So things are pretty good this week. The biggest news is that we had investigadores (investigators) in church for the first time as a companionship. It was pretty exciting for us to have that. It means that if these same people go again next week, they can be baptized the proximate domingo (Sunday). The funny thing was with one of them we didn`t do much work, a member brought them. Now the work for us begins as we work to teach her and help her gain a testimony.
This week as a companionship, we did pretty good to study, and one of the things we studied was to teach the people, not to teach the lessons. For me, it was really interesting to talk about the experiences I have had teaching real people. It is interesting to realize just how different every spirit of God really is. Everyone has their propios problemas (own problems), and yet in some ways we are so simple. It always reminds me of the love of God. It is one of the sweetest experiences of my life to be in a lesson and feel like I should share something. Usually it seems a little random and I have to work it a little to get it to fit into the lesson but the result is always worth it. To see a person actually begin to listen (yes, sometimes they don`t), and start to let the word enter their heart.
Something I wrote in my predicad mi evangelio (Preach my Gospel) recently comes to mind. If we can`t show them how it will apply to them, how can we expect them to accept it, much less be changed by it. Because when it comes down to it, the gospel means change. We were sent here to this earth not to return the same, but to return better. The mission sent us a talk last week about how to be a missionary consecrated, not just a good missionary. Something in it caught my attention, that if we just come to the mission and change our behavior, we will return the same subject to the same problems that plagued you then.
For me this was an eye opener. I want to be a good missionary, but more than that I want to grow. I want to return stronger, not the same. I feel like Nephi, I have my temptations and problems that always beset me. I know just how weak I really am. I want to return home a little better. No, scratch that, I want to return home a lot better. I want people to see the difference in my very soul, not just in the fact that I may have grown, or my physical appearance has changed. I really want to change my soul.
The talk continued to talk about how we need to change more than just our behavior. We need to change our very nature. It posed an interesting question, Do you follow the rules because others expect you too? Or do you follow because you WANT to? The way to do this is simple, and in its simplicity is the difficulty. We must submit our will to the Father`s, understanding that although the process may be painful, the results will be worth it. I went on quick divisions con my Lider de Zona hoy (zone leader today) Elder Torres. He told me that in his opinion, people are called as leaders, because the Lord wants to humble them. He wants to show them just how much they need him.
Sorry for the long rambling spiritual thought, but as you can see, it was the highlight of my week. It general, things are good, I have a slight cold right now (yea, I know, I`m in Honduras!). But my relationship with my companion is really good and I feel like we can do a lot together.
This week we lose the palace..:(. Oh well, the lord asked me what I was willing to do to serve him and I said I`ll go where you want me to go, so I`m going.
Final thought for the week:
Every change I have a scripture theme, which I write on my planner in Spanish and English. This change is a thought from the 2000 stripling It is found in Alma 57:21. It says, "Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them." This is my goal right now. To have sufficient faith, and the action to back it up, to really invite a miracle to our area.
I love you all, thank you for your prayers!
Elder Henrie
