December 3, 2012:
Weak things being made strong meant I would learn how to rely on God
Dobry den!
Guess who came to CHURCH yesterday?!!!! The first time we visited [a less active member] he said that he'd 98 percent come. And then the next time he said that he'd 100 percent come. We went to wait for him at the bus stop, and when he got off I just...burst. I died from happiness. Haha, that scripture juts popped into my head about bringing a soul to Christ... so true. I loved the moment we had with [him] when he opened up and admitted that he was scared to come back. I loved it because then I finally had the charity enough and patience and love enough to step into a less active's shoes, to really try and imagine what it would be like to come back and to not just be a pushy missionary who gets irritated when investigators or less actives who said they'd come don’t come. It is our job to stand where Christ is, feel their pain, and then help them ease it with gospel principles. I love being a missionary. Magic and miracles both exist.
When [he] came in he was immediately surrounded by love. People were hugging him and the old sisters are all just obsessed with him and they were holding onto his huge arms, and I was just cracking up. While I waited at the door and greeted others, I looked into the chapel just in time to see an older sister walk up to [him], rub his shoulder, say something, and then walk off to take her seat. Afterwards, [he] didn’t realize anyone was watching, but he smiled. And that was when I felt so good to know that he felt loved and at home. He was where he needed to be. He was where God wanted him to be. And he felt that. And I got to see that. Man. Words really cannot describe this. It was Fast and Testimony Meeting, and Sister Bowler was playing the piano, and we were sitting by [him] and brother Tmej. [The member] leaned over to me after I had encouraged Sister Woodworth to bear her testimony, and he said, "Why aren’t you going up?" and I said, "After you brother!" Haha, but he was like, "I will do it next time. I'm too nervous, and my heart is pumping." So I just got up and bore my testimony, and I told everyone [he] had told me to. Hahah, it was so great because everyone laughed including [him].
In Sunday School [he] participated so much, and the lesson was on our baptismal commitments, and somehow
testimonies were brought up and how they are our rocks. The teacher asked us to share something about our testimony. [The member] explained that when he was investigating, he had a dream three times telling him which church to join. While he was still a little unsure for some reason, the missionaries gave him a chapter in the Book of Mormon which described the people in the Americas hearing God's voice three times, and finally on the third time recognizing it. He said that it built him and helped him because it was proof to him that his answer was from God. And I was so full because, I was that missionary. I had prayed to know what to give him that day, and that came to mind during the lesson. It is so fulfilling to be back here. I know God loves me, because He is letting me continue to help build [this member] as well as Jičín. What a blessing it has been.
And I have been so frustrated, and really mad at myself sometimes because I speak the language so poorly. I have felt stupid and lost and alone because I feel like everyone around me has picked up so quickly. I get mad at myself for maybe not studying right, or not working hard enough, but I know I'm trying my best. But anyway, I feel like Heavenly Father knew that I needed this time to help me realize that I have done something good out here. That all my work has helped a soul come to Christ. And I think that is God's answer to me that He's proud of what I've done. He knows I tried my best. I thought that weak things being made strong would mean that I would be strong in the language, but it didn’t mean that for me. It meant that because of my weakness I would learn how to rely on God, I would learn to listen, I would let down my pride, be humble, and communicate with things other than words. I have learned so much. And boy, am I so grateful.
Something else wonderful happened at Church yesterday. That family came to Church who we once before went and visited. It was so good to see them again, and they came! They were leaving to go home after Sacrament [Meeting], and they saw a less active member. He has been somewhat of a legend here. The gospel changed him. He felt the Spirit, and his whole life turned around. He was baptized and taught with the missionaries CONSTANTLY. He lit Jičín on fire. But then something happened [and] he convinced himself he didn’t need God anyway. No one was able to find him or get in touch with him except for brother Tmej who said that he had told him that he wasn’t coming back. But yesterday the miracle happened. The family was driving home, when they saw [him]. They pulled over and talked to him. They took him to the building and somehow got him inside. One of them came to the Sunday School class we were in and mentioned for us to come out. We did and [a member] told me that he had seen [the other member], and he didn’t think he would actually come inside, but he DID!
The members loved him and hugged him and supported him. He got a blessing afterwards, and I think that helped him. We didn’t ask him to meet yet because the timing isn’t good, but it was good to see him, and we shook his hand. Today, on the way to email, we saw him. There he was right in front of us! He told us everything first hand, and I asked if he had our number, and he said no so we exchanged. I asked if he'd start coming to Church again, and he said he must, because he needs it, and that brother Tmej is buying him a suit. And right then, our [Branch Mission Leader] came up. Tender mercy. God knows where His children are. And one of his sheep is coming back! That is so wonderful and exciting. I love that.
