Well, in case you didn't grasp by the subject line, this week wasn't SUPER successful as far as teaching goes. We planned a lot of people in, but 98% of them either weren't home or couldn't meet, so that's unfortunate... BUT, alas... no discouragement here. There's a quote in Preach My Gospel that is basically my motto for missionary work when we have these "Refiner's Fire Weeks" as I like to call them. :)
"Some may not accept your message even when they have received a spiritual witness that it is true. You will be saddened because you love them and desire their salvation. You should not, however, become discouraged; discouragement will weaken your faith. If you lower your expectations, your effectiveness will decrease, your desire will weaken, and you will have greater difficulty following the Spirit." (PMG - Ch 1).
So... yeah... basically that quote is way awesome and it's so true! We cannot lower our expectations.. the Lord IS preparing people to hear His Gospel, and we just need to move forward with faith in His timing and will.
This week taught me a lot about humility as well, and its necessity in our spiritual growth.. We went about our plans each day, trying to find people to teach, and trying to follow the Spirit in doing so. Although we didn't find very much success, I believe sometimes we have these harder weeks so that we are not only grateful for the better ones, but so that we can truly learn to rely on the Lord more and "reach upward."
It is so true.. When times are tough, we have a tendency to reach upward more that when things are going well and just fine.. definitely like our own little pride cycles. It's amazing how much humility truly changes people. Sister Kitchen shared with me this morning in personal study just how much pride is the source behind everything bad that happens in the Book of Mormon, and the world. The opposite of pride, as we know, is humility. As we humble ourselves at all times, not just in times that are tough, we will be able to find greater successes, because we are relying on Him whose success it is.
Don't worry though.. there's always something amazing that happens each week - for which I am BEYOND grateful.. This week the miracle has a name - Stacy. We had planned to see a Less-Active in the morning that we would normally not see in the morning, but felt inspired to plan. We went and saw her, and instead of turning us away as is common, she said, "Come on in, sisters! I have someone I'd like you to meet." She proceeded to introduce us to her friend, Stacy, who just moved in with her. She met Stacy a few days earlier and since she was going through some hard times, our member opened her home to her. Well, they came out and sat down, and the member says, "Isn't this just amazing? Stacy and I were seriously just talking about how when I needed God most, He sent the missionaries to me. I was telling Stacy how much the missionaries helped me to feel better by bringing me the Gospel, and then you girls show up. Stacy, we didn't have a scheduled appointment.. they just came here. Isn't this wonderful?" It was such a testimony builder to me that this is truly the Lord's work and if we reach up to Him, He will guide us to the prepared. Stacy became a new investigator, and we are excited to teach her.
Well, I don't have much else to talk about this week. Yesterday, we were driving past a cemetery in the area and I just felt an overwhelming sense of love and peace and gratitude for this life. Isn't this sight beautiful?
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