"Dios, dame valor para aceptar lo que no puedo cambiar,
fuerza para cambiar lo que yo puedo, y sabiduria para saber la diferencia" Translation: "God, give me courage to accept what I
can't change, strength to change what I can, and wisdom to know the
difference"
There are a lot of things that happen in our lives that we
truly cannot change and we are forced to turn it over to
God; but we need to ask for God's help to do so.
I've been learning about how I can convert myself more to
OYMing people. Now that we are on bikes, it takes a lot more time to stop the
bike and talk to someone in your path. It just seems so awkward and weird. But,
I've been trying to follow the counsel of leaders and have seen miracles!
D&C 33:8-10
“Open your mouths and they shall be filled, and you shall
become even as Nephi of old, who journeyed from Jerusalem in the wilderness.
“Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you.
“Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
“Yea, open your mouths and spare not, and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs, for lo, I am with you.
“Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled, saying: Repent, repent, and prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
Sister Rowley, an amazing STL, has
taught me much from these scriptures. I've stopped to consider
my journey through the gospel. How did I feel in the beginning compared to
now? Everyone has a journey of conversion, whether they
were born into the gospel or whether they found the truth through friends and
family. I can distinctly remember the way I felt when I had the
gospel but didn't utilize it or have a strong testimony of it and the way
that I feel now. It's night and day, people! Sad and lonely, to joyful and
serving; hopeless to hopeful! Why should only we have this privilege? Why not the rest of God's children? Why would I not open my mouth??
#1:We were on an exchange with Sister Rowley and getting ready to bike home which was about an hour away. As we were riding, I felt the impression to go back and go see a member which I logically knew would not be home; however, the farther I rode, the worse I felt. We turned around and went to their house - no one was home! Confused because I was will to follow but I did not understand God's purpose, I suggested that go a quicker direction home. As we got to a stop light, a black man walks by and I OYM him in English. He responded. "No speakie English". I started speaking in Spanish and he became so happy. Apparently, he was visiting from Santo Domingo and when he found out we were Mormons said, "I've visited your church many times! I go there all the time!" It turns out that he was an investigator there! We spoke a few minutes more, gave him a website to check out, and went on our way. I don't know why God needed us to talk to him but it was a testimony builder for me that God is ALWAYS aware of His children's needs. He stopped His missionaries and sent us in the opposite direction just so that this man could know....something. I still don't know what - but I KNOW that God had us meet him for a reason.
#1:We were on an exchange with Sister Rowley and getting ready to bike home which was about an hour away. As we were riding, I felt the impression to go back and go see a member which I logically knew would not be home; however, the farther I rode, the worse I felt. We turned around and went to their house - no one was home! Confused because I was will to follow but I did not understand God's purpose, I suggested that go a quicker direction home. As we got to a stop light, a black man walks by and I OYM him in English. He responded. "No speakie English". I started speaking in Spanish and he became so happy. Apparently, he was visiting from Santo Domingo and when he found out we were Mormons said, "I've visited your church many times! I go there all the time!" It turns out that he was an investigator there! We spoke a few minutes more, gave him a website to check out, and went on our way. I don't know why God needed us to talk to him but it was a testimony builder for me that God is ALWAYS aware of His children's needs. He stopped His missionaries and sent us in the opposite direction just so that this man could know....something. I still don't know what - but I KNOW that God had us meet him for a reason.
#2:On this same exchange, we went and taught our sweet
Marcela. SHE IS THE COOLEST! Anyway, as we are biking out, we see this lady and as I was about to bike past her....I just
couldn't. I stopped my bike and asked if we could give her a card in English.
Once again, "No speakie English". We started talking to her in
Spanish and it turns out she has been in United States for a month from Colombia
and looking for a church. MIRACLES! She committed to come and was so
happy that we had talked to her. She did not come this week but I have faith
that either she will come very soon or we are going to run into her again!
#3:We were out knocking doors last night and we walked past
a house about 4-5 times. I felt like we should knock but, of course,
logically explained why we shouldn't. He is white, on some random computer
game, probably a lame YSA (no offense!), it's 8:30 and we need to
leave, obeying the rules is more important, etc. But gently, God gave me a
reminder of something I learned on my exchange:
A sister in my mission had OYMed and prayed with some
drunk guy in a park. She left him a card with their number and told him to
call them. Next day, they get a call from him saying he wants
to change his life. This man was later baptized a member of Jesus
Christ's true gospel weeks later. Each child has the potential
to change, and we are not qualified to decide "When" for them? Back to my story ...we knocked the door and Rany, who is the
sweetest South Korean I've ever met, opens the door. He tells us how he has had some
serious anger issues in his life and has been hurt so deeply in the past and
just cannot let it go. How said that he wants to let God into his life and help him move
on. My heart melted. We testified that this was Jesus Christ's gospel and that
through learning about it, he could be free of these burdens and pains in his
life.What would have happened if I had ignored that prompting?
Would he have met the missionaries? How would he find what he was searching so
desperately for if we hadn't knocked his door?
Long story short: We are children of God; brothers and sisters. Some of us came to this earth WITHOUT the benefit of
the true gospel of Jesus Christ. It is through us that others can receive the
gift may not know that they are yearning for. Your efforts can be as small as
giving a Mormon.org card to someone, bearing testimony to the love of God,
or serving someone in a nearby grocery store. NO EFFORT IS EVER WASTED. There will be those who will not accept our message; however, true disciples of Jesus Christ do not allow that to discourage them from trying.
JUST TRY. You don't have to go on a mission to know how to share your
testimony. You do it once a month or more! Have courage. God has given you the
promise that if you open your mouth, it will be filled!! I know and testify
that it is true. It's just as hard for a missionary to open their mouth,
believe me. But, we still must do it. You have been called as
member missionaries. Allow yourselves to believe it and to magnify your calling
:)
I love you!
Hna Lake
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