Well I'm starting to learn an eternal truth. It is
often in our most difficult and darkest moments that the Lord's richest
blessings are bestowed upon us. It is rather easy to give up and get
discouraged when the going gets rough and you think that you won't make
it even one more minute, but it is just in that moment when the Lord is
ready to pick you up higher than you were before!
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| We were doing a service project helping some members to take the tiles off their roof, when we ran into Moses! |
We
didn't have a "perfect week" (1year and 4 months in the mission field
and still haven't had one!) this week, but I am absolutely certain that
the Lord had this week well planned out...Missionary work (and life in
general) Is not just about what you can cross off your "to do list" at
the end of the day, but rather about the lessons learned and perspective
gained that you write in your journal at night. Above that, at night we
get to kneel down and thank the Lord for all that we were able to
accomplish with his help during the day, and ask him for all the
necessary trials and experiences (and the strength to overcome them) for
the next day! It's not always easy, but it's always worth it. Period.
I
was privileged to see a very special baptism take place this week.
Antonio's progress to baptism wasn't very easy. The day that we made
first contact with him, we thought he was a beggar....he was walking on
the street with just shorts and flip flops covered in what I thought was
mud, but was actually cement as he works constructing houses. It turned
out that he's good buddies with a member of our ward, and accepted out
invite to teach him. With time, he revealed to us that his friend had
invited to him to church many times and always tried talking with him
about the Gospel, but that he never felt the desire to accept. For
whatever reason, it was different this time around. We had to help him
quite a lot, mainly encouraging and motivating him, but he really
overcame mountains....When we met him, he smoked, drank alcohol and
coffee. We gave him a priesthood blessing in the beginning. Without a
doubt, the power of the Lord was made manifest in his life as we
gradually saw him lose the desire to use these substances that had once
held him captive. He showed up to church by himself, even when he was
exhausted from working. His wife didn't show an ounce of support for
him. She's a firm Catholic, and was not happy with his decision. I will
never forget teaching him the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in his
humble home. The words of the Book of Mormon brought such a powerful
spirit, that we practically didn't even need to teach him....the Spirit
did everything for us. I am so very grateful for this great blessing,
for seeing such a great man find and embrace the truth, and for knowing
that the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ will have power to redeem and
justify this man before the Lord on judgement day. Yes...a mission is
all worth it
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| Antonio and I! What a miracle his baptism was! |
Until next time,
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