March 21, 2016

Week 5: Moroni 7: 45-48

It's almost April??!??!??!?! wHAT???? Mission life is seriously a giant ball of wibbly wobbly timey wimey...stuff, as the Doctor would say.

Anyway! This week was pretty great. Raul, our only investigator, is sadly still not on date to be baptized, but he did read every single day this past week and told us he hasn't read and prayed this much in his entire life so we're pretty pumped. He's really progressing now, and has even admitted he's getting closer to his answers (duh, Raul!!!!! That's what happens when you actually READ AND PRAY with real intent!!!) Our lesson last night with him was pretty awesome though. We talked about the Plan of Salvation and he had a lot of questions about the Spirit World and Three Degrees of Glory, but you know how sometimes someone asks a question in a way that makes you think they already know the answer and believe in what they're asking? If that makes sense. Anyway That's how it is with Raul. He's literally a dry Mormon. I reeeeally really really really hope I don't get transferred before he finally commits to being baptized...and I really reeally really hope he doesn't go back to the Dominican Republic before being baptized either lol. But what was super cool last night was he asked Brother Clark (his girlfriend's dad) for a priesthood blessing to help him find his answers. Sadly it was pretty late so we didn't get to stay for the blessing, but that just shows how much Faith he has! We've been doing some serious praying for him the past few weeks, so hopefully by this Sunday Raul will have his answers and will be ready to take the plunge--I mean make some sacred covenants and get baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. loool

So that's about all the news I have concerning investigators. We have been busting our behinds trying to get some new ones, but trying to find YSAs in this place is like trying to find a specific needle in a haystack all made up of needles. That was a lame analogy wasn't it. Oh well. We do have some lessons with two new investigators this upcoming week, but one of them has kind of been avoiding us for the past month, so it'll probably be a little awkward. The other one seems really happy to meet with us though! 

As for our Less Actives...oh, boy. It's funny how the most missionary work you do out here is with members of the church. Two of the less active women we are working with have really been put through the ringer in this life, and are really struggling with who they are and their pasts. It's actually quite heartbreaking. Sometimes all we can do as missionaries is listen to them pour out their hearts and sob uncontrollably. Seriously. A lot of what their struggling with though has to do with members, and not feeling like they belong or have friends. THIS IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE CHARITY. We claim we're Christian, but sometimes we're not very Christlike, and the ones that are struggling and desperate for friendship are left to suffer because we don't help them and love them and welcome them into our wards with open arms. That's why "member missionaries" are so important in building up the kingdom of God...us full times bring investigators and recent converts to church, but the members are the ones who make them want to stay and make them feel like they BELONG. This is the true Church of Jesus Christ, y'all. We have the true and everlasting Gospel. We know how to navigate and weather the storms of life, so we should be doing everything we can to help our brothers and sisters do the same. I know how it feels to go to Church and feel like no one cares if I'm there or not...guys, NO ONE should feel that way. No one should walk into one of our chapels and feel like they don't belong. Let me rephrase that: no one should walk into one of HIS chapels and feel like they don't belong. This is the Church of JESUS CHRIST. Everyone should feel that, and if we're not being Christlike, if we don't have charity and compassion for EVERYONE who walks through those doors, then we are not acting like the true Church of Jesus Christ should. 

Wow. I swore to myself that I would not be one of those preachy email missionaries. Sorry, guys. I'm just sharing what I've learned for--and ABOUT--myself. None of us are perfect. We all need to develop the character of Christ and have charity for ALL mankind--members and nonmembers alike.  One of the most important, and hardest, commandments truly is to "love one another; as I have loved you". 

Anyway, enough preaching! Y'all are probably going cross eyed. Saturday we got to take one of our recent converts to the temple to do Baptisms for the Dead for the first time. And you'll never guess which temple we went to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, that's it for now, folks! May the Spirit be with you!

Love,

Sister Wainwright