren't giving
up on her. We are going to try to go over and serve her a couple times a
week for the next few week. Talk to her more at church. Things will
improve. BUT. that obviously wasn't the miracle...not yet anyway. So we
left her house but the member stayed. We decided to walk home instead of
getting a taxi. We were just walking in a busy neighborhood. Made me
think of how missionaries used to work in the past. We weren't knocking
on doors or anything but if we saw anyone, we would call out to them and
start talking to them. Last house on the street--of course it has to
be the last house--we met someone who is at least interested enough to learn what we are talking about (most people just wave us away). She is
this really cute little old grandma who just happened to come back from
her own church. One of her daughters was with her. This daughter has had
a problem since birth with her ears - she can't really hear and her
speaking is just grunts. She is probably around 30 now(?) They opened
the gate to talk to us (they live in a huge house) and when the daughter
saw my picture of Christ, she grabbed my hand and rushed me into the
house. Luckily the grandma and my companion followed us. The daughter--Mary--started showing me all these pictures in their house of Christ.
She was sooo excited. The grandma asked if we--as teachers at a church--could pray for the daughter--in particular lay our hands upon her hand
and give her a blessing. We started explaining the Priesthood and how
we can have two people who have the Priesthood authority of God give the
daughter a blessing. Right after we finish emailing we and the Elders
are going back to the lady's house. She really wants to feed us lunch
too.
My thoughts about this are as
follows: One, we read in the Bible that sometimes people have issues
(like the blind man) just so the power of God can be manifest. But, we
also read about the early apostles who couldn't preform miracles like
Christ (at first). Christ said that miracles of this kind (I can't
remember which kind--casting out devils?) only can happen after lots of
prayer and fasting. Also, sometimes people's
physical problems are just their trials in this life. After we explained
the power of the Priesthood we also explained the Plan of Salvation--mainly the resurrection. Mary got really really really excited that she
would be able to hear either after the blessing or at least when she
gets resurrected. They seem like an amazing family. Wish us luck...aka
pray for us please :)
Other stuff.
Dam
got baptized!!! On Thursday...haha. When we were calling and inviting
all the members, they were all completely confused that someone was
getting baptized on a Thursday.
In
Thailand, there have currently been 1200+ baptisms this year. When
President Senior first got here, he said that he had a vision of 1000
baptisms in the year. Everyone thought he was crazy, especially
considering Thailand's track of only 30-50 (maybe 70 in a good month)
baptisms per month. So yeah, now we are aiming for 2000. And an average
of 4000 people attending church weekly by the end of September
(retention and reactivation).
It reminds me of the
scriptures when people called Lehi a visionary man. Despite the
impossibility of it, Jerusalem was still destroyed. People may think God
crazy and they may think His servants insane but God knows the
beginning from the end and all that stuff. It's best for us if we just
trust Him.
Um...yeah. Don't really know what else to talk about. LOVE YOU ALL SOO MUCH!!!
Also,
I was just reminded by another missionary that I have to do some
college stuff--like get an ecclesiastical endorsement. ugh. ew. ugh.
*shudder* college ... wow it's
been so long since I've thought about this stuff. Ew. ew. ew. ew. ew. I
love you guys but I'm not ready. sorry. *mental freak out* yeah...
breathe. breathing is good.
So yeah. Love you all! Have a great week! We will too! =D
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