Joplin, Monett, Springfield, Springfield South, West Plains and Saint Robert Zone Conference7/28/2017
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The Lord’s dealings in our lives ceases to amaze me! Yesterday, I watched God work through President. A little over a week ago President started stressing that as missionaries, we needed to be more bold in approaching people. I’ve heard him repeatedly ask the missionaries, “Do you believe this is the most important thing that will happen to a person?” With that statement has come an increase in his own personal boldness. He will offer a pass-a-long card and then say, “Learning what this website teaches is the most important thing that’s going to happen to you today.” I am a firm believer that when we match our actions with God’s commands, things become easier to accomplish. I certainly saw that yesterday. As we got ready to leave the hotel, I realized I hadn’t packed my dress clothes. Kevin went before me. By the time I caught up, he was just finishing a conversation. He was giving away a pass-a-long card and saying “This is the most important thing you’ll do today.” With sincerity, she looked at him and said, “I believe it”. Later in the day as I came out of the gas station, I observed Kevin approach a road worker. “Hey, can I give you something that is going to change your life?” A conversation ensued. It ended up the road worker who looked to be about 40 was a member who hadn’t been active in the church since he was 18. I watched in amazement as the two visited as if they were old friends. When it came time to leave, their exchange went something like this. Kevin: “It’s time to come back to Church isn’t it?” Road Worker: “Yea, it is.” Kevin: “I’ll send the missionaries by.” After getting his address, and a picture, Kevin casually said, “I love you, man.” And I knew he did. And the angel said unto me:…Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? And I answered Him, saying, Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. 1 Nephi 11:21-22 Last night the Martin’s were baptized. The ward turned out in mass. The Sisters had to set up more chairs. Many cried. Their journey has been the ward’s journey.
May came and went, and with that passing, went their first baptismal date. They just couldn’t `quit smoking. But their determination, the determination of others, and the Lord’s enabling power finally led them to the waters of baptism. After hearing that they couldn’t afford to buy the supplies for the stop smoking workshop, a members volunteered to sponsor them. He bought all the supplies they’d need, and then gave them something else – support. He helped Josiah. He held him accountable, and he cheered him on. Two Sundays before their baptism, I sat and listened to him bear testimony of the Lord’s guiding help. He shared how hard it had been to stop smoking, but that the Lord had helped him. It was all I could do not to laugh aloud as he explained that on a particular day he had wanted so badly to smoke. Finally he decided that he needed to do something to keep his mind off smoking. Burning the old pile of stuff in the back looked like the perfect project. What started out as a back yard burn, end up being a near forest fire. Okay, it wasn’t quite that bad, but one back door and quite a bit of property later, he stood grateful that the fire was finally out. Josiah finished his testimony with, “When I asked the Lord to help me, I didn’t think it would be by lighting my back yard and back door on fire, but I guarantee I wasn’t thinking about smoking.” For someone who isn't a member of the church, they ight think that as they stepped into the waters of baptism their journey was over but really it was really just beginning. And, oh how wonderful to know that as they walk through their journey they won’t be alone. They will have each other, the Lord, and a whole lot of ward members!
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