During the past week, I've had the phrase running through my head like crazy. Maybe it's because the year I've spent without seeing any movies, but probably because everything I've studied this week fell upon that one word: Penitent. But I'll dive in a little more detail a little further along.
This week was really good, In fact, too good. The sun was shining, the members helped us 100%, and we even had a baptism to Top it off. Right now I feel like I'm on the top of the world, and I hope things keep going this way, so that I never have to fall. So, let me explain a little bit about Sandro. Three or four weeks back, we arrived at a large house, looking for someone we had contacted in the street. While waiting at the door, someone else arrived from behind and said simply, "Can I help you?" My first thought was, "No, but we can help you!" We introduced ourselves and he invited us in. Ever since then, he was a Golden investigator. Everything we taught, he responded simply: "Alright, makes sense." When we invited him to assume and live God's commandments, the next day he was already doing it. He's one of the purest, and most faithful people I've known on the mission, and he lets that faith act in him. His baptism was just two days back, and he's still more excited than ever to be here.
So what is a penitent man? As Indiana Jones put it, "A penitent man is humble. A penitent man kneels before God." As well the scriptures explain the meaning and blessings of being penitent. In Alma 26: 21-22, Ammon explains the following after having converted thousands of his brethren to the Lord. "And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent. Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God." To be penitent, we must humble ourselves, repent of our wrong doings and seek to do good unto all men. As well, we must exercise our faith, and we must find ourselves in constant prayer, at all times and in all places, in gratitude for that which God has given us, and with the desire to receive that which we need. Then we have the promise that all things will be known unto us, and, as Mormon describes later, we might be able to find true happiness. (Alma 27:18)
I don't have much more time, but I'd like to describe one more investigator for all of you. We began teaching her a little time back, and she has passed a lot of difficulties in life, including painful surgeries on her leg which she broke. We taught her first as she sat in front of her house, "catching a little sunlight." After we began to talk, she began to thank us for everything and for, as she put it, "bringing, something new to her life." In just the last two weeks, she's already read almost everything, and has a great desire to go to church, every day thanking us and God for this blessing in her life. Surely great things are in store for her, and I know that she is truly penitent.
Let us all search to be the same. :)
Elder Angus
Word of the week:
Dormir (door-meer) To sleep. Unfortunately there isn't much time to do this here. :P
Photo:
- Baptism of Sandro
(as well, shows my new companion, Elder Fonseca)
No comments:
Post a Comment