This week we started teaching a man named Porfirio more solidly! (Is that a word?) He's so prepared! He is an inactive Jehovah's Witness and very well studied, but stopped going to church years ago. We taught him the Restoration on Saturday and he understood absolutely everything. It was almost like teaching a member. He would comment on almost every point and reteach us what we had taught him. He is amazing. We called him yesterday to follow up on reading the Book of Mormon and he said, "I'm relaxing right now so I'll read it and tell you everything I learned on Tuesday when you come back. Thank you so much for calling and thinking if me. It made my day." I know that there is such an importance in taking and interest in these people and really loving them. They are precious and if we recognize them as our brothers and sisters, our literal family, it makes everything so much more fun and real.
We are also seeing a lot of progress with Jewel. She is awesome! She really wants to come back to church. It was interesting because on Wednesday we met with her and she said, "I feel like a hypocrite meeting with the missionaries because I can't make all the changes right away and I can't come to church yet. It's not fair of me to
Haha so funny story. We're doing a "member fast" where we can't eat with the members for a week so that we'll be more grateful and learn how to manage our money and cook. We told Jewel about it and she was so shocked that she prayed, "Bless the Hermanas that they won't suffer too badly and that they will be able to endure this trial." It was so sweet :)Speaking of not eating with members, I have been shocked at how many people have offered to feed us this week! It's really awkward to say no...But it has been touching to see how much these members truly love the missionaries and want to help and serve us. It has been humbling. At first I thought, "Wow, of course now that we can't eat with them they are offering us so much food!" And then I realized they weren't offering any more than normal, the members are always this generous and giving. It has been neat to see! As far as cooking healthy things, Hermana Brown and I have been so busy that we haven't had time to really take a dinner hour to cook, it's been more like, QUICK grab a granola bar and we'll head out! But the work is good so it's all worth it!
It has been a joy to work with Hermana Brown again! I love her! It's like working with a best friend or one of my sisters. We have a lot of fun and work really hard. We are excited to see what miracles we see this week!
This week I ponderized Alma 26:5-7, it says:
5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.
6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.
7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.
I love this scripture. It has been really dear to me as I think about the people I have taught, members, investigators, recent converts, and less actives. I trust the Lord of the harvest. I may be an instrument in His hands, and I may be blessed with opportunities to cross paths with these precious souls, but ultimately they are all in the Lord's hands. And I am so grateful! He will protect them and lead them and guide them even when I am not there to try to tell them what to do. I am determined to work my hardest for my Lord and my brothers and sisters. I love them heaps and truly desire that they may be gathered and protected by Him.
I love my mission and will forever be grateful for it. I have been so changed, so refined, and so molded by my experiences here. Let's get reaping!
Have a good week!
Hermana Clark