Feb 15 2016

This week has been a good one, We had the opportunity to teach a family with eight children. The mother has been attending our English classes for quite some time now, and we have had dinner over at their home once in the past. We officially had our first lesson, and it was... a disaster... It started out well though. She had invited us to attend her church's meeting, so Elder Oviatt and I found ourselves standing in the back of a Roman Catholic costel, attending Mass on Saturday night. I was genuinely suprized though... I went in, expecting to feel a deep sense of apostasy and darkness... it was dininitely out of place, but the spirit was actually present in some ways during their service. I felt the spirit whisper to me... "There are people here, who Love Me, and who just want to do the right thing, and they hold tight to the truths that they DO have. I love them." We stood through their meeting, and listened to their chants and their symbolic worship, and realized, these people are not too far... they are just worshiping without proper authority, and they only are searching to follow those things, which they feel are true. There is Goodness in worshiping God, and these people know that. they are missing parts, but they are not bad people. These were my thoughts throughout their service. ________________________________________________________________________________ Now, here's a recap on the week and things I've been learing lately. I am pleased to say that I have had some learning experiences over the last two weeks, and the Lord is continuously helping me to remember the reasons why I am serving a mission. Last night, I was listening to the EFY song, Arise and Shine. This song has become one of my favorites, and while I was listening to it last night, I remembered that in my first transfer, Elder Boyce and I would listen to EFY songs on occasion, and that there was a time during my first Transfer that I was having a hard time, and during this time, we listened to this song. This song brought so much rememberance to me as to why exactly I am here. Elder Boyce and I found ourselves singing the courus of this song at the top of our lungs on many occasions, after a hard contact, or even just after a hard day. I am so greatful for the Lord's myriad of tender mercies that he so willingly pours out upon his children. Before my mission, for years I prayed that the Lord would send me somewhere hard, so that I would be able to come closer to Him. I sit here, now fully aware, of just how honored I am to be here. This mission has brought with it difficulties that I never could have imagined. I find that my testimony is beaten upon every single day, I find that my faith is tried all the time, I am blown away just how hard the adversary tries to influence me to sin, or to doubt, or to just give up. Never in my life have I had the frightening feelings that I have here sometimes, of doubt as to whether or not this church is indeed true. But also, never have I felt so close to my Savior, and to my Father in Heaven. I am reminded of their Love, of their kindness and of their mercy. How often I find myself wondering, "Is my Heavenly Father pleased, with me?" The other day I looked around and saw people differently. I realized that it is absolutely fascinating that our Heavenly Father and our Savior love these people so much, even when they are outwardly opposing them, AND their servants. They LOVE them, more than we can comprehend. We are asked simply to share that love of our Heavenly Father, with His children here. I concluded that there is just something that we don't understand when we get frustrated when people don't want to listen. There is something that Heavenly Father sees and knows, that we don't seem to see or know. God is reaching out to these people even when they may or may not be reaching out to Him... Of course He is pleased with us. If anything, ANY effort we make to come closer to Him must fill Him with joy. "Come unto me, that I may Heal you" Christ says. Wow. That is just amazing. I still have a ton to learn, but I have come closer to my Savior out here on my mission than ever before. and I am so greatful for the opportunity that we have as His missionaries, to recieve just a taste of the pains, aflictions, and opposition that our Savior undoubtedly faced during His life, Because it is this small taste that has and is allowing me to love the Savior more now than ever before. I love this mission. I am so happy that I am here. I am indeed Greatful for my trials. Hey, I love you all. Please take some time to just think about the atonement and what it means for you.