Our focus this week has been finding families. We do not
go home at night until we have at least found one family. Some nights,
it is a real test of faith. For 2 days last week we were in a trio
with Sister Nunes because her companion went home. One night we went
out tracting and it felt like everyone was telling us no. That doesn't
usually happen to us, but continued working until we finally found a
family. I've been trying to be the best missionary I can because I
really want to see some miracles in this area.
One family we met this week lives in a city just
north of us. It's about an hour walk there so we only go once or twice a
week. When I first arrived in Boa Vista, we ate lunch at their
restaurant and the women said that she had met sister missionaries
before. We had been meaning to go back for a while, but never did until
this week. It's hard to catch them at a good time because they are
usually busy working the restaurant. Luckily, we caught them as they
were taking a break to eat and they told us to tell them a little more
about our church. Sister Crane and I jumped right in to teaching the
Restoration. When it was my turn to talk about Joseph Smith I could
feel the Spirit really strongly and I could tell that they could too. I
pointed out the Spirit in the middle of the lesson and they were really
impressed and invited us into their home to teach more. At the end of
the lesson, we invited them to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know
if it was true. The 19 year old daughter told us that she already knew
that it was true because she read some before. She said one day she was
researching prophets and needed more study material. She said, "Yeah,
so I used some stuff I read from the Book of Mormon to finish my
research and I shared what I learned at church". They said they would
be baptized if God told them it was true. They came to church yesterday
and I think they had a good experience. It will be a change for them.
They are really dedicated to their current church and they keep trying
to get us to come to their church. It's so uncomfortable saying no to
people. It's hard for many of them to understand our purpose I think.
A lot of people here think we just go around
"spreading the good word of God" and what they don't realize is that we
offer so much more than that. We are bearers of good news! The gospel
has been restored and because of that families can be together forever.
I love my job! I is really hard and sometimes discouraging, but it is
the most rewarding feeling when I can help others recognize that our
message is true.
Another thing I love love love about the mission is
the constant need for self-improvement. I never feel stagnant because
there is always something I can be working on. One thing I've been
reflecting a lot on lately is the Character of Christ. As I've been
studying the New Testament along with the Book of Mormon, I've come to
understand the Savior's love and example even more. I love how Elder
Bednar defines the character of Christ:
"Perhaps
the greatest indicator of character is the capacity to recognize and
appropriately respond to other people who are experiencing the very
challenge or adversity that is most immediately and forcefully pressing
upon us. Character is revealed, for example, in the power to discern the
suffering of other people when we ourselves are suffering; in the
ability to detect the hunger of others when we are hungry; and in the
power to reach out and extend compassion for the spiritual agony of
others when we are in the midst of our own spiritual distress. Thus,
character is demonstrated by looking and reaching outward when the
natural and instinctive response is to be self-absorbed and turn inward.
If such a capacity is indeed the ultimate criterion of moral character,
then the Savior of the world is the perfect example of such a
consistent and charitable character."
I'll be the first to admit that I am far from
attaining this perfect Christ-like love. There have been several times
in my life where things haven't gone the way I've liked and I've focused
completely inward on my own suffering. Even now on my mission, I pray
everyday that I can recognize my prideful thoughts and eliminate them
from my mind. Often we sin in ignorance. We justify our suffering and
our anger to satisfy the natural man. But this is not what Christ would
do. Even in His finally moments of suffering on the cross, bearing the
sins of the world, He asked Heavenly Father to "forgive them for they
know not what they do".
I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and His
atoning sacrifice that allows me to improve everyday. I'm humbled to
know that He loved me enough, an imperfect person, to pay the price for
my sins so that one day I might be like Him.
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray unto
the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with
this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be dpurified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:48)
I love you all! Have a good week and read the entire talk "The Character of Christ". Here is the link:
Sister Jensen
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