August 19, 2013

 

This week has been awesome! It seems as one gets baptized it generates more momentum for the rest of the work. We always make it a goal to bring as many investigators to baptisms as possible. When they go they really feel the Spirit. It's the same thing with taking them to the Temple Visitor's center. If we can do both we know that that person is usually locked in for a baptism at some point in the near future. It's awesome.

So we've continued to teach S. (Gi.'s 10 year old daughter) and whereas in past lessons when we brought up baptism she was really hesitant, this time she was all for it. We helped her to recognize the Spirit telling her in her heart "the truth of all things." She's accepted the date for September 21st.

That same night we baptized Br. S., the rather wealthy and Biblically knowledgable jaguar salesman. It was an incredible event. Bradley's wife (S.) used to be a flight attendant, and made the baptism look more like a wedding than any baptism that I've ever seen. It was crazy. There were plants, pictures, soup, icecream cake, gingerbread, pears, giant bottles of San Pellagrino's, and a whole slew of other items that were quite different from most baptisms that I've been to. They asked Elder Christensen and I to sing at the baptism, so we did. But I'll tell you this. When Br. came up out of the water, I have never seen a happier man in all my life. You could see it in his eyes. He looked out at the people as soon as he came up as if to say "Look I did it!" He was feeling the redemptive power of Jesus Christ's Atonement in his whole body. He looked about ready to cry tears of joy. He was on cloud 9 that entire night. He told us later that he felt like he could stay up all night! When we saw him at stake conference the next day, he still had that sparkle in his eye. It was pure confidence. He knew that what he had found in the church was forgiveness, acceptance, love, and the true doctrine of Christ. He has seen real and dramatic changes in his life that can only be found in the baptism of repentance.

Earlier that week he had told us about his two kids that live in the city. He told us "go get them!" I laughed so hard when he said that considering his attitude toward missionaries when we went over to his house the first time, which was somewhat indifferent and more than a little hesitant. I really love Br. He's a great guy and a good man. His 17 year old daughter came to his baptism, she wasn't so interested though. We'll see what happens though.

In the midst of district meeting and then weekly planning the next day and taking in what I've learned from all the companionships in the district, Elder Christensen and I prayed for revelation on how to develop the ward mission process and came to a conclusion. We talked it through, presented it to the Zone Leaders, the Mission President, the Bishop, the Ward mission Leader, and the Relief Society President all within 24 hours of the idea being born. They all LOVE it and can't wait to start. It's going to start this next Sunday and we present it to the ward in a fireside with the Bishop presenting the majority of it. If this system works, we plan on moving it to the stake. If it works there, then we plan on moving it mission wide. We are honestly soooo stoked for this, and honestly Stake conference only backed up what we are doing since they were focusing on member missionary work. I'd explain it, but it takes too long to write out. I'd have to scan in the diagrams that I drew out for the ward council and I don't have them with me. If we can pull this off though, the West Linn ward will never be in short supply of people to teach!

I came to a realization of exactly what being a trainer and also a district leader actually is during stake conference. In the midst of Elder Richards sharing what the gospel does for families who strive to have the spirit in their home the Spirit told me of some of the feelings that all 4 of the 8 new missionaries in my district may and probably are feeling, and that I needed to step up to the plate and be the kind of leader that the perfect father is. I need to let them know that I care about them as more than just missionaries who report to me statistics. They are people who have needs just like me or Elder Christensen. Whereas I don't need to get as personally involved as their companion I can see what my role as a leader truly is. As I've taken an active role in getting involved with each companionship I have been able to discover needs that they haven't told anyone that should have known. I never thought that the mission could actually be a preparation to be a father for the future, but I can totally see the role of a father for the first time in my life, and I see the wisdom in teaching correct principles and letting them governing themselves. It's been a huge eye opener. I love it.

I can tell you all honestly of the redeeming power of Christ. That it is He and only He who can give us the relief from the feelings of pain and guilt that we naturally inflict on ourselves. Bradley has felt it, and so have I. I believe and know that God is my Heavenly Father, and is more of a Father than most people think He is. He wants us to be happy and has revealed the way for that to happen in all of our lives. It is only though obedience to his laws, which are eternal truths like those of physics and chemistry, that we can find true peace of mind and security in our homes. When we obey we feel the consequences, which I call blessings or gifts from God. When we disobey we feel the consequences, which are usually natural consequences that don't feel very good in the long run. Because he knew that we would mess up he provided a Savior, even Jesus Christ to help us along our path. Without him I would never be motivated to try again. Without Christ's Atonement, I would never be the happy chipper guy that I feel that I've become on my mission. Without him my confidence would be weak. But with Him, I am strong. With Him, all things are possible. With Him, I have confidence in my future; even past this life. I believe that this world is not the last place of existence and I have felt the aid of those who have passed on on my mission. That is why I believe. I believe because it feels right. I believe because every time I ask I can feel the Spirit. I believe because every time I enter into the Temple I feel complete and utter peace. I believe because I've tested what this gospel has to say and I've seen the exquisite benefits that come from obedience to eternal truths that I call religion or "The Word of God." I also believe that anyone else can find out for themselves. That's why I'm out here. To help others feel the extreme joy that comes from knowing freedom. Freedom, just like in the Revolutionary War, was bought with a price. The person who paid that price was Christ. Just ask him in sincere prayer if He loves you and I promise you will know of His true love for all men. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.