January 29, 2017
This week has been a good week! I am grateful to be a member of this church and to be a missionary in Singapore. There has been so much that has happened that has been able to help me to become the kind of person that my Father in Heaven expects me to be. I am grateful for each experience that I have gone through that has personally strengthened my testimony and faith in the converting power of the Gospel. One of the goals that I had set before my mission was to allow myself to become truly converted to the gospel and to construct a foundation of gospel living that would influence and help me throughout the rest of my life. I have a testimony that the converting power of the Gospel is real. Not only within myself, but within others as well. This past week, Elder Barlow and I have been working with two of our investigators, A***** and E****. Both of them are doing amazing and are progressing well. Something that concerned both of us was the Chinese new year celebration that would be taking place. We worried that each of our investigators would not be able to come because of travels and visiting family. However, to our surprise, both came to church and even more was that E****, who was traveling in Kuala Lumpur still went to church on her own! Both of them had a great experience and are excited for the next Sunday as well! I have learned again and again that the Gospel is the key to being happy. It has always been that way. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer and invites all of us to come unto him and to learn more.
A couple of days ago I became very ill that kept me in the house for a few days. I won't go into too much detail but it suffices me to say that I am still alive and doing better.;) As I was home for those couple of days, I realized how much I missed going outside and sharing the Gospel, rather I was stuck inside trying to recover from this illness. I determined that I wanted to make the difference in trying to be better and working even harder. This scripture is a good reminder of how I needed to act with the time that I have been given to serve.
"Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned."
I know that as I have been anxiously engaged in doing the Lords work I have been the happiest. It is the times where I begin to slack off and procrastinate that I am not happy but rather start feeling discouraged. I have a testimony that the Lord qualifies whom He calls but He also needs a willing mind and heart to work with. I am grateful to be on a mission where so much can be learned. I am grateful that I have chosen to serve a mission in the first place to help those around me come to a knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The members continue to be a big support in the work of the Lord. I am so excited to be serving with them and having the opportunity to hear their testimonies of the Gospel. This next week, Elder Barlow and I will have the chance to teach the young men at church in 3rd hour and share about missionary work. We are hoping to make it an engaging lesson that will inspire them to want to do missionary work. They all have a way good potential, now it is just helping them to recognize that as well. We have begun a system with the sister missionaries in finding less active members and inviting them to meet. Although progress has been slow, there are some members who are again willing to make the step in coming back to church! I understand that just through teaching the lessons, you cannot bring a less active back by commanding them to do so or condemning them. There needs to patience and a feeling of genuine love for them. I am grateful for those in my own life who have been such an inspiring influence and have helped me tremendously. No effort is ever wasted as we are engaged in doing the work of the Lord.
I want to share my testimony that I know that this church is true. I know that the Savior Jesus Christ lives. He leads and directs this church through a living and modern-day prophet. President Monson is the watchman and as each of us heed the counsel that he receives from the Lord, we will never be led astray. I love this missionary work. I am grateful for my companion and for his desire to work. I pray that each one of us will have the opportunity to invite someone to come unto Christ and share with them the joy that the Gospel brings. I say these things in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Love,
Elder Shirley
Comments
Post a Comment