The Paraguayan Fall continues! We're supposed to be developing into Winter this month, but I have my doubts. Last year, the Winter was much warmer than Fall.
Proselyting this week:
Was a rough one. This is the part where one trial gets stacked up on top of another. We read in the Book of Mormon about how often the Lord is merciful to His people, but we sometimes overlook HOW MUCH they suffered before they were delivered. On one division this week, I was with our Zone leader, and when we clapped outside of the house of one of our only investigators, her husband walked out with the Book of Mormon and all of the pamphlets in hand. He handed them back to me, and very politely, with lots of love and friendship, told us that he and his family cannot continue receiving the missionaries, and that while he respects our beliefs, he differs on several accounts, especially that of baptism. That was a difficult one to take.
Then another one fell. She even told us that she'd love to continue and even follow Jesus Christ unto baptism, but that she cannot continue progressing in the Gospel path for now due to various circumstances in her life at this moment. We tried to help her see that those things are just obstacles and that she must overcome them, but it was in vain. So, we've had to leave her there.
And then we're having to drop Celia Mereles just because she doesn't progress well.
So we still have one investigator hanging in there, but we're needing to go and find a bunch more. This week was tough finding as well, not a lot of people were so interested.
But through it all, I know that it's just another week. I feel such great desires and such great frustration that I haven't baptized in six months, but I know that if I keep looking up and working with faith, trying to find things to improve and actually going out and improving them, God will grant us with His blessings. I've been thinking about it a lot. I feel like He does have success planned. I feel like there are baptisms to be had in the area, but I feel even more deeply that even if not, I will continue with just as much force, faith, and diligence. I love the words of Shadrac, Meshac, and Abed-nego who told king Nebuchadnezzar that God would deliver them, but that even if He did not, they would not bow down. That's how I feel. I feel that God will deliver us out of this difficult time, but even if there is no deliverance, it is worth it to serve Him and love His children.
On happier things, my companion and I are working better together. I don't feel any anxiety about that or depression ensuing. I feel calm and strong. Just anxious to have some success here.
I'd also like to include in the e-mail a reminder to remember the recently passed Elder Perry, and look up his biography on line. May he rest in peace.
I love you all! I hope that you're keeping strong and finding your own ways to have faith through it all.
Love,
Elder Harris
No comments:
Post a Comment