We have had a busy but great week! Tuesday we had a mission-wide
conference for Technology with Brother Randall from the missionary
department and Elder Malm from the 70. We received new iPads and
training, and won't be using Facebook for a while because the church
is resetting technology for missionaries. Luckily the snow stopped so
we were able to make it down to the conference in Phoenix!
We have been struggling to find new people to teach for the last few
weeks. So far we have found at least 1 each week, but we decided to
set a goal for two this week. We knew that there were two people we
could find and start teaching, so we made some more specific plans to
visit people on our records who hadn't been visited in a long time.
Well, none of them went through! A couple said we could come back
another time, but until Sunday night we hadn't started teaching anyone
new. Out of the blue Bishop Larson in our family ward texted us and
asked if we could come home teaching with him at 8:00pm. So we visited
a less active lady, and she had 2 roommates who sat in on the lesson
and said they wanted to learn more! Not only did we reach the goal we
had set, but I realized that the Lord doesn't always work how we think
he does, or how we think he will. He has a plan, and he supports us in
our righteous goals and efforts. It's a humbling experience when you
realize that you still accomplished something great, but not in any
way that you had planned for, and not necessarily directly through our
efforts. I love the fact that God is 100% our biggest fan. He is on
our team and will back us up. His plan for us is actually in our
favor, because we know that if we are on his team we will win no
matter what! But if we think we can do it ourselves we will be limited
to only what we can make of ourselves.
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths"
(Proverbs 3:5-6; http://www.lds.org/scriptures/
I know this scripture is true! It can apply to each and every one of us!
I had the chance to do an exchange with an Elder that was struggling
last week. He is going home in a few week and is feeling less and less
motivation each day. It was easy to see he hasn't been enjoying his
mission. One of my favorite things is being able to just be someone's
friend, rather than just telling them to buck up and trying to give
them all the solutions to their problems. Throughout the day we taught
some awesome people and had some great conversations. By the end of
the day I realized I had learned a ton from this Elder and I told him
so! It was cool to see how he responded. He was more open, and honest
with himself and others. He was happier and more obedient. It just
shows me how valuable it is to be someone's friend and to be
completely open and honest. It goes such a long way!
I love being a missionary in Arizona. As the First Presidency has
said, we are "Disciples of the Lord in the Digital Age." What an
awesome time to be a part of the hastening if the work of salvation!
The work will hasten, either with or without us. So we should do our
part!
"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for
a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come" (Matthew
24:14; http://www.lds.org/scriptures/
I love you all!
Elder Collin Christensen
No comments:
Post a Comment