Never
Stop
Family! July 7, 2014
Hey, so I hope that you all had a
super great week, especially with it being Independence Day and everything!
:) I can't believe it has already come and gone, so quick, quick,
quick!! But well, a tad bit slow at the same time. This week kinda
dragged a little bit, especially with the weather. At the beginning of
the week it uber hot and humid.. no good (we did buy a fan though, so yay! I
like fans.) And then it totally got really rainy windy nasty. The
weather... I know I talk about it too much, but pretty much that is the first
thing people talk to us about here so it's kinda become second nature.
Anyways, getting into this past
week, it was super great overall, definitely ups and downs, but I feel like I
learned a lot :) That is the most important thing! So, I feel like
our investigators have been at this crossroads of whether or not to act or just
be acted upon. Arleen is right there. She totally has a testimony,
but is still working on her conversion. We've been pretty bold with her,
and she knows that she needs to make some changes and decisions, but well, it
feels like she is waiting it out as long as she can. It is sad to see her
kind of deciding to settle for what she's got instead of striving for more, but
she'll get there! We've just got to be patient with her. Other
investigators cancelled on us and really aren't showing as many signs of
progression. I love them so much, but it is always such a bummer when
they cancel! But, we'll keep trying to set up appointments with
them. Then, there is Michael, who is doing super well! He really
has a desire to be baptized, but right now tobacco and coffee are his biggest
stumbling blocks. It is going to be hard for him to quit. I know
that he can do it, and he knows too, but it will take time, and he's going to
have to keep re-committing himself over and over again. On top of the
investigators we have, there are less-active members who are slipping,
which has been hard. Especially when they are recent converts. But
everything happens in the Good Shepherd's timing. He will take care of His
sheep!
So, yep, if you haven't noticed I've
been thinking a lot about patience lately. It has kinda been the theme
for the week. There are so many things that I can't control, even though
I'd like to, but I just have to hand it to the Lord and let Him take care of
it. I just need to make sure I'm focusing on the things I can
control! Like, my reactions. On Tuesday, everything fell
through. We had 3 1/2 hours of roads planned for back ups, and it was
extremely hot and humid outside. I'm not gonna lie, I started thinking of
other things we could do, or anything to get out of the heat. In the end
though we went to the road and well, went for it. It ended up being
suuuuppppeeerrr boonie and we walked and walked and there were only 3 houses we
saw and no one was interested. We were really sweaty and thirsty, but off
we went to a connecting road, and boy did we see miracles!! The first
person we talked to became a new investigator! We taught her the
Restoration and she was super open and nice :) Then we went on to
find 5 potential investigators, one of them let us in and gave us a bunch
of water, too :) Really needed!! That 3 1/2 hours taught me that
there is no substitute for diligence. It was really cool, in the middle
of our journey we found a sweet stop sign. Someone had added the word
don't above the word stop. (Totally reminded me of all AF and the stop
sign craze that went down) I just loved it! I know that the Lord
blessed us for our work, even though we had to wait a bit to see it.
Another miracle we saw happened
yesterday. We went to ward council and got some sad news about a recent
convert and learned that a huge portion of our area will probably be given to
another ward, so we'd be left with a not very populated area. I was
feeling down and overwhelmed. But in Sacrament meeting I feel like I got
the perspective I needed. I've got to look at the big picture! I
can't slow down because of what is going on around me. I need to do my
utmost in serving to my fullest capacity. So, after church we went to
where I thought we had planned to do some finding, which actually turned out
not to be where we were planning at all. Whoops! I was not super
motivated to find at that point in time especially since we were in the wrong
area, but well, that is what happened. I just had to tell myself that
motivation follows action and we just parked and headed to the nearest house we
could see. Miracle!! We found a man who was super willing to hear
the message of the Restoration and became a new investigator :) He was
even wearing a Moab, Utah shirt :) His sister lives there and he's
visited her quite a few times. What a sweet blessing! I know
Heavenly Father is aware of me and my struggles as silly as they are, and He
will always come to me when I seek Him, in His time.
Yep, His timing is something I'll
never figure out, but I don't need too. It's all part of the plan.
I loved my New Testament study in Mark this week. In chapter 6 verses
45-51, the Savior teaches his disciples patience among other
things. They were toiling, struggling to stay in their ship during a huge
storm in the middle of the sea. It was hard, and they certainly had
to work to keep from drowning. I don't quite know what I would have done
in their position. All the while, the Lord was watching and not until the
fourth watch of the night did he come unto them, miraculously walking on the
water, to tell them "Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."
Then the wind ceased. What a night for those disciples! I wonder if
they questioned why the Lord didn't come to them sooner. But, I know
that though difficult, it was exactly what they needed. They
didn't stop. They kept pushing on, and they were saved. I know that
that is exactly what I need to do on my mission and throughout the rest of my
life. It is challenging, but the Lord is always there watching, waiting
for me to be ready to let Him come and assist me so I can learn to rely more on
Him. I love the teachings of the Savior, I've learned so much about Him
and from Him as I've studied His life! And I know I've only skimmed the
surface.
I'm so grateful for everything I've
been learning on my mission! I know that the Lord is shaping me into who
He wants me to be. I've just got to keep on going! And when I fall,
pick myself right back up! I know the gospel brings the greatest
happiness, and everything will be worth it in the end. Have a great week
family! I love you soo much!
Hebrews 10:36
Sister Bergeson :)
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