Challenges and Blessings

I'm late posting this week's entry.  I just haven't had much to report on.  I am struggling with what to say, so this will be a rather odd posting.

Friday I learned that Elder U and B2 had 4 lessons to teach and that there was a possibility to maybe commit two people to baptism.  Well three of the four appointments cancelled.  That's kind of a let down, but that will not deter these fine young men in their efforts to share the important message of truth they are offering.  Saturday was a much better day, they even taught an entire family.  A few weeks ago when they came up to visit, the elders asked me if I was able to teach any families while I was a missionary.  That brought back some very fond memories and almost immediately my memory went back to Potosi, Bolivia and the wonderful family that my companion and I were blessed to teach.  It was difficult at first, but they finally listened with the desire to learn and they were baptized.  That is a very fond memory, even in spite of the fact that the baptismal font there was a concrete box that we filled with water that we had to put a rag over the faucet so that it would filter out the little red worms.  It was all worth it just for the memory of that family accepting the gospel.  That family was a great strength to the branch of the church in Potosi.  I certainly hope that they are still active in the church, but they were so strong, that I can't imagine that they would be anything else.

I tell this story because we get challenges all the time, especially as missionaries, but the blessings will come.

Doctrine and Covenants 95:1 "Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I ^alove I also chasten that their sins may be ^bforgiven, for with the ^cchastisement I prepare a way for their ^ddeliverance in all things out of ^etemptation, and I have loved you—"

I'm not saying that there is any sin involved with what the Elder U and Elder B2 are doing. Rather it feels like there is something big in store for these two servants of the Lord.  They are doing everything right.  They study the gospel like hebrew scholars, they search for opportunities to teach in everything they do - even to the point of stopping at a yard sale and finding a new person to teach.  They spend their free time in planning how best to serve the people in this area.  The apartment is spotless, it has never been cleaner!  There is nothing amiss in their situation, yet they are being tried. 

The deliverance will come, and they will be blessed for their sacrifices.  It may be other elders who benefit from their hard work, but that isn't the point, they aren't here for their glory, they are here to serve the Lord and bring souls to Him, what does it matter who does the actual ordinances, it is the people who are brought back to God that matter.  We are all children of our Heavenly Father and if we can help one another get in a better position to return to Him then it is our responsibility to do just that.  I challenge each of you to do as these missionaries are doing and take the challenge to OYM  - Open Your Mouth.  I first heard that challenge from Hartman Rector Jr. of the Seventy when I lived in San Diego and his challenge was to not miss the opportunity to share the gospel with everyone and anyone.  He quoted the scripture that says to "open your mouths and they shall be filled."  That takes a GREAT deal of faith, but if you do it, the Holy Ghost will help you know what to say.  I put that challenge to the test years ago, on an airplane heading to Salt Lake City of all places,  I brought up the topic of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the person I was sitting next to.  As we got off the airplane I offered a Book of Mormon and he accepted it - he even said that he would read it. 

The Gospel is true, it is the most important thing on this earth.  You have IT, you need to share it.  The gospel is something that you can give away and still keep.  Do IT.

Remember, the Lord loves missionaries (even the armchair quarterback type) and missionaries love referrals.  Share the love share a referral.  Help your friends find the most important thing they can find in this life.

Do you have comments for me?  e-mail me eldersinmyhome@gmail.com
Have a wonderful week.