Maaaan, this week was a rollercoaster.
Made me think of yous
(Note: This is a painting of a cartoon my kids enjoyed watching together - lh)
This week I became a lot more familiar with some of the more frustrating aspects of missionary work and that was...a learning experience. hahah. but I learned something super wonderful that I wanted to share with you.
Lately in the BOM I've been reading Mosiah and Alma and I seriously have been loving it. The missionaries in those books were so powerful and did everything they did with so much love and faith and hope and humility and boldness, because they knew they were doing it with the Lord. They had the authority of the calling and earned the power by how they chose to live before their God and I am constantly so inspired by their examples. But this time when I read, I realized that when the Lord called Alma and the Sons of Mosiah to do the work, He told the usual--to preach repentance and faith in Jesus Christ to all--but also added to bear their afflictions with patience. He said if they did those things, He would give them success. And I was super struck by that. The Lord realized that this group would be super successful, but not just because of what they taught--because of who they were. Plus, last week, Dad sent me an email about being patient and assuming the best of people. Loving them regardless of reasons to be frustrated with them. It was all super inspiring and together, left an influence on me.
And then Heavenly Father, in His love and wisdom, gave me the opportunity to LIVE by these nice-sounding-in-principle principles. OORAH!
Photo credit: Sis. Karin Carter (Thank you! xoxo)
Wednesday, we were suuuper frustrated because we had a lot to do and were running late and everything was not working out and we weren't even getting along with each other. We were on the street walking somewhere and we were moving really fast and were just grumpy for every justifiable reason. And then in this moment of indulgence (and y'all gotta remember, I love indulgence), the thought was like "be patient. And show your patience by your attitude toward the situation." and then I saw a cute old lady in a cute dress and told her her dress was cute. And kept saying hello to people. And smiled. AND IT ACTUALLY HELPED. For real. Not the situation very much, but how I felt. And I really felt like the people in Mosiah 24:13-16.
"13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up theirburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."
It was a miracle! And this attitude and seeking to change that in myself helped sooo much this week. The Lord stepped in once I decided to get over myself and I am so grateful I got to see that.
Which brings me to this...THIS WEEK WAS A MIRACLE. For real. It was a frustrating one in some ways but in lots of other ways, we have seen the Lord moving forth His work here. Like the man we contacted on Friday who was willing to listen to a message about Jesus Christ and then ACTUALLY came to church when we invited him to the woman from Bishkek who'd met the church in Russia once and showed up at the building early on Sunday because she loves the doctrine and wants to feel that always to the woman that's been coming that asked us what she has to do to become a member to our investigators who have been making REAL PROGRESS in their hearts and just. This is the work of the Lord. And I am so so so so so grateful to be a part of it, even when I have to get a blood test in a scary hospital by myself. (results to come tomorrow) (oorah for visa renewals) (pray i don't have aids okay)
tl;dr the best way to share the gospel is to be Christlike people. because I know that every time we choose to act the way Christ would, in a big way or a little one, people FEEL that. they feel His love and the reality of His existence in a way more powerful than words.
I love you!! i hope you all have a wonderful wonderful week. I love you and pray for you always.
Love,
Sister Hansen
Photo credit: Sis. Karin Carter (Thank you, thank you!)
