President Day,
I just want to start off by saying how grateful I am to be in this area. We are working very hard to bring about miracles here in Xin Ban. My companion is an incredible missionary who has a strong desire to reap the blessings that obedience and working hard can bring. I have learned so much about missionary work in the past little while and I know that I will continue to learn more. We had nearly 10 lessons on the street this last week or something close to that. What a miracle! I am always amazed when people are willing to let us teach them how to pray on the streets and willing to hear a short message from these "2 strange foreigners" as most people like to call us. :) I've recently decided that I just really don't want to have any regrets from this point on in my mission. I can rest in 14 months from now. Elder Gerrard and I mesh really well I believe. We have a ridiculous amount of fun even if we're contacting for 4 or 5 hours a day. We've met so many cool people. We're excited to start helping some people prepare to receive baptism on Christmas!
I feel like I have so much to write that I don't know where to start!
Our investigators are doing pretty well. We had one investigator that kind of digressed a little bit. He just really doesn't want to lose his friends at his other church and told us that maybe we were wasting to much time meeting with him. We are still trying to decide how to proceed with him. I believe that he can make it but we'll see.
We had a great lesson with one of our eternal investigators. He has a date for Christmas that we are really hoping he will be able to achieve. His problem that he has is that whenever he hears people talk about their conversion stories they always share that they came from this dark place of depression or sadness and had a huge change. He doesn't feel this way. He is happy with the choices he has made while still recognizing he has made some mistakes. We are studying and praying this week about how to help him develop the faith to trust God without having an experience like these other converts.
We have some great potentials that we are excited to contact this week. We are going to try hard to contact some referrals and help them become investigators. We are also going to work hard on visiting LA's. We aren't incredibly familiar with this area yet but we are going to do all we can to become more familiar and do the work in the most effective way.
I feel like my studies are becoming so effective. I feel like I am beginning to understand the gospel of Jesus Christ better. Last night I was really pondering what I could do to become more effective in contacting and I feel like I had a prompting that I need to 1 help people understand who Jesus Christ is. 2. what is there relationship to him. 3. Share scriptures with the people.
I would like to share a special insight I had last night while pondering in a quiet moment. I had a memory flash before my eyes. I had just arrived home from scout camp probably 6 years ago or so and we were unloading our stuff at a friends house. The mom comes out and tells me that my sister is in the hospital. I remember the feeling I had so vividly. My mind completely switched and I was completely taken over by fear and overwhelming sorrow. I didn't even think. Daniel and I just took off runnin, in a dead sprint, down the street with tears streaming down our eyes. The thought that my sister was in danger and that I might not see her again completely tore me apart. I couldn't see straight. Oh the joy and relief I felt when I arrived home and learned that she was safe. Hurt but safe.
After I had this memory I then had an epiphany. We should use this same passion and energy to care about those people who are lost or suffering spiritually. They might not be in mortal danger but they are most definitely suffering spiritually! Our sorrow for these people should be just as intense as mine was for my wonderful little sister. I hope that I can connect with this idea and really apply it in my missionary efforts. We shouldn't be frustrated, angry, negative, or annoyed when people choose to not accept the gospel. We should be sorry. As Alma teaches us about this in the Book of Mormon as does Mormon or Moroni I can't remember. Be patient, love with your whole heart and work as hard as you can to bring others unto Christ.
Overall the work is progressing, I am progressing and I feel as if I am being led by the Spirit more and more. I sure am trying to become more worthy of its companionship. I'm so excited that my little brother has accepted the call to serve in Korea and I ask that all of you pray for him and his success!
Charity is the pure love of Christ. Develop it. :)
Love,
Elder Meeks
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