Personal Revelations and the Trial of your Faith

Well this week has been a Grand Slam, as the Americans call it. We have worked really hard and have some really good investigators. We have seen miracles, apostles, and much happiness this week but at the same time have been blessed with hardships.

First Ill start with the hardships. This week has been so great! Weve worked really hard with our progressing investigators and have been really bold to invite them to follow Jesus Christ. By Saturday, we had a whole list of people that were ready and prepared to come to church. NONE of them came!!! AHH how annoying is that? It didnt help that it was held at the stake center because of conference either. This whole week we have been teaching investigators about Ether 12. That we only receive faith AFTER the trial of our faith. In other words, they wouldnt receive a testimony about this church until after they have visited and felt the spirit. All my investigators seemed to agree and were excited to attend.

It wasnt until Sunday night that I realised I was being tested of my faith. It wasnt easy sitting in Stake Conference without any investigators. It definitely wasnt easy knowing that many of the goals we had for baptism fell for the date we had planned. It was hard for me and my companion. Thats when I realized that maybe my companion and I were being tested. Maybe the Lord wanted to know if I was strong enough and prepared to teach and invite his children to the waters of baptism. Im not sure why it happened, but I know that this week my companion and I will continue to work hard, continue to invite our investigators to feel the spirit and become converted, and continue to keep the commandments and have the spirit with us.

Ill share a little about my investigators. First there is Marlisa and her daughter Michelle who is 17 years old. They read the Book of Mormon and pray together when they have time. They both know the Book of Mormon is true and Marlisa has already received an answer. The problem is that they havent been to church yet. I know that when they go to church, their beliefs will become testimonies. They agreed to be baptised when they receive a full answer of this gospel.

Marcelo is a grandson of a less-active member. His brother is also less active in the church. We are working hard to bring the Grandfather to church and baptise Marcelo.

Bruna and her brother Luan. Bruna is 19 and over the last 6 months of her life her father has become ill with some kind of deadly disease. He is starting to get better but is completely dependant on her to help him with everything. Since she has been faced with this trial, she has thought alot about religion and her purpose in life. She is progressing really well and promised to pray about the Book of Mormon. She prayed in front of us for the first time in her life. She says that she likes the feelings that she gets but needs to take it slow because religion is a new thing for her.

Ana Claudia is a mother in her late forties. She is having problems with smoking and drinking. She drinks when she is sad and lonely. She quits smoking than starts again. The good thing is that she is ready to turn to the Lord and get help. She has looked me in the eye and told me that she will be baptised when she gets the answer. She is full of faith and im excited to teach her.

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to listen to David A. Bednar. A true apostle of Jesus Christ. It was one of the most wonderful experience of my life. Just as he said, being with an apostle, two members of the quorum of 70, A member from the area presidency, and your mission president, and being in a group of 60 people will never ever happen again! We were able to ask great questions. I learned so much about the church by the things he taught. He taught us how to receive answers from the Lord. I learned how to teach and convert my investigators. And just as important, he taught us skills that help me for the rest of my life! I was blessed to see and hear him. OH and yes, I wore the ugly family tie:)

(This is the tie if you can zoom in and see it....this photo was taken in July, 2012)

Well ill wrap it up for this week! Be safe and remember to do everything good to always have the spirit with you.

Love,

Elder Horst