The Power of Yet and
Divine Coincidences
Wow
so much happened this week. It was a good week :)
First
of all, we had Halloween (which I kept forgetting throughout the day)
And
we mainly just had studies and weekly planning then went to shift.
BUT the exciting thing is that right after we had gotten on shift, who did I
see outside? THE KNUTSONS!!! (Bffs from NC!) they came to see me! Makayla and
Victoria moved to Southern Missouri just over the weekend and it was by divine
coincidence that they came to the Visitor Center when we were on shift! We had
such a great tour together, the spirit was there so strongly and I think each
of us were able to receive answers to our prayers!
️
️ love those people.
Next
thing was Thursday night, we had a Book of Mormon study class going on, and we
invited Mavis (the sweet sweet less active who wants to come back) and she
came!!! Even though she was kind of late, she brought her two cute cute kiddos.
But wow she is just so amazing! She is so honest and is just the definition of
a broken heart and contrite spirit. She shared with us so etching her 8 yr old
son said in the
Car
after her youngest had said "mom I can't read yet." and that was,
"See mom! That's the power of YET. Just because something isn't happening
right now or you aren't where you want to be now, doesn't mean you won't ever
be." That idea has been a source of strength for her as she faces
opposition while trying to come back to church. She has so much faith and knows
that God is there for her. We were able to take her through Gods plan and we
were all just crying. Ahh. Anyways hard to describe but I just love and admire
her so much.
On
Friday we had some cool miracles! There hadn't been too many people coming into
the VC and so we were talking with the senior couples, and somehow elder Hansen
got on the topic of the first vision and he said he had it memorized, so I'm
like, " okay now you can pray and say Heavenly Father I have this
memorized, please bring someone into the VC who I could share it with!"
And I kid you not, a nonmember came in 2 minutes later. We were able
to teach him the respiration and he left with a Book of Mormon!!! Who knew
prayers could be answered that fast?!
That
night, we didn't have any set plans so we were just going to contact a ton of
people. So first we tried a former investigator and he wasn't home so we went
to his neighbor, who was a Lutheran and didn't want to talk religion, but gave
us each a soda. Lol. Then We needed to go by this family because bishop asked
us to, so we tried them, and sadly they weren't home, so we were like well we
can try their neighbors (the elect live near the elect) and we met a woman who
was Buddhist, so not elect at is time.. and then for some reason I had the
feeling (prompting) to go try the house at the very end of the street. And it
ended up being s pretty nice RLDS lady haha. But HERES THE MIRACLE. By the time
we walked all the way back to our car from this house, the family that we
needed to try in the first place had JUST PULLED IN the driveway!!! So we were
able to go and talk with them and really connected with them and now we are
going to start teaching them the lessons again!!!
After
that we lost our phone and they helped us, but that's beside the point.
Saturday
we had the privilege of having interviews with President Love. And I LOVE THAT
GUY. He just knows exactly what to say. And was able to give me a lot of advice
and answer a question I had.
I
want to share something he shared with me.
My
question has to do with this quote first: Elder Anderson said:
“Faith
is a principle of power. But that power
usually comes in a response to faith.”
Some might say that baptisms are not determined
by the missionary because it is a moral choice that
every investigator must make. There is truth in that
statement, but there is also truth in this one: There is
a power that can cause things to happen that need
to happen. There is a spiritual force that can stir a
mortal soul toward the spiritual, motivating deeper
study into the Book of Mormon and more prayer
with real intent. Faith is a power, and it can cause
things to happen that need to happen. It can cause a
soul who is good but dormant to awaken to God."
usually comes in a response to faith.”
Some might say that baptisms are not determined
by the missionary because it is a moral choice that
every investigator must make. There is truth in that
statement, but there is also truth in this one: There is
a power that can cause things to happen that need
to happen. There is a spiritual force that can stir a
mortal soul toward the spiritual, motivating deeper
study into the Book of Mormon and more prayer
with real intent. Faith is a power, and it can cause
things to happen that need to happen. It can cause a
soul who is good but dormant to awaken to God."
So
my question was simply HOW like how do I get the faith enough for it to have
this kind of power? What do I do? And how does this relate to their
agency.
And what President
Love said is, "So with having the power to make things happen in others
lives, you want to know the HOW. And the how is the what. It is faith itself.
You must have faith that that can happen. And really, so often we feel that it
is all up to us, that we must be the ones to get everything done and make it
all happen. It's not OUR power that causes these miraculous changes, it is the
power of Jesus Christ. To have the kind of faith that brings power and that
power causes things to happen - to get that faith, you simply have faith in the
Savior. And His ability to make things happen in our lives or in the lives of
others which are necessary for ours or their growth and change. That's just it,
we just have faith in Him and take ourselves out of the equation. All we can do
is do all we can to be the obedient instrument."
Makes so much sense
right?!? Ahh. Just trust Jesus.
That
night we were picking up at the Visitor Center we were coming for our
correlation meeting before that and the elders were late but as we were walking
up to the VC I was like, wait, I recognize them!! It was a man and woman who I
took through the VC IN AUGUST OF 2016 over a year ago! And we all remembered
each other perfectly!! It was a joyful reunion. I had kept in contact with
Jason and helped him through some hard times for a few months through online
teaching, but had lost contact, and here we were and they were so excited to
see me!! It's just so cool to see how the Lord magnifies our efforts and works
though us.. Because I didn't do anything amazing in their life, but the spirit
did. And the Lord did.
Okay
ok last thoughts are from independence Missoura Stake Conference.
· From the stake president, President
Cato: "God does not get up in the morning and make your life
miserable. That's a myth. If one more person comes to me saying, God is
testing me, I'm going to have a conniption fit!"The world we live in is
your test. What God IS saying is that we'll never be alone, we will always have
a His aid. It is so very important that we don't just preach it, but we
Live it. That doesn't mean we are perfect, but we are going to rise a
little bit higher, love a little more, give a little more. Can we give
what the Lord has asked us to give?"
· From President Love again: "3 Nephi
"Have ye any that... are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither."
He was asking us to bring those to Him. As missionaries we find those who are
afflicted in any manner and we bring them to Him. So that He may heal
them. May we bring the sick and afflicted unto Christ in all that we do.
As we bring others to Him we come to Him ourselves.
Remember
He who loves you infinitely. Bring others to Him and you will come to Him
yourself.
Love you all!!!
(My
address for letters you can send me for my bday this next week ;))
Pictures!
(Mostly justa ton of
people by the Christus and fall colors lol)
But we got the
KNUTSONS!
Mavis and her
kids!
And sissy gudgeon!
#mtccomps
No comments:
Post a Comment