We live in an enviroment that is rich in the spirit. We talk about it. We learn about it. We practice it. We are aware of it. We are surrounded by it. We feast on it. We are wrapped in it. We are protected by it. Very little of the world seeps in and the problems that arise are solved through the promptings and whisperings of the spirit.
Example: There are always those who have companionship trouble. There are those who have trouble focusing. There are those who are homesick or physically sick. There are others who place unrealistic demands on themselves and those who worry about what is going on at home. There are those who come with unresolved sins and those who think they have no testimony -- and those who think they have made a big mistake by coming and on and on......One week into the MTC is usually the benchmark. It is when the dam breaks and the flood begins. But little things begin to happen. The spirit begins to heal them and it is wonderful to watch them break lose from the grips of the world and begin to submit themselves to the spirit and to the work......and then to watch them flutter their wings and begin to fly. Each day the pace excelerates and their capacity to learn is expanded. It is no wonder that missionaries come home a new person.....so different from the mere boy or girl they were when they left.
Well, seems I got a little carried away but back to the reason for this post.
Even though we live in this spiritual oasis, we still have need for continual spiritual nourishment. And it comes - and once in a while there is a spectacular moment when we are reminded that the Lord loves us and is using us. Such was Friday.
It was the day we took this group into Manchester to go street contacting. Richard and I have both been sick -- terrible colds, feeling miserable -- and yesterday we hit rock bottom. It was a cold, windy day and we were both beginning to wish we had stayed home in bed. I was quickly convincing myself that it would not be wise for us to be in the cold air and today we did not need to be on the streets contacting. About an hour into this pity party we both began to realize that the adversary had us just where he wanted us and we walked to the local square looked around, zeroed in on a young man taking pictures with a camera on a tripod and approached him. Within 10 minutes we had taught the restoration, given him a BofM, had his information and his permission to send the missionaries to his home. He is a young student, living with his parents. The family used to go to church, but don't anymore, because it just didn't do anything for them. He said his father would probably not be interested, but his mother would! Bingo! Just like that, we were taken to him.
And as if that was not enough. The next girl also took a BofM and then it was getting late so we stepped inside a restuarant to get something to eat. An older woman sat down at the table next to us. She leaned over and asked where we were from. Before we were finished, she had taken a Bof M and asked us if we could come to her home and teach her more. Her husband died in March and she is feeling lost and alone. The amazing thing is that she did not order any food. She was just sitting there to get out of the cold while she waited for a friend. When we finished talking, she got up and left. We have an appointment to meet with her Monday afternoon and then will turn her over to the missionaries. It was as if the Lord just picked that woman up and sat her next to us and when we had given her what she needed, he picked her up again and took her away.
We walked back to the train, stunned. The Lord had simply delivered 3 people to us in the space of 30 minutes. Imagine what we could have done if we had not wasted the first hour!
It is so good for us to feel what the missionaries feel. To understand their highs and lows. They are so amazing! When we returned yesterday we had a sister who fell apart. She felt like she could have done more -- could have been more effective -- could have been braver -- and on and on. So what else is new!!!!!
I never get over the thrill of it all.
No comments:
Post a Comment