Salut ma famille!!!
I'm so glad that you sent me that
because it really helped me out.
In fact, after I read that talk, I
followed Elder Holland's invitation of praying to Heavenly Father and telling
him, "Here I am, let me be an instrument between thy hands. I know I'm not
perfect, I have a lot of weakness, and all I ask is that thou wilt help me to overcome
them that I may be able to speak and testify more often than before; and, if
thou wilt accept me, I am willing to be a vessel by which thou wilt accomplish
thy work." The prayer I made was something along those lines, but I did
something that I've never done before. As Priesthood holders, we are capable of
calling forth from the powers of heaven unto the ministering of angels. During
the prayer, I said "In the name of Jesus Christ and by the authority of
the Melchezidik Priesthood in which I hold, I call upon the powers of
heaven..." to help me become more of what He needs me to be and to be
capable of doing the work that He sent me here to do. Never yet have I felt so
capable of doing what I've been sent to do since that prayer. Not only that,
but that was a very powerful experience for me because I could really feel the
love and care that the Lord has for me and especially for His children here in
Togo. I know that the Lord didn't send me to fail, but rather He sent me to
serve a people and to do a mission. I know that the Lord will accomplish all
His mighty works through all who are willing to be worthy instruments between
His hands by the Holy Spirit along with the powers of heaven.
Since then, I've had many
spiritually edifying experiences in briefly teaching and testifying of the
message of the Restoration more than I've ever been capable before with a
friend of our progressing investigator and really awesome friend named Rodrique
along with answering a lot questions to a woman named Soeur Nadege an
investigator we met through tracting whom we've been working with for the past
few weeks.
One of the questions Sr. Nadege
asked me was "What blessings have you received from the Gospel of Jesus
Christ?" At first, I was slightly shocked because that was the first time
since I've been here that I've been asked that question. Quite honestly, I
didn't know what to say, but only because I didn't know where to start.
However, once I got going, an old lady came by and sat down on a crate to join
us in the midst of our conversation. If there's one blessing that I've received
is the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. I began answering her question;
however, I had directed myself to the woman who came and joined us. There are
three questions that can be answered thanks to the Plan of Salvation: (1) Where
do we come from? (2) Why are we here/ What is the purpose of life? (3) Where
are we going after this life? I had shared each question and then briefly
explained the answer to each one. God is our Father in Heaven and we lived with
Him as his spirit children before coming to this life on earth. We chose to
come here so that we could obtain a body of flesh and bones and to have trials
and experiences to learn and grow and to have a family of our own to love and
care for. We're also here to keep the commandments of God, to be obedient to
the laws and ordinances of the Gospel, and to perform good works. In doing
these things, I know that we will be able to return into the presence of our
God after this life to dwell in His kingdom to be reunited with our families
and to have eternal life. I know that during this life we make mistakes and we
sin; however, thanks to the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can receive the
forgiveness and remission of our mistakes and sins. Thanks to the Atonement, we
can repent of our sins and be saved (Article of Faith # 3).
Honestly, it was an absolutely
amazing experience because the words just kept coming and I kept
speaking without hesitation or pausing and the Spirit burned within my heart
and warmed the depths my soul as if I was wearing a spiritual electric blanket.
After having spoken with her along with giving her a brochure of the Plan of
Salvation along with a Book of Mormon, we spoke with her and Sr. Nadege for a
little while to have a really fun conversation before we left.
I tell you what, after leaving from
the experience I couldn't help but smile with every bit of gratitude in my
heart and then say "Now that right there is what this work is all
about."
After six long months, I can tell
you that I know that this church is true!
Never let your doubts triumph over
your faith and never let what you hear against this church disturb that belief
and conviction that you have within your hearts!
Trust in the feelings in your mind
and in your heart and know that the Spirit is alive and true and will testify
to you if you sincerely seek to find out the truth! (Moroni 10:3-5; Galations
5:22).
Well
family, it was wonderful hearing from you all again and I hope you all have a
wonderful week. Take care of each other, protect yourselves from the adversary
and stay forever strong in this faith (2 Nephi 31:20).
Je vous aime et que Dieu vous
bénisse.
