Where Did June Even Go, Though?

Monday, June 29, 2015

It's been a great week! I'm continually impressed by how much I learn every week. I really love what it says in D&C 50:22, "Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together." I'm always so impressed by the revelation Heavenly Father gives us as we teach by the Spirit. So many of the things I go through or struggle with are answered by the lessons we're able to teach as a companionship.

Recently we've been teaching the 10 Commandments to a few different people, and it really has helped me to see how important they really are to us today, which is something I really never thought a lot about. The Lord really wants us to put him first. Something that's been significant that the Spirit has been teaching me is that we're not given commandments and rules to follow because we're ruled by some dictator who wants everything to be "my way or the highway," if you will, but we're given commandments by our Heavenly Father because he loves us so much in such a significantly selfless way that his entire purpose and existence is to benefit us and give us the way we should go and what we should do so we can return to be with him and have the fullest happiness we can achieve. Because he loves us. That's it. He does it because he loves us. How much more motivation do we have as a result, to follow his commandments? When we know his motives and we know of his love, why wouldn't we strive to do what he asks us to do?

So I guess you could say that things are going really well. Even when the work seems stagnant, the Lord is merciful enough to give revelation and tiny little miracles. They really do add up.

As far as the work, things have been going well! This last week, we were able to get in with a family the missionaries have been teaching for 12 years! Can you imagine? Twelve years! Belen was baptized this last year, and has been inactive. Her husband is less-active and is working in North Dakota! (Sheesh!) Her kids, who are 13, 8, and 3, aren't members, and we've been having a hard time getting in with them this last transfer. This last week, though, we had the impression to knock on their door when we were in the neighborhood, and she answered and let us in! We scheduled an appointment a few days later and were able to sit down with her and her 13-year-old, who normally hasn't been super interested, but when we sat down to teach them, Vibiana (the 13-year-old) was so receptive and was asking and answering questions and contributing to the lesson with GREAT answers! Belen, who is usually pretty reluctant to participate and open up, told us about her desire to go to church and how much of a hard time she has without her husband there. We had a great, Spirit-filled lesson about building our foundation on Christ (Helaman 5:12) and having strength to overcome whatever opposition we go through. We invited her to pray and think about what it is her Heavenly Father would have her do, and she committed to do so. We're excited to follow up with her this week!

We had a really cool experience with some YSA finding time this week. Members are so great to have with you! They just add a whole new spirit to everything. We took a girl named McKenzie out with us to try by some potentials from the YSA area book, and though the potentials we tried weren't home/didn't live there, we tracted into a girl named Aileen who opened up to us about her desire to develop a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. When we briefly taught her about the Restoration, she was the one asking us for our number and asking when we could meet! It was the coolest thing to see. I know those miracles are out there, and they really do make everything else we go through as missionaries worth it! Even as we've been dealing with the people who dropped us, it's so rewarding to remember those times that were good with them, and the times where you know they felt the Spirit and their testimony was strengthened. And you know, it's so worth it. :)

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"The Gospel's True, Folks!"
Sister Melanie Nielsen