Sowing and Reaping

I just learned of a lady that Elder U. and Elder B2. are teaching who is just waiting for a baptismal interview before she can be baptized.  So finally they are getting to see some of the fruits of their labor.  These guys work hard, I am glad to see that they are seeing the joy of another child of God finding the right path.

This past P-day Elder U and Elder B2 joined us for a "scone party"  we played a game and it was a great time to visit with our missionaries (a very rare treat for us), and I love to see them be a little less serious.  It has always been a tradition in our home to have the missionaries leave us with a message after dinner.  This time, instead of reading a scripture or a spiritual thought, they sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives".  Wow! could I feel the spirit of that hymn, their voices blended beautifully.  They tell me that there are a few families that they are working with who are not comfortable with a formal missionary lesson, so instead these elders have a prayer and sing a hymn for these families.  These families need to be careful, because the spirit of the message of the hymns and their testimony is very strong.  If the families don't watch out they will be converted just through the music.  If nothing else the spirit (through music) the elders leave in the homes of these people will plant the beginnings of a testimony, and eventually there will be success for future missionaries.  Elder U and Elder B2 are sowing so hard they will need thimbles (okay, lame joke - get it sew, sow, thimble - lame I know).  But truly they are doing good and we are blessed for their work.

We got a very special treat this week.  The mom of one of the missionaries stopped by to meet the family who was blessed enough to have her son stay in their home.  We had a wonderful visit and it was great to learn more about the family life of such a great servant of the Lord.  If any mission leaders are reading this, don't worry, she didn't see her son, that is just too much of a distraction from the work and we don't want that.

So now I have a shout out to someone very special.  "Hey, Matthew!"  Thank you for sharing your very special brother with the people of this mission.  Your sacrifice is great and there are two years that you will be separated from your brother that you will never get back.  Please remember that missionaries leave their families for two years in order to bring families together for eternity.  Your brother is right where he needs to be and we love him very much, and I promise we will take good care of him.  Thank you for your sacrifice.  Oh, and be nice to the missionaries out there.

Here's something that just came to me last night as I was reading in the Book of Mormon.  1 Nephi 3:8 after Nephi commits to go and do what he is commanded to do it says

"And it came to pass that when my father had heard these words he was exceedingly glad, for he knew that I had been blessed of the Lord."

To me this compares to our great missionaries out serving the Lord.  There are at two Fathers who are very proud (pleased, or glad if you prefer) of their sons and daughters who sacrifice everything for one and a half to two years, totally devoted to the service of God and His children.  The Lord blesses these fine missionaries, and the people the missionaries serve are blessed too!

Thank you for reading my blog. 
God loves you. 
Stay awesome! 
The Lord loves missionaries, and missionaries love referrals. 
Please share that love by sharing the message of the Gospel with your friends and invite them to meet with the missionaries in your area.