This has definitely been one of the
hardest weeks of my mission, especially yesterday. But looking back on
really all that happened it could also be the best. Family, the church
is true. Maybe people just simply disappear and leave you waiting for
three hours at their baptism and they never come. Maybe some people who
were super sure about baptism break a commandment and aren´t ready that
week. Maybe some people tell you right after all that, that they won´t
continue to investigate the church because of YOU and only you and
invite YOU to pray and rethink if what you´re doing here is right. And
maybe you strike out again while the time you have left gets smaller and
smaller. Maybe you go to sleep crying and wake up still crying.
But man do I have a testimony of this church, of
what a 14-year-old boy saw in the sacred grove, and of my being called
to preach repentance by a prophet of God.
A
miracle happened this week that was unlike anything on my mission. We
went to talk to a girl who had been to church a few times and set an
appointment with us even though her interest was so-so and her family is very
against the church. We ended up talking to M, her sister who is
also a mom to her own two kids, all her 7 sisters who live there and to
her own mom with serious mental problems. She began by telling us all
of the things she didn´t agree with about our church and said all of the
usual things that usually just make me want to leave the situation. We
calmly explained the things she had doubts about and bore testimony of
the restoration. Then we just listened. After telling us about how the
Elders had turned her off with their straightforwardness, she told us
something that made our jaws drop. She had thought about what the
Elders had said and wanted another chance to hear our message. She had
prayed that very day for us to come, and we came and answered her
questions. We asked her to pray and she said she already knew it was
true. Unfortunately we haven´t been able to find her at home since then
and she also needs to get married. But wow.
These seeds really matter. We can only know if the
Lord is accepting our work if we ask him. And he will let us know.
This life is a test. A test to see if we´ll obey no matter what, love
no matter what, be grateful no matter what. This week I fasted
personally for miracles and I came to understand a little more the mind
of God, which we will never understand completely. My mission in this
life has nothing to do with numbers, but with sanctifying myself. I
know now that Christ is the only friend we can always count on. If I
had never had to beg the Lord for comfort until it came, I would never
feel true peace in my heart. If I didn´t have to cry, I would never
understand his love for me completely.
It´s a new week and I hope you take advantage of
every minute of life the Lord gives you. Be a little kinder, hope a
little bigger. V, C and L have a few difficulties but we
are still working with them. Yesterday P was almost baptized and
today we´ll found out why she never came. She is the mom of a
less-active member who is really wonderful and has a lot of desire to be
baptized. She has no problems with the commandments, just with
remembering when she has to be at certain important events... like her
baptism.
I´m so glad you are experiencing the miracles and
frustrations of being a missionary. Write 3 miracles in your journal
every day. The church is true. I love you all so much!
Com muito amor,
Sister Moore
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