I was reading something that impacted me quite hard. In this life, we try to be like Jesus; perfect. Yet no one is perfect, how can we just start being perfect, we can´t right. So then, how can we even become perfect? The answer is in Hebrew, where we learn how Jesus became perfect.
Herbrews 5:8-9
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
The scripture says that Jesus, the Son of God learned to be obedient through all the many sufferings he went through, and through his sufferings, learned obedience. And having been obedeint, became perfect.
As missionaries we are taught that if we study everyday, spend the wholeday going and finding people to teach, teach with the Spirit, and then offer good commitments, we will have success. But if that was how it is, why doesn´t every missionary have great lessons, bring people to church, and feel the blessings of their success.
Here in Longaví, the branch is struggling, let´s be real. As missionaries, we can visit people day in and day out, but they won´t come to church, or they won´t want to do their commitments, or who knows what. It is frustrating. Sometime, it just takes away all of the animo out of you, to bike for hours just to visit one family and then for them to say, sorry we forget to tell you that we are busy, or to walk in the rain for what seems like forever just to try and visit one of the members of the branch to help strengthen them. Why can´t people just do what they know that have too.
One day we were visiting out branch mission leader, and he shared something with us that i had never thought of before. I shared an experiece with him that we visit new converts twice a week, just to get them to come to church and they never do, and they live in the boonies! You know we have taught everything we can, they know the blessings that they can recieve, but they just refuse to grasp them, how can we get these people to come to church!?!
His answer was simple and profound. With a few questions, and then a bittersweet response. Do we work in the rain? Of course. Have you biked out to the farthest part of the area? Sure have. You work from sunset to sunrise right? Everyday. He told that, he knows we do because he has seen us, he know our sacrifice. Then, to this moment, I have his response in my mind.
There will come a day, it may not be for a while, but the people whom you visit, will see your sacrifices. All the days you shared with them after getting soaking wet, the times that you biked out 2 hours just to share a short 30 minute lesson, and then biked back in the other direction, the services you have offered just because there was service to be done. And when they do, their eyes will be opened. It is not the message that you carry that will convert them, it is the sacrifice you do, and they love you have for your people that will bring them to church. Jesus did not baptize more than 10 people, but because of his sacrifices and his love millons have been converted.
Let us strive for that perfection that Jesus achieved. Again, looks like the time is out, but just remember that often times the blessings we are looking for and not we actualy recieve. And through our sufferings comes the blessings of perfection!
Love you all and wish you the best!
Elder Siaosi
No comments:
Post a Comment