August 2, 2010

Thanks for the fast with me, it really was needed for that moment.


Well this week, was get ready for a possible transfer week, so we were quite busy letting members and investigators know what might happen. But really that wasn't the power house amazing-ness of the week, this is...

A few weeks ago, a woman in the branch, on the way to the temple, got struck down by a stroke. For weeks, the branch and us, the missionaries, prayed strongly and fervently for her recovery. For about 2 weeks after the incident, people were anxious and faithful for her recovery. Last sunday, we heard she was finally out of the hospital and back home, so E' Hone and I rushed to see how she and her family were doing. It was a very heartfelt, and mellow enviornment, entering into the family's house and seeing the family still sticking together. Yesterday morning, during testimony meeting, many of the members bore their testimonies on how powerful the Lord truly is, especially in helping this hermana in her recovery.

Then to finish it all of, the hermana herself, walked up to the pulpit and bore testimony. It was amazingly powerful to see it, and there was not a dry eye in the chapel when she finished. Thinking of my experiences of last week, I thought to myself, "Wow, and I thought I had something hard to deal with, being a missionary and all." The faith of these people are truly astounding, and while we are in a small branch, it is amazing to see the unity that they have.

This week, I also learned something extraordinary. I've been studying a bit in Doctrine and Covenants and this last week I got to section 10. It was amazing to study through it, especially at the end of the section in which I learned the true awesomeness of the Lord. I know in my life that I have often thought that I never would be a fullfilment of prophecy or an answer to somebody's prayer, but in reading this section, I realized how dumb I really was. I learned that I am now fullfilling the prayers of Enos, Alma, Ammon, and all the great heros of the Book of Mormon, by answering their prayers to bring the Book of Mormon to all nations. I was extremely humbled in this, especially when I came to the conclusion of how important I truly am in the work of the Lord.

It was a great week, and now here we go with another transfer!

-Ian