This week, we had a lot of change! Haha... how many times have I said that in the past? But it is the point, no? To have change, for the better. Without that life would be serioulsy boring. So personally, this week was a success for me:)
First, we had Zone Class, and seriously, it was great. The zone is great, and all the missionaries are working really hard! We talked a lot about Doctrine and Convenants 20:37 "And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humblethemselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having adetermination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by theirworks that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto theremission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church."... which is the requirements all must meet for baptism. The part we loved, was how we as missionaries and members should also reach these requirements every week, so that we can be worthy to partake of the Sacrament. As missionaries, we sometimes worry too much about our invesitgators or our members, and less actives who are going to church. But really it is something special about the sacrament. It is between YOU and the LORD, or ME and the LORD. And it is about something we wanted to CHANGE. That we can gain stronger testimonies of the CHANGES that the atonement and the sacrament allow within ourselves. We can then help our investigators understand that their CHANGES are possible, and that the Lord wants them to CHANGE. I loved it:) I love the opprotunity I have to be clean before the Lord every Sunday, and bring my heart and spirit prepared!
We have an investigator named J.... He understands CHANGE. This week he found us, and he said these exact words.... "Elders, I need to change." First we were like, "Whoa bro, how do you know we are Elders?" But of course he explained... he had taken the lessons like 3 years back but had never felt ready to be baptized. He had never felt like that was what he needed. But then the Lord helped him understand in His own way, that all the other churches were missing something. J... wanted a CHANGE, so he found us. He has changed, just by seeking out the Lord, not by us. He has had to stop drinking. He has had to stop drugs. He has had to put off that natural man, and he has felt the change the atonement has made within him. And finally we shared D&C 20:37 with him this week. A sweet spirit came into the room as it testified to him that he was ready. That it was what the Lord wanted, and that he had finally completed all the requirements he needed to be baptized. Seriously, it was wonderful. The problem with Email, is that I can never explain to you guys how wonderful the Spirit is, but it was strong there, and it is something I love.
Then....we shared the same scripture with a sister named I.... She had told us she wasn't ready to be baptized and had been given some challenges the week before her baptism. She said she wanted time to think about it. This last week, we visited her once again. We shared the wonderful scripture once again. And, once again, the Spirit, not us, testified to her that she needed the gospel of Jesus Christ. That the Lord has a way prepared for her to make those CHANGES so that she can feel ready to be baptized. We are so happy for that opportunity the Lord has made possible through His atonement. The power to change a heart and to forgive continually.
I think that scripture is something I have known for much more than just this year, but never understood its power. I love it! It is a testimony that ALL of us can be worthy before the Lord. That we can complete His requirements, even if the world, or people, or us ourselves say we can't. I love this Gospel. It is for EVERYONE. And it is about CHANGE. I love that, and I love changing. It gets me a little bit closer to being more like my Savior and Reedemer Jesus Christ. I love it and I am thankful I could see it this week.
Love you tons.:)
Prayers and Love,
Elder Goodman!
also....with the hurricane passing by...it has rained a lot... A LOT.... A TON. This is after the street river went down...but it was up to my knees before...so we worked like this almost the whole day...
uh....my name...if you forgot it. (GOOF!!)
Vanilla coke... that was special.
uh.....we ate pizza? That was to celebrate when I completed a year....hahahahha!
We wanted to take pics like Brigham Young....eye single to the Glory of God
Can you find me? We were all waiting in line for the ATM...
This is our friend, Dr.Simy :)
After English class....the new kids wanted to take pics....so we did. hahahaha
Zone Conference with Elder Pieper and his wife...
No comments:
Post a Comment