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| Everglades |
...just kidding. But I thought I was going to have to!
Last night (we proselyted on Monday this week because everyone is home for Memorial Day) a member in our ward who is so good to us and always teaches us really needed a blessing. We told him we'd be there at 7, but we got stuck in a lesson with this crazy awesome girl who just got here from Colombia! She's living with her Aunt, who's a member in our ward, and she's getting baptized on the 6th! Unfortunately, we won't be teaching her any longer, because we told her about the Young Single Adult Ward and she was super excited! So the YSA Elder will finish teaching her. I'm sad because she was really cool and super ready to be baptized, but I'm glad she'll be in YSA because it will help her make friends! Anyways, her Aunt is really old and talks a lot and super slow (Colombians speak like perfect Spanish, and it's slow so I can understand for once hahah) but the lesson went for like an 90 mins, when the actual teaching only took about 20. We have to be home by 9, so we hustle over to the Members apartment complex to give him a Priesthood blessing. But, every apartment complex on Fontainebleau Blvd has a security gate and guard and it's totally unnecessary. And this Old Cuban man was just being a jerk and wouldn't let us in for the Stupidest reason, even tho we knew the address and were talking on the phone to the member. He just wouldn't let us in! The old man was getting in our face smoking a fat cigar, so we waited until a car came out the exit and just bull rushed it. He tried to chase us but we got to the members apartment, gave him the blessing, and got out of there. It was super funny, and the member said that Guard only works late nights so we'll never see him again.. hopefully.
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| Can you spot the Gator? |
We aren't teaching very many people right now, so we're trying our best to be diligent, look for opportunities to serve and visit members. And of course, lots of knocking doors. I've spent a lot of time reflecting and studying meekness in my personal studies every morning, and have some thoughts i'd like to share.
Sometimes, it can be a little bit overwhelming being a missionary. Everyone expects you to be perfect, and I have been expecting myself to be perfect. We have two names on our name tags; Our Family's name, and Jesus Christ. We represent both these people, and we're called to be his representatives and to act in his name in everything we do. That's a big responsibility, and I sometimes doubt myself and my ability to represent that well. I found some scriptures that have brought me great comfort:
Sometimes, it can be a little bit overwhelming being a missionary. Everyone expects you to be perfect, and I have been expecting myself to be perfect. We have two names on our name tags; Our Family's name, and Jesus Christ. We represent both these people, and we're called to be his representatives and to act in his name in everything we do. That's a big responsibility, and I sometimes doubt myself and my ability to represent that well. I found some scriptures that have brought me great comfort:
D&C 35
12 And there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the fullness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation.
13 Wherefore, I call upon the weak things of the world, those who are unlearned and despised, to thresh the nations by the power of my Spirit;
God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He doesn't expect anyone. When I was called to be a missionary, I was qualified by him. All I have to do is be meek and humble, worthy to have his Spirit with me.
Also, Nephi, who was one of the most Obedient and Worthy people to walk the Earth, mourned because of his Flesh:
2 Nephi 4
16 Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.
17 Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
19 And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh?Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
30 Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
31 O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
32 May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite!O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
34 O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35 Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
Sorry for the scripture overload, but these scriptures really got to me and taught me. God doesn't expect us to be perfect, he simply asks us to try our best. He wants to be humble enough to submit to his will, and his plan for us. He wants us to be obedient, not because he wants to control. It's actually the opposite; he wants to guide us to become more like him and closer to him. I could try and explain this better, but the Prophet Spencer W Kimball said it better than I ever could:
In urging us to be perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect, Jesus was not taunting us or teasing us. He was telling us a powerful truth about our possibilities and about our potential. It is a truth almost too stunning to contemplate. Jesus, who could not lie, sought to beckon us to move further along the pathway to perfection.
I know this is Christ's church restored on the Earth again. The Book of Mormon contains the words of God, it supports, clarifies, and sustains the Bible. Together, they contain the fullness of the Gospel of Christ. If you don't believe it, read it. It's that simple. People think that LDS missionaries brain wash people, and that's the furthest thing from the truth. I can't even speak Spanish! All we do is invite people to read, and to pray. The Holy Spirit teaches them, we just invite them to do it. I'm grateful for everyone who is supporting me and sends love! You're all the best. Sorry for the long email and the scripture overload but I hope you took the time to read it hahaha.
Love,
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Elder Johns
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