What a week! I've learned here on mission about paciencia. Without patience, were doneSKI!!! haha but really here. We had so many miracles given to us this week that we had been waiting for, working for, trying for our entire transfer! Heavenly Father always blesses us with what we need. Always. He may take a few weeks, maybe years, but without a doubt in my mind, I know that He will provide for our needs.
One of the needs I was having was a trial of my faith I guess. I felt like we had been working our tails off and had been seeing results but only during the week. That we would help others progress and gain a testimony, but wouldn't show that testimony through coming to church and learning more about the love our Heavenly Father has in store for them! It always made me so sad to not see people progress. Well, this Sunday Heavenly Father blessed us. We had 13 people set up to come to church for Sunday. That was amazing. 13 people that wanted to advance their testimonies in Heavenly Fathers gospel and receive his word from others. And the amazing thing is, we had 2 come! What a miracle that was. I know most of you are confused reading that. Isn't that unfortunate that ONLY 2 came? That's like 1/6.... C'mon Elder!
But here's the thing. I love the quote that Michael Jordan says. He talks about how no one ever counted the shots he missed, just the ones he made made him the greatest player of all time. He talks about being probably 1/1000 out of all the shots he took, but no one looked at the other 999 shots he missed. I look at it as us having 2 more people getting ready for baptism. 2 more that are ready to keep growing their love for the savior. Jeffrey R Holland asked a bunch of missionaries, "What do we want our investigators to do?" and everyone shouted loudly, "BE BAPTIZED!" with roars of excitement in the background (chest bumps and high fives given by the Elders I can imagine ;D) and he looked at them and said, "Well... Yes. We want everyone to be baptized. There's no one in this church that wants more baptisms than I do. But what else?". Now the missionaries were a little confused. So they shouted out the other commitments, Read the book of mormon, one said, go to church, another says, pray, a few hollar BE BAPTIZED a group screams. "These are all true, but what needs to come first", he asks. Now everyone is nervous so they start yelling out other commitments. Live the law of chastity! Obey the commandments! Pay tithing! BE BAPTIZED!!!! (you think they'd get the point by now) Elder Holland chuckles at the responses and says, "You are all correct. But wrong at the same time. Remember your purpose? Invite all to come unto Christ through FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ and in his ATONEMENT." he says. They make those commitments so that they can recieve that faith. What a wonderful moment it was to hear that. It doesn't matter how many you baptize, but how many you invite to come unto Christ. I felt and KNOW that these 2 men that came to church drew closer to Christ. Omero and Francisco. One with family problems was promised that his family problems would be resolved. He felt the spirit and is going to prepare to be baptized July 30th. After which, we know his family problems will be resolved as he baptizes his wife. The other, already seemed to be a member by the members of the ward. He was promised that if he continues to grow and learn, he will find that peace and truth that he has been searching for for more than 60 years. He will be preparing to be baptized on the 30th of July as well.
One of the needs I was having was a trial of my faith I guess. I felt like we had been working our tails off and had been seeing results but only during the week. That we would help others progress and gain a testimony, but wouldn't show that testimony through coming to church and learning more about the love our Heavenly Father has in store for them! It always made me so sad to not see people progress. Well, this Sunday Heavenly Father blessed us. We had 13 people set up to come to church for Sunday. That was amazing. 13 people that wanted to advance their testimonies in Heavenly Fathers gospel and receive his word from others. And the amazing thing is, we had 2 come! What a miracle that was. I know most of you are confused reading that. Isn't that unfortunate that ONLY 2 came? That's like 1/6.... C'mon Elder!
But here's the thing. I love the quote that Michael Jordan says. He talks about how no one ever counted the shots he missed, just the ones he made made him the greatest player of all time. He talks about being probably 1/1000 out of all the shots he took, but no one looked at the other 999 shots he missed. I look at it as us having 2 more people getting ready for baptism. 2 more that are ready to keep growing their love for the savior. Jeffrey R Holland asked a bunch of missionaries, "What do we want our investigators to do?" and everyone shouted loudly, "BE BAPTIZED!" with roars of excitement in the background (chest bumps and high fives given by the Elders I can imagine ;D) and he looked at them and said, "Well... Yes. We want everyone to be baptized. There's no one in this church that wants more baptisms than I do. But what else?". Now the missionaries were a little confused. So they shouted out the other commitments, Read the book of mormon, one said, go to church, another says, pray, a few hollar BE BAPTIZED a group screams. "These are all true, but what needs to come first", he asks. Now everyone is nervous so they start yelling out other commitments. Live the law of chastity! Obey the commandments! Pay tithing! BE BAPTIZED!!!! (you think they'd get the point by now) Elder Holland chuckles at the responses and says, "You are all correct. But wrong at the same time. Remember your purpose? Invite all to come unto Christ through FAITH in the Lord Jesus Christ and in his ATONEMENT." he says. They make those commitments so that they can recieve that faith. What a wonderful moment it was to hear that. It doesn't matter how many you baptize, but how many you invite to come unto Christ. I felt and KNOW that these 2 men that came to church drew closer to Christ. Omero and Francisco. One with family problems was promised that his family problems would be resolved. He felt the spirit and is going to prepare to be baptized July 30th. After which, we know his family problems will be resolved as he baptizes his wife. The other, already seemed to be a member by the members of the ward. He was promised that if he continues to grow and learn, he will find that peace and truth that he has been searching for for more than 60 years. He will be preparing to be baptized on the 30th of July as well.
In the middle of the week, on a great exchange with Elder Sieng, a man ran into us that didn't realize I spoke Spanish. He started speaking Spanish and then said, Oh, sorry, speak Spanish. I said, "esta bien hermano porque hablo espanol tambien!" we got talking and he turned out to be what we call a dry Mormon. A man that claims to be a member without being baptized (dry=no water aka not baptized). It was great!
Second miracle. Elder call and I were on another exchange and we added 4 new investigators. We had a great member lesson in the church with Omero and his family. They are great people and soon will change! I know it.
This work is real. It's here. No one can stop the work from progressing. Nothing can stop the work from progressing. Miracles happen. Faith is the key and baptism is the door. You can't open the locked door without first molding that key of faith. I hope no one forgets that. You can't break down the doors of baptism, but can only slowly open it! I love missionary work! I feel like there's not enough time to do it! Each day just flies by! AHHH slow down Bessy (aka I just named the days Bessy... It's fine)....
Love you SOOOO hecka (California lingo for very or super) much!!!
Love,
Elder Walker
