Hey folks!
Well, this week has been a bit of a
disappointment. We got a text Thursday morning from Bravedo, informing us that
although he had enjoyed our discussions much and learned a lot, he had prayed a
lot and decided that he did not want to be baptized. That was a bit of a punch
in the face to me. We texted back asking if it would be possible to meet with
him this weekend, but he never responded. We will go by on him anyways, and
perhaps a miracle could happen. But unfortunately, it seems our remaining
baptismal date has fallen through for the time being.
I feel similarly to how I felt the day
Emmanuel's date got cancelled. It really is hard sometimes to keep on going and
keep things in perspective. I think one of the hardest parts of my mission so
far has been realizing that hard work in this effort, while important and even
integral to our duties as servants of the Lord, still requires the agency of
other people when it comes to true conversion. I do believe that I have worked
hard, as we missionaries do, to hopefully help people receive every necessary
resource they need to come unto Christ--and when all is said and done, we must
then wait and pray that they will choose the Lord. Sometimes they do, other
times they don't. And if they don't, we can then take solace in the fact that
we did all we could, and that there was hopefully no more that we ourselves
could have done. Perhaps this can help us to understand how the Lord and
our Heavenly Father have felt as He has seen us make both good and bad
decisions. He weeps when we do bad and cause pain, but He will never obstruct
our ability to choose for ourselves right or wrong. It would be wrong for us to
obstruct the agency of another, too. Lots of people out here think that is our
goal. That is lame. Two thumbs down. Booooo.
But, hey, now it's time to rinse and repeat.
Tomorrow is another work day. And the next day. And just about each day
thereafter until my time here is over. I feel like I've been run off the road
again for a little bit, but I pray to get back on it. We're finding new
potential each day and I am simply hoping we can find another person to hear us
out. Heck, we already have multiple times!
But other than that, seriously, I would say I am
doing okay. I feel happy and at peace much of the time. I would say I'm still
loving my mission. Homesickness hasn't troubled me much, or really at all,
since the MTC still, which has been a miracle by itself. This week has just
been hard due to said situation and other feelings of stress, a bit of
inadequacy and pressure from others. But it all will pass. I am doing what I
can. I am glad that if no one else does, the Lord sees what we are doing and I
think I am proud of our efforts here.
We've gotten a pair of new investigators this
week! One is Suzan, the other is Adam. They are both pretty cool, it seems,
and I will give updates on the investigators we have once they start progressing
more.
In other news, the children of Israel are
getting slapped around for being punks in Numbers right now.
Have you guys seen the new First Vision video,
by the way? I think it may be my favorite one, in a lot of categories at
least. Check it out!:
Anywho, that's all I feel like writing this
week. I hope we can get back on track. I am hoping that this serves to be yet
another testimony-building time for me here on my mission. I love you
all!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
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