Monday, August 19, 2013

Pa from West Africa and Crying Goats

Buenas Tardes todos! Como estan? You can answer that question by writing me letters ;) haha

Anywhoozle,
 
An awesome thing that happened this week. We were getting out of the car at the end of the day to head back into the apartment, and this tall black man came towards us and said in an African accent, "are you missionaries?" "yes, yes we are!" "for what church?" "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!" 
 
Long story short, Pa (that's his name) took some lessons from missionaries a long time ago, but then moved and never got in contact with them again. He told us that he prayed and asked God if the Book of Mormon is the word of God and he said he got his answer. He wants to be baptized by the end of this month! Uhhhhhh, is this real life? hahaha he came to church yesterday and loved it. He told us, "you guys are all great friends." So cute. He's from West Africa. He's so cool. But, we found out he's 28 and we have to refer him to the YSA (Young Single Adult) Elders... poo. But oh well! Super exciting!  

I'm going to tell you all about our day yesterday. We went to church at 9am, (oh, and we teach a class during Sunday school about how to be a better member missionary. It is AWESOME). Came back home to each lunch and went back out. 80% of our job is to work with less-actives and Part-member families. And former investigators. So we made a huge, long list of names of people to visit and teach or make an appointment with. We knocked, and knocked, and knocked and no one answered. What in the world is going on... Then we tracted and went door-to-door, and everyone that actually answered was sooo mean, to say the least. I won't even say what was said to us. I literally felt like I was "despised and rejected of men" like the Savior was. I never thought that one of the hardest parts of my mission would be to be completely rejected. 
Don't they realize what they're missing? 

When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He taught His Gospel. He taught the people the commandments of God, the way we can live the happiest. He taught how everyone can return to live with God again. Our purpose of our life on earth is to have happiness and to prepare and learn how to live with God again after this life. The way we do that is through having faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement (His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, dying on the Cross, and being Resurrected) repenting of our sins, being baptized, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduing to the end. That's how we can live with God, our loving Heavenly Father again. 
 
I want this more than anything, and I want this for others! Why can't they see that the way back to Heavenly Father's presence is through these principles? The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to its fullness, and it's right here in our hands. 
 
People need to know about it. They need to have it in their lives! I have SO much happiness because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who doesn't need more happiness? The good part of it all though, is that everyone will get a chance to learn about it, in this life or the next. It's just really hard knowing all of this, and not having people even think about listening to it. 

God has a plan for everyone. Every single person on earth. I just need to remember that whatever I'm going through is for a reason, and that these people will find the truth eventually.

Now, on to hilarious matters. This is a picture of our new investigators. hahaha! These goats sounded like giant crying babies. It was hilarious. WHAT in the WORLD?! hahaha
 
 
 

Anywho, I have to go. I love you ALL! 

:)

Hermana Gardner


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