In the sixth and seventh months, 2015 A.D.
In each apartment I've lived in the rent has been paid for
by the mission and the bills have been divided among those in the apartment.
Having us pay the electric and water bills help us learn to manage our use of
these utilities, and helps us to be conservative. Water bills range from
200-300 pesos (or 5-7 dollars) for 4 missionaries for a whole month, and
electricity is about 1,000-1,500 pesos (or 22-34 dollars) for 4 missionaries
for a month. In my current apartment however there is a bill that must be paid
on or before the 15th of every month. It's called "association
dues". It costs exactly 2,550 pesos
(or 57 dollars) every month. It pays for the building security, the elevators,
the pool, the basketball court, and the other things associated with living
where we live. However, no one in my apartment wants to pay it, so I end up
paying it every month. Although it is a reimbursable expense unlike the other
bills. The mission understands that such a bill would place an undue burden on
missionaries.
As a missionary, I learn and experience many great and
wonderful things for myself, but I'm also blessed to learn from association
many great and important things that I never had to struggle and endure myself.
I've learned many lessons about leadership, even though I myself have seldom
been a leader. I've learned how to rise above challenges that I've not yet
encountered, and I've been blessed to learn from association, and rarely from
experience, that wickedness never was happiness. So to my many associations I
am greatly indebted. I am grateful that there are no bills for such
associations, but if there were I would pay them rather than suffer myself to
learn of all the pain.
I'm sure Satan is disappointed when we learn to do what is
right by association. He intends for each of us to experience all of the pain
and suffering that our neighbors experience. He truly desires that all men
might be miserable, like unto himself. When we see our friend struggling
because of a bad decision and we say in our hearts and commit to ourselves that
we will never make the mistake they made we remove entirely that weapon from
the devil's arsenal.
Here's a sports example. A curve ball is a powerful weapon
of an astute pitcher, but only if the batter is not expecting it or has not
seen it before. Either curving into or out of the strike zone at the last
millisecond, this pitch can and has fooled nearly everyone who has seen it, at
one time or another. If however, upon watching his teammate at the plate, a
player notices a variance in the pitcher's delivery of his curve, as compared
to his other pitches he has indeed "removed this weapon from his
arsenal". Even if this player has not yet taken a pitch from this
particular pitcher he knows how to predict, and thus how to avoid, the pitfalls
of this pitch. This knowledge alone will not save him, but if he acts on this
knowledge and is watchful and mindful he will not be deceived.
How many times does a mistake have to be repeated before we
resolve and commit to avoid it. The answer is way less than 1. If we are truly
watchful God will give us many chances to watch the 'pitcher' before our plate
appearance, as well as after. Our Father in Heaven intends for us to learn some
things from experience. A batter will not be worth his weight in rice unless
he's had many personal experiences in the batters' box. But let us all be
grateful for the things that we are blessed to learn from association, and not
seek to experience every pain of soul, and every sin, in our ignorance forgoing
the blessing of eyes that see and ears that hear.
This week we had a really cool
activity called Flight 2015. It wasn't a real flight, but it was a simulated
flight that ended with a simulated crash after which all of those involved were
taken to a room and taught about the plan of salvation, and where we go after
we die.
Four of our investigators came
to the activity. There were about 100 people that attended, some members, but many
non-members. It was really well planned out, and it was all in Tagalog which
was awesome because sometimes they speak too much English at our church
meetings and some of the investigators don't understand any of it. I used to
fall asleep when they spoke Tagalog in church, but now I can understand most of
what they say, and I stay awake easily in church.
Anyway, after the plane crash
and the classes about where we go when we die, and the rest of the plan of
salvation, there was a Q&A portion, and the investigators asked questions
which we as missionaries took turns answering. I only had to answer one
question and there weren't many questions asked, but the whole atmosphere at
the activity was celestial. It even made me ponder about the next life, and our
purpose here.
When one of our investigators
asked questions about baptism and joining the church I was surprised and happy.
I didn't know that those were even on her mind. We have only taught this
investigator 3 times, and we haven't given her a baptismal date yet.
I know that the Lord is
preparing people and that the gospel is true, maybe the time will come when I
won't be surprised by the miracles of missionary work, but maybe not.
* * * * * * * *
I have to admit, there were
more long emails than I had time to read today, so I apologize if there was
something you requested or asked me about because I haven't yet read them. I've
saved them to this computer and I will print them out, but if you have an
urgent concern or question send it separately in a small email. But don't stop
sending those long emails. I love reading those, and I read all of them.
I remember a few weeks ago I
was worried that I was being forgotten. I was worried that I'd been away from
my family and friends for so long that I was pushed further and further into
the back of your mind, and further down on your list of priorities.
But now I've begun praying
about everything and worrying about nothing.
Try it. It works.
And I'll tell you more about my
experiences next week. The time is far spent.
* * * * * * * *
I'm very grateful for all of
the things that have been happening and I feel like I should share some of
those things with you.
1. Investigators at church - A
few weeks ago we were struggling with getting anyone to come to church. We
tried over and over again inviting people to church, and even offering to pick
them up. Even showing up to pick them up. Occasionally that resulted in them
coming to church once, but then they wouldn't come the next week. The people we
were trying to get to church were mostly primary age investigators, and we
seemed to be hitting a brick wall. However, just more than a month ago we met
Elizabeth Dela Pena, and she's been to church 4 times in a row now. To our
surprise she has brought a new investigator to church each time. The first week
it was just her, but then it was her and her son, then her and her son and her
aunt, then she brought her older son to a baptism last Saturday, and yesterday
she brought both of her sons and her husband to church, and they stayed for all
3 hours. Sister Elizabeth was someone we just met while we were proselyting. I
know that very little of her progression in the church is due to the things
that we've done. The Lord prepared her to hear the word.
2. Overwhelmed with food -
Every week we have 2 set dinner appointments. One on Sunday nights, and one on
Wednesday nights, and on top of that we usually get fed some sort of snack
every day. Sometimes a whole meal, and sometimes more than one. If you've been
praying for me to be well fed then you're prayers have been answered.
3. Stress investigators - Some
of our investigators just seem to add stress to my life and don't really
progress. They progress just enough that I feel like we need to help them, but
they don't do the hard things like come to church on their own, or pray with
real intent. There were about 7 or 8 of these kind of investigators in my area
last week, but I found out last Sunday that 4 or 5 of these investigators don't
actually live in my area. We thought they did, and we taught them as if they did.
They actually live in the Zone Leaders' area. They gladly accepted them as new
investigators, and maybe they can help them turn their lives around. So far, I
still haven't seen them at church, but now the stress is off my shoulders. :)
Wish I could say more, but this
is the substantialness I can muster right now. :)
* * * * * * * *
DANIEL'S FAMILY AT HOME
No comments:
Post a Comment