What an... intense week. Did you all know that there is a God that loves us, knows us, and hears our prayers? Well I testify to you all the there is.
This week our leaders have been hounding on us good about obedience. You know, the first law under heaven? Not that we're being obscenely disobedient. But those little things add up quick. So this week we have been praying a lot for help to repent and be more obedient missionaries. Obviously we still have tons of room for improvement, but the Lord has definitely heard our pleas.
We have been really focusing on trying to find families to teach, to truly edify the church. We've found that the family we have been focusing on has some problems that we didn't know about, and honestly I'm not sure we can repair. As we walked around a little disappointed, wondering what the heck we were going to do, we came across our recent convert Erika in the street. She told us that her husband saw us walking and wanted us to come and teach him. Uh, yeah! So we went right on over to his house, and taught him about the plan of salvation and repentance. He has always had a really crazy work schedule, but he admitted to us that he has control over it as he works independently. And he wanted us to come back in the following week. Cool. Well, if that wasn't a miracle enough, we walked out of Relief Society on Sunday and HE WAS THERE! With his entire family! I swear I almost had a heart attack. He even brought his coworker with him. So now you all need to pray that we can help them all prepare to be baptized in this coming month.
My other miracle that I still can't quite believe for the week: There's a family here in the ward that I have come to love so dearly. Their mom is currently inactive, and hasn't allowed missionaries or members of the ward to enter her home in years. I don't know how or why, but she started to talk to us a little out on her porch. We'd joke around and get to know each other, but once we mentioned church she would shut down and ask us to leave. Eventually she trusted us enough to enter in to her home. We still couldn't talk about church. But we were in her house. Well this week she talked to us and explained that she needs our help, and she wants us to visit her. I almost thought I understood wrong when she said it. But we came back to her home, had a few minutes to joke around, and then had a spiritual experience that I will never forget. I don't know if I can help this sister remember the covenants she has made with our Heavenly Father. But I want nothing more than to help this family that has given me so much.
A friend of mine taught me about something cool this week. It's called, the "Perhaps Doctrine." We can read in Alma 26:29-31 about this.
29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, andwe have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been castout, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God wehave been delivered again.
30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and wesupposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors;and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.
These missionaries worked hard, knocked doors, walked miles and miles and miles to try to find people to teach. They suffered and were persecuted. And why? That PERHAPS they might have the means to save some soul. And I'm sure that they didn't have high key indicators to report to their district leaders every week. But how great were the fruits of their labors.
We still don't meet all of our goals for our numbers each week. But I've found that each week that is less and less important to me. I am overwhelmingly grateful that the Lord has trusted us with these lost sheep. That perhaps I can be of some help to them...
I love you all. Be strong and be diligent.
Con mucho cariño,
La Hermana Schroader
This week our leaders have been hounding on us good about obedience. You know, the first law under heaven? Not that we're being obscenely disobedient. But those little things add up quick. So this week we have been praying a lot for help to repent and be more obedient missionaries. Obviously we still have tons of room for improvement, but the Lord has definitely heard our pleas.
We have been really focusing on trying to find families to teach, to truly edify the church. We've found that the family we have been focusing on has some problems that we didn't know about, and honestly I'm not sure we can repair. As we walked around a little disappointed, wondering what the heck we were going to do, we came across our recent convert Erika in the street. She told us that her husband saw us walking and wanted us to come and teach him. Uh, yeah! So we went right on over to his house, and taught him about the plan of salvation and repentance. He has always had a really crazy work schedule, but he admitted to us that he has control over it as he works independently. And he wanted us to come back in the following week. Cool. Well, if that wasn't a miracle enough, we walked out of Relief Society on Sunday and HE WAS THERE! With his entire family! I swear I almost had a heart attack. He even brought his coworker with him. So now you all need to pray that we can help them all prepare to be baptized in this coming month.
My other miracle that I still can't quite believe for the week: There's a family here in the ward that I have come to love so dearly. Their mom is currently inactive, and hasn't allowed missionaries or members of the ward to enter her home in years. I don't know how or why, but she started to talk to us a little out on her porch. We'd joke around and get to know each other, but once we mentioned church she would shut down and ask us to leave. Eventually she trusted us enough to enter in to her home. We still couldn't talk about church. But we were in her house. Well this week she talked to us and explained that she needs our help, and she wants us to visit her. I almost thought I understood wrong when she said it. But we came back to her home, had a few minutes to joke around, and then had a spiritual experience that I will never forget. I don't know if I can help this sister remember the covenants she has made with our Heavenly Father. But I want nothing more than to help this family that has given me so much.
A friend of mine taught me about something cool this week. It's called, the "Perhaps Doctrine." We can read in Alma 26:29-31 about this.
29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, andwe have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been castout, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God wehave been delivered again.
30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and wesupposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors;and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.
These missionaries worked hard, knocked doors, walked miles and miles and miles to try to find people to teach. They suffered and were persecuted. And why? That PERHAPS they might have the means to save some soul. And I'm sure that they didn't have high key indicators to report to their district leaders every week. But how great were the fruits of their labors.
We still don't meet all of our goals for our numbers each week. But I've found that each week that is less and less important to me. I am overwhelmingly grateful that the Lord has trusted us with these lost sheep. That perhaps I can be of some help to them...
I love you all. Be strong and be diligent.
Con mucho cariño,
La Hermana Schroader