This week... oh man... what even happened this week...
it's so hard to remember. :) Honestly... it was kind of a normal week
of missionary work. We've been struggling to help some of our
investigators progress. We have several people who have learned
everything, and really do have a desire to get baptized, but they have
met some temporary road blocks along the way. A couple of them we
scarily haven't been able to get in contact with this week. Some of
them are having challenges with commandments. But... luckily all
challenges can be met! :) And God really has been preparing people to
meet us since before they were born! This work is something of eternal
importance and so it will keep on rolling on!
Yesterday we had the incredible opportunity to
gather as a group of missionaries serving in Bangkok, and have a
fireside of sorts with Bishop Gary E. Stevenson. I was so impressed by
him, (obviously... but for this specific reason as well!) we ran into
him in our church building early in the day, and then in the evening
when he gave each missionary an opportunity to shake his hand, he
remembered both my name and where I came from. He took the time to
remember, which was just a small thing, but I was impressed! His
message to us was inspired and inspiring! Man. It is so awesome every
time we have the opportunity to gather as missionaries. Our leaders are
incredible, and it is always evident to me that this really is God's
work. Bishop Stevenson told us that there are very specific reasons
that missionaries are called to their specific missions. Sometimes
those reasons are specific people, a specific mission president,
specific investigators. I feel confident that God has prepared people
for us to teach. Right now, and really always in mission work we are
meeting little challenges and set backs. But... there are always ways
prepared for the work to move forward. And we will learn the way... as
we kneel and pray. And listen for the spirit. The spirit is the one
that teaches. Sometimes I get stressed out when I'm having a "bad Thai
day" :) or when I'm not quite sure what to say and everything is coming
out crazy... but honestly... it isn't the missionary that's necessarily
important. It is the investigators personal relationship with God, the
promptings that they receive from the Holy Ghost. We can't (and don't
or need to) trick them into baptism! We just get to testify of truth...
invite them, promise them the blessings that God will send. :)
Oh! Here's kind of a cool short story. Yesterday
we got to teach an investigator who was found in another area. He has
had very specific and kind of brief experiences with Christianity... and
has kind of wondered what it was all about. He was invited to be
baptized. And he was sent on over to our building. As we talked to him
he practically literally told us... that he was "kept from the truth,
because he knew not where to find it." Wow.
I'm sorry that this email is so lame. I promise
I'll try to make next weeks email better! Missionary work is so good.
I am so tired right now :) Haha... My brain is all over the place.
But I hope that you have a wonderful week this week... and that
everything is going well at home. You guys are the best family ever!
Love,
Sister Croft
