Sister East
and I made some phone calls in the chruch building during the morning and when
we finished we decided to stay and watch the primary program in the other
Branch. There was the cutest little boy in the front row with suspenders
that was just singing his heart out for every single song! The music was
definitely my favorite part because they didn't have a piano to accompany
them, and the children only sang about 3 different notes, so when they
sang it sounded like a group of Buddhist monks chanting! hahaha!
During my
time in Guarabira, Sister Blanco and I made a contact with a man who had helped
to build the chapel in Sousa. We marked a day to return and visit
with him, but when we returned the house was completely empty!! We
laughed about how he had taken 'running away' from the missionaries to a
whole new level - completely moving houses. Then, this week Sister East
and I were waiting for one of our investigators to arrive home after work.
We saw a man sitting in front of his house a little ways down the street and
decided to go talk to him. As we approached him, I recognized him as the
man that I had met in Guarabira. I exclaimed, "Não acredito!!!
Marcos!" (Thank goodness he had an easy name to remember.
Usually the Brazilian names are so difficult that everytime I try to say
someone's name it comes out different, heehee). I don't think Marcos was
too excited to see me again, but I thought it was great. I only wish
I could know what he thought when he saw me..."what the what! How
did she find me all the way out here in Sousa, 6 hours away from
Guarabira?! I'm never going to get rid of her!"
haha!
This past
week I've been thinking a lot about the difference between Guarabira and
Sousa. My obedience, my work ethic, my love for
the people, and my desire to serve hasn't changed. Yet, the work
seems so much more easy in Sousa. We have people to teach, we have
investigators that are progressing, and this past Sunday we had 11
investigators at church!!!! If I was doing the exact same things in
Guarabira that I am doing now, why didn't I have the same
outcome? As I thought more about this, I decided that sometimes the
Gospel is like Willy Wonka's special bubble gum. The recipe is the same
for every person - we all need to read our scriptures daily, go to church, pray
daily, have family home evening, keep the commandments, serve one another, pay
our tithing, live worthy to enter the temple and attend frequently, etc -
however, the outcome (at least right now in this life) won't always be the
same for every person. Just like the children in the movie Willy
Wonka each tasted a different flavor, we will each receive
different outcomes for our obedience and diligence. The Lord knows
us better than we know ourselves. He knows what blessings we need and
when we need them. Just because we don't see the expected outcomes
of our labors and righteousness, or just because we aren't receiving the
same blessings as our neighbor doesn't mean that we have the 'wrong
recipe'. The recipe of the Gospel is correct!! If we continue to
live the principles of the Gospel faithfully, even when it seems hopeless and
fruitless, we will be blessed, and we will receive eternal life!!
No comments:
Post a Comment