Just another wonderful week doing the thing I love most! Because that is the case I have just been overwhelmed with gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the opportunity I have to put on the tag every day and go to work. I have done all that lies in my power to cherish my time here in Ventura. I am so set on working harder and harder (which is good) as I round 3rd base and head for home. My President gave me some simple counsel and just reminded me, “Don't forget gratitude." A lot of the time as a missionary you get so caught up in doing your best, working hard, being obedient, etc…that you forget how you got there. And that is when you must remember Grattitude. If done sincerely, that then causes deeper humility, and helps us rely upon the Lord even more for the blessing.
We had the wonderful chance to find some solid potentials this week! One of them came late Friday night. We were visiting some members in a local complex and just were walking past a smoking station where there was a bench. I was moving pretty swiftly and I almost missed her...Out of the corner of my eye I saw one middle aged woman sitting by herself. I kinda just walked straight for her and sat down right next to her! Shook her hand, and said "Hi I'm Elder Judd what's your name?" And then my companion did an awesome job at introducing who we were and what we do. As soon as she did that she kind of turned to the side to hide her cigarette that she was smoking, I then asked about her tatoo on her ankle and she then bashfuly twisted her legs up to hide it and said that "this was one of those 18 year old decisions". (She regreted it) She then went on to tell us that she had talked to us before and that she was interested. We left her a BOM with a focus on the introduction, got her phone number, and set up a return appointment! It was a great contact thanks to my companion. It's Little things like that keep us going.
Going off if that, in closing I would just like to share something I learned as I have been studying this week. (I LOVE THE HOLY WRIT) As I have been feasting upon the missionary chapters in early to mid Alma I have been learning a lot more about King Lamoni and his father. I just wanted to highlight one verse in Alma 22...
Up to this point we know that Lamoni's father was a king who has a bitter enmity towards the Nephites. Aaron who is one of the sons of mosiah, had to come to the Lamanite Nation to bring them the gospel. He went to the Kings home and subsequently engaged him in a gospel discussion about the purpose of life. Once the king became receptive to his message, Aaron taught him about Christ, The Plan of Salvation, and the possibility of eternal life. This message hit him so hard that he eventually asked Aaron: "What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou Hast spoken". Aaron in a summary instructs the king to pray in Faith, and repent. The king did so and in verse 18 we learn what was said...
18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead.
I have experienced this for myself, therefore I bear my testimony that it is impossible to really know Christ, and not surrender our sins. I know that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we are able to surpass these ideas and beliefs about who he is, and use our faith which is in Christ to turn it into an actual relationship. As one person more and more becomes like him, that is when one can say "I know him." As we do this our understanding is enlightened, our Joy is illuminated, and desire to do evil is no more.
I know that this is the church of the Jesus Christ. This is his work, we as missionaries need him A LOT more than he needs us. This is true.
Love, Elder Judd
No comments:
Post a Comment