Doug Brinley, a couples therapist and author of a dozen books, is a Senior Missionary here with us. When he and his wife were set apart as missionaries to go to Hawaii a few years ago, his Stake President said that they would become closer as a couple and more in love.
When they were called last year to come to the Calif. Fresno mission his Stake President gave him when he set him apart, "a blessing for protection".
Yep. That's our mission! Elder Pack and I have already had a man try to scam us with the "I have an inheritance coming in November and just need some money until then. I'll pay you back" scam.
We have seen drug deals happening and even had to report one that was hurting an investigating family. (Luckily no one has come to break our knee caps on that one yet.)
One young missionary told the mission President that everyone here had tatoos, piercings, just living together without being married, was on drugs or selling them, or was a criminal or gay.
So what are missionaries to do? Love them. Teach them. Invite them to come unto Christ. The Gospel is for everyone and can help anyone. One successful missionary says whenever he talks to someone he just imagines them standing there in white clothes preparing for the Temple and then he teaches them.
And the Lord protects us if we listen. As the scriptures teach us: Them that be with us are more than those that be with them. I have felt the Lord's protection here and I am grateful. With the Lord on our side we go about doing His work.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Be careful what you pray for!
Be careful what you pray for because you just might get it! Today is Sunday and Elder Pack and I are exhausted. All of our prayers for the branch came true today. That means the Mitchell family came to church and Elder Pack took them to the English speaking ward's Sacrament meeting and got them to their respective classes. Then he substituted for a primary teacher there that went to talk to the Mitchells about something their family was concerned about. But he had to get a substitute for the substitute too because he had to go pick up another investigating family for the Spanish branch meetings.
That left Sis. Pack going to Correlation meeting alone to bring many items to the Branch President that needed his attention. And she had to read the Relief Society Declaration to the class in Sunday School. Everything in Spanish of course.
In Relief Society all the chairs were full! So exciting. And then we had Sacrament meeting where we had "brother investigators" come with their families! There were 46 people there which isn't a record number, but did we mention all the men?!
After, Sis. Pack helped with commodity orders while Elder Pack helped the Branch clerk update the member records for the Branch. He also went with the President to teach him how to give a live temple recommend to a sister who is going for her own endowment now that she has completed the Temple preparation class!
It was a great Sunday but without the Lord's help it is difficult to cope with all the blessings He is sending.
Thankfully, he is sending us help all day, every day. And that is an answer to our prayers.
That left Sis. Pack going to Correlation meeting alone to bring many items to the Branch President that needed his attention. And she had to read the Relief Society Declaration to the class in Sunday School. Everything in Spanish of course.
In Relief Society all the chairs were full! So exciting. And then we had Sacrament meeting where we had "brother investigators" come with their families! There were 46 people there which isn't a record number, but did we mention all the men?!
After, Sis. Pack helped with commodity orders while Elder Pack helped the Branch clerk update the member records for the Branch. He also went with the President to teach him how to give a live temple recommend to a sister who is going for her own endowment now that she has completed the Temple preparation class!
It was a great Sunday but without the Lord's help it is difficult to cope with all the blessings He is sending.
Thankfully, he is sending us help all day, every day. And that is an answer to our prayers.
Thursday, August 8, 2013
What is the Worst that can happen?
What is the Worst that can happen to us in our missionary work? The investigator can say no. They don't want lessons, they don't want visits, they don't want what we have to offer.
On the other hand, what is the Best that can happen? Ah-- blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God through you. They will recognize the truths they were taught in their Heavenly Father's home. They will be baptized, sealed as families, and have eternal blessings.
What is that worth to us when we are tired and discouraged and dissapointed? Remember President Hinckley felt that way once and then made a covenant with Heavenly Father "I will lose myself in your service." Isaiah had no converts recorded in the scriptures and yet Christ himself quoted him.When the Savior took his First Presidency with him to the Garden of Gethsemane they couldn't stay awake for him. They missed an opportunity but went on to lead his church.
If you want to know who you are, figure out who you were. What did the Lord see in you before and what does he see in you now. Were we afraid to talk to everyone about Christ and the Plan of Salvation in heaven? Did we worry that people would think we were weird? Were we afraid they would say no?
What if Christ was almost obedient? Almost committed? Almost willing and successful in his part of the plan? I'm sure that in our premortal life we were exactly obedient, committed, and focused. Now it is time to do our part here.
Satan is satisfied if we do good things that distract us from doing great things. Step up and ask if someone would like to hear about the restored gospel here on the earth today. What is the worst that can happen?
On the other hand, what is the Best that can happen? Ah-- blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God through you. They will recognize the truths they were taught in their Heavenly Father's home. They will be baptized, sealed as families, and have eternal blessings.
What is that worth to us when we are tired and discouraged and dissapointed? Remember President Hinckley felt that way once and then made a covenant with Heavenly Father "I will lose myself in your service." Isaiah had no converts recorded in the scriptures and yet Christ himself quoted him.When the Savior took his First Presidency with him to the Garden of Gethsemane they couldn't stay awake for him. They missed an opportunity but went on to lead his church.
If you want to know who you are, figure out who you were. What did the Lord see in you before and what does he see in you now. Were we afraid to talk to everyone about Christ and the Plan of Salvation in heaven? Did we worry that people would think we were weird? Were we afraid they would say no?
What if Christ was almost obedient? Almost committed? Almost willing and successful in his part of the plan? I'm sure that in our premortal life we were exactly obedient, committed, and focused. Now it is time to do our part here.
Satan is satisfied if we do good things that distract us from doing great things. Step up and ask if someone would like to hear about the restored gospel here on the earth today. What is the worst that can happen?
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