Talofa lava family and friends! O a mai outou?
This week we have had
some really good experiences and also some disappointments.
We were
able to teach a lot of people and get some new investigators and also
help our current investigators continue coming unto Christ. It was kind
of cool because some of our most productive days this week were on P-day
and Sunday,
days when we wouldn't usually go out and teach as much as other days.
In study time my comp and I read in Preach My Gospel that "nothing
happens in missionary work until you find someone to teach", we took
this to heart and contacted as many people as possible. We were able to
find a lot of people who I am sure will be blessed by the gospel.
Some
of my favorite people to teach are those who seem like they will never
have anything to to with the gospel, in fact we have got 2 new
investigators while they have been drunk haha. I know that these people
are just as important to the Lord as I am or anyone else is. My comp
said that when he meets someone new he likes to picture them dressed all
in white, he said that this helps him see their potential as children
of God.
While the work has been moving forward we have had to deal with
some disappointments as well. This week we were expecting to have a
baptism and 4, maybe 5, investigators at church. It ended up that the
baptism had to be postponed and we only had 1 investigator attend
church. I'm not going to lie I was really put out that we had worked so
had but had so little to show for it. It brought me to my knees asking
for guidance from my Heavenly Father. As I prayed I realized that these
trials are helping me rely more on the Lord.
I also remembered some
inspired words from my branch president in the MTC. He had told me that I
was a perfectionist and that I would sometimes dwell on the things that
didn't happen. He told me that when I felt down that I should look at
all the good things that I had helped come to pass. As I remembered this
I looked at my week from a new perspective and I realized that our work
had been very blessed and productive. We had strengthened members of
the church and we had helped some people continue their journey to
Christ and helped others start the journey. We had helped people
overcome challenges, addictions, and disbelief. We had given Priesthood
blessings and helped people exercise faith in Jesus Christ. We had, with
the help of the Lord, accomplished miracles. Even though we might not
have met our goals for church attendance or the number of baptisms, we
had accomplished what the Lord wanted us to, and that's what really
matters.
A few other things I learned this week:
-If a Samoan is going to cut your hair he doesn't ask you how you want it cut, he just cuts it however he wants.
-Some Samoan girls try to kiss palagi elders. (Don't worry, I've been able to dodge them all)
-Crabs are not easy to catch.
