Hey y'all,
What can I say this week was just great!! Elder Jensen is doing awesome and seems to be transitioning really well. He saw his first alligator in a little pond and boy it was like candy/butter to a baby haha. We also found a huge trailer park full of spanish people and are doing a little neighborhood study teaching English class as a second language every Wednesday afternooon :) Our first class was quite the hit! I mean how could it not be when you got 2 guys that don't speak spanish lol. Just kidding the spirit was really bringing a lot back and we were able to talk with the little kids that are fluent in both languages if we ever needed help. That was way cool! Since there isn't really a way for them to attend a spanish lds church here in Mandeville or Covington we figure the seeds will be planted for future opportunities if they ever move other places :D
We have been following up with many of our investigators and praying that they will start progressing. Our investigator Danny made it to church yesterday and seemed to love it. A ward member was kind enough to take him to High Priests with him, while we attended Elders Quorum with an investigator named Anthony that we have been helping. The work is good, and the joy is great!
Miracle: On Friday it was really rainy and we were without the car, which just adds to the miracle :) I love biking out in the rain and I am pretty sure the blessings of missionary work are increased like 10 fold. We decided to head up to our Gold Mine apartment complex and just go to town knocking. When we got there we prayed and specifically told Heavenly Father of the circumstances and our desire to serve him regardless. We started walking around, but weren't feeling any spiritual promptings. At first I was kinda getting frustrated, because nothing was happening/we weren't feeling any promptings. How easy we are to forget what patience and faith can do. I then heard a faint whisper to talk to people outside. I then saw this lady trying to get this massive desk/furniture out of her car and ran over to help her. She said she didn't need help at first, (like everyone does) but I already had my arms grappled underneath and wasn't going to let go. We started talking to her and turns out she was baptized 10 years ago and used to live in the house of our investigator Chris! She said she loved the LDS church, but after her divorce went back to her southern roots. She invited us over for dinner next week to talk more though! It was a miracle and the Hand of the Lord was definitely present.
My good friend, Erik C. Parry, shared this quote with me, "If you are truly on the right path, it will always be uphill." What an interesting thought. I think it means that when we are striving to follow the Savior Jesus Christ than the harder the adversary tries to hit us off the path. Furthermore the path that we are on seems to be an uphill battle. This thought came to me at what seems like the perfect time as usual. Elder Jensen and I have been giving what seems to be everything to the Lord and working hard trying to find investigators to teach and strengthen/invite members to reach out to others. However, the missionary work funnel seems to be growing at the top, but those dropping through the funnel by making commitments to coming closer to Christ seems small. Lately, Elder Jensen has especially been asking me why this is the case when we are trying to do everything we can. I have been really thinking and pondering about this and a few scriptures have seemed to enlighten me along with now this powerful quote. Mosiah 23: 21-22 states, "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless-- whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up." This has brought me peace knowing that the Lord is mindful of each of us with our individual struggles and challenges. I believe that He tries our patience and our faith along the uphill battle, because he is molding us into the sons and daughters that he wants us to become. It allows us to further trust him and his timing. I like to think of the obstacles set in our paths as opportunities to show our commitment to the Savior.
Well, I love y'all and thank you so much for your prayers and support. Stay blessed!
Love,
Elder Wilson
