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Week 17... A challenge to Humble myself

This week has definitively pushed me and has helped me to open my eyes to how much the Lord is a part of this work. I have no doubt in my mind that I have been called by a prophet who lives today who was called by God. I know that I am supposed to be here and I am blessed by the Lord every day. Sometimes I do not feel worthy of those blessing because of my efforts and lack of experience but this I do know, that no matter how experienced I am, each day is that much better than before and each moment my testimony of the Gospel grows just a little bit more. The Lord truly has said "line upon line precept upon precept, here a little and there a little." I am so grateful for the counsel that the Lord gives to each of us as we strive to do what is right no matter how hard or challenging it may be. We can always press on in faith knowing that the Lord will guide us and help us and that one day we will have a testimony that it was all worth it. 

This week, Elder G. challenged me to become humbler. I gladly took on the invitation and began to ponder how I could become humbler. Over the week, it was amazing to see how many different experiences I had that directly related to humility and really tested my faith on whether I would rely on my own strength or upon the Lord's. A neat thing that I have found is to begin with prayer and to ask Heavenly Father to help with a specific Christ-like attribute such as charity or humility and to ask for the trials and experiences that would help us to become more like Christ in that area. Throughout the week, with the attribute of humility, I was able to recognize a lot more than I had previously how much I really do have to rely on the Lord and not my own wisdom. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father knows exactly which experiences and challenges to allow us to go through that help us build our testimony. All we must do is never forget that Heavenly Father loves us so much and has a plan prepared. My faith in Him has grown tremendously and I know that He will never leave us comfortless.

The members here are each amazing and each week we are getting a little closer to building our branch bigger. This weekend we were able to have Brother E. and Brother S. help us with member present lessons and they were awesome! S. had helped us with a person while we were explaining a little more about the Book of Mormon but our investigator wasn't sure and was just asking different questions that were leading nowhere. Then S. bore a powerful testimony where we cannot judge the Book of Mormon just from what we have heard from other people or other sources. He compared it to school and how you have a friend who told you some things about a person that may not have been true. Of course you can say hello and wave but that information about them keeps you from really getting to know them personally. He then added that we cannot do that with the Book of Mormon. In order to truly find out what it has to offer, we must humble ourselves and read it with real intent. Only then will God give a confirmation through the Holy Ghost that the Book is true.


I am grateful for the testimonies of members of the church. They are so valuable. The missionaries can say all that they want and still it will not make sense to another person. When a member, who is native, understands what the person may be going through, hearts are then opened and the Spirit is able to bear a powerful witness of these things to be true. 

One of the miracles that we had this week was really the timing of the Lord's plan that He has for everyone. This week, we decided that one of our investigators was not progressing since we were not able to meet with him for about 3 weeks since he was really busy with work and other things. We dropped him hoping that soon he would free up some time. That day or the day after he calls and says he can meet. This is our first real lesson with him, last time we gave him a Book of Mormon and didn't have time to explain where it comes from but basically testified that it would be able to help you overcome different obstacles and challenges that you may be facing. Anyway, we met with him and talked to him about the Book of Mormon and he had already read to Alma and we had that open mouth expression. He testified to us that as he read the Book of Mormon, his work, family, and his week had all gotten progressively better and that he felt a peace inside of himself as he read. He knows that Heavenly Father loves him and that He has a plan for him. 


I have that same feeling. I have a testimony that as we read the Book of Mormon and begin a serious study, the Lord will bless us with strength and power that we didn't know was possible. I know that as we read the Book of Mormon we will find ourselves coming closer and closer to the Lord and are mind will be opened to learning new things that will help us in our lives. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that He lives and at this time in our lives we are all preparing the world for His second coming. I am grateful to be serving as a missionary and for the Lord being a part of my life every single day. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love, 
Elder Shirley

 photo credits; Elder Trevor Lloyd


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