I gotta go,
Until next time,
-Sestra Izattova
Weak things being made strong meant I would learn how to rely on God
Dobry den!
Guess who came to CHURCH yesterday?!!!! The first time we visited [a less active member] he said that he'd 98 percent come. And then the next time he said that he'd 100 percent come. We went to wait for him at the bus stop, and when he got off I just...burst. I died from happiness. Haha, that scripture juts popped into my head about bringing a soul to Christ... so true. I loved the moment we had with [him] when he opened up and admitted that he was scared to come back. I loved it because then I finally had the charity enough and patience and love enough to step into a less active's shoes, to really try and imagine what it would be like to come back and to not just be a pushy missionary who gets irritated when investigators or less actives who said they'd come don’t come. It is our job to stand where Christ is, feel their pain, and then help them ease it with gospel principles. I love being a missionary. Magic and miracles both exist.
When [he] came in he was immediately surrounded by love. People were hugging him and the old sisters are all just obsessed with him and they were holding onto his huge arms, and I was just cracking up. While I waited at the door and greeted others, I looked into the chapel just in time to see an older sister walk up to [him], rub his shoulder, say something, and then walk off to take her seat. Afterwards, [he] didn’t realize anyone was watching, but he smiled. And that was when I felt so good to know that he felt loved and at home. He was where he needed to be. He was where God wanted him to be. And he felt that. And I got to see that. Man. Words really cannot describe this. It was Fast and Testimony Meeting, and Sister Bowler was playing the piano, and we were sitting by [him] and brother Tmej. [The member] leaned over to me after I had encouraged Sister Woodworth to bear her testimony, and he said, "Why aren’t you going up?" and I said, "After you brother!" Haha, but he was like, "I will do it next time. I'm too nervous, and my heart is pumping." So I just got up and bore my testimony, and I told everyone [he] had told me to. Hahah, it was so great because everyone laughed including [him].
In Sunday School [he] participated so much, and the lesson was on our baptismal commitments, and somehow
testimonies were brought up and how they are our rocks. The teacher asked us to share something about our testimony. [The member] explained that when he was investigating, he had a dream three times telling him which church to join. While he was still a little unsure for some reason, the missionaries gave him a chapter in the Book of Mormon which described the people in the Americas hearing God's voice three times, and finally on the third time recognizing it. He said that it built him and helped him because it was proof to him that his answer was from God. And I was so full because, I was that missionary. I had prayed to know what to give him that day, and that came to mind during the lesson. It is so fulfilling to be back here. I know God loves me, because He is letting me continue to help build [this member] as well as Jičín. What a blessing it has been.
And I have been so frustrated, and really mad at myself sometimes because I speak the language so poorly. I have felt stupid and lost and alone because I feel like everyone around me has picked up so quickly. I get mad at myself for maybe not studying right, or not working hard enough, but I know I'm trying my best. But anyway, I feel like Heavenly Father knew that I needed this time to help me realize that I have done something good out here. That all my work has helped a soul come to Christ. And I think that is God's answer to me that He's proud of what I've done. He knows I tried my best. I thought that weak things being made strong would mean that I would be strong in the language, but it didn’t mean that for me. It meant that because of my weakness I would learn how to rely on God, I would learn to listen, I would let down my pride, be humble, and communicate with things other than words. I have learned so much. And boy, am I so grateful.
Something else wonderful happened at Church yesterday. That family came to Church who we once before went and visited. It was so good to see them again, and they came! They were leaving to go home after Sacrament [Meeting], and they saw a less active member. He has been somewhat of a legend here. The gospel changed him. He felt the Spirit, and his whole life turned around. He was baptized and taught with the missionaries CONSTANTLY. He lit Jičín on fire. But then something happened [and] he convinced himself he didn’t need God anyway. No one was able to find him or get in touch with him except for brother Tmej who said that he had told him that he wasn’t coming back. But yesterday the miracle happened. The family was driving home, when they saw [him]. They pulled over and talked to him. They took him to the building and somehow got him inside. One of them came to the Sunday School class we were in and mentioned for us to come out. We did and [a member] told me that he had seen [the other member], and he didn’t think he would actually come inside, but he DID!
The members loved him and hugged him and supported him. He got a blessing afterwards, and I think that helped him. We didn’t ask him to meet yet because the timing isn’t good, but it was good to see him, and we shook his hand. Today, on the way to email, we saw him. There he was right in front of us! He told us everything first hand, and I asked if he had our number, and he said no so we exchanged. I asked if he'd start coming to Church again, and he said he must, because he needs it, and that brother Tmej is buying him a suit. And right then, our [Branch Mission Leader] came up. Tender mercy. God knows where His children are. And one of his sheep is coming back! That is so wonderful and exciting. I love that.
I gotta go,
Until next time,
-Sestra Izattova