Working as a missionary

My grandson, James asked me, “What would your life be like if you didn’t have the gospel”.  I have pondered on that question a lot as I go forward and teach the gospel.  I feel like I would be a ship without a rudder.  Going in circles and not really knowing which direction to go.  Knowing something was missing, but unsure what it was.  Looking but not finding that thing that I felt was not there or missing in my life.

Missionary work is a little different than what I was expecting.  The gospel is such a part of our lives, and we want to share it so much, we know what a difference it would make in their lives.  But they have their agency and can choose to accept it or not.  Our responsibility is to make sure they have enough knowledge to make that decision. 

People are looking for the truth and because they are looking, many other people have told them things that they have taken as truths.  Many times we have to teach them what they thought as a truth is just the philosophies of men.  People don’t like change, so sometimes it is hard for them to put aside what they have been taught, maybe all of their lives, to something that may seem a little foreign to them.  I really see the concept of line upon line and precept upon precept. 

We have been very busy, I go to bed at night wonder where did the day go.  We have less actives that we are fellowshipping, we have people who are just looking at our church, and we have those that we are teaching the lessons to.  It is fun to visit with people and try to bring the spirit with you, so that they can feel and remember how the spirit feels.  We have got several people to come back to church.  Our concern is that they have not been given a calling and so now some of them are getting more sporadic in their church attendance.  I didn’t think we would be teaching the concept to shadow leadership.  I don’t think they have heard the phrase, “when the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies”.  They just assume they can’t do it.  And the people think that they can’t do it, so they don’t try, because maybe they tried and it wasn’t perfect, or it was a struggle, so everyone just let them give up.

We do have the concern for our Spanish speaking members.  They do try to speak English, it is the older sisters, but they struggle.  So how do you give a calling to work in the Primary to a sister who doesn’t speak English to children who do not speak Spanish?  Or to teach in Relief Society to sisters who do not speak Spanish?  She could shadow another teacher or work in Family History with another sister, so she could help the Spanish speaking, but again that is a concept that our little branch won’t embrace.

On a more positive note, it is fun to teach the gospel to those that you see the light come on in their eyes.  They remember!  We are teaching a sister who joined the church very recently and we are getting her ready for the temple.  We taught her how to use the scripture footnotes to find additional scriptures.  She did not know that when she goes to the temple she would get to wear sacred garments.  Everything we talk about, she grasps ahold and accepts it straight way.  She is trying to get her sons interested in the gospel and if we follow the spirit, I think it might happen?  That is so rewarding, nothing takes its place and you can’t explain it.

Last night we visited a lady with 3 children.  When we came the children came running and gave us hugs.  It made it seem like we were home, getting hugs from our grandchildren. 

So today is Tuesday and we go to visit a sister that struggles.  She lives in an apartment building, with no electricity.  She has to have someone bring her water in gallon jugs because she cannot get it herself, or she collects the rain that fails on her little porch.  I wish I had a magic wand and could make her life better, but it comes down to choices.  We have grown to love her, she is a sweet daughter of God. She is articulate and educated. 

Last night we taught a young man who just turned 12, about the Aaronic Priesthood.  He acted so positive.  We hope that his mother can get him to church so that he can receive the priesthood.  They have no car and to get to church they have to take a taxi or a safari.  She doesn’t work, so money is really tight.  Our mission rule is we cannot take them to church, but we can take them home.  So that is what we tell them.

I must close, it is a very busy day!!!