Sister Creager's
birthday was on Thursday. We were in M-Hall that day, wore matching
dresses we got at Walmart, super cute. We talked to Manson on the porch
for a long time, he thinks Jesus at the second coming will be a hippie
who recycles and hangs out with potheads but doesn't chastise them, just
passively tells them they don't need the weed. Manson is off his
rocker. And I conclude he's scared to read too far into the Book of
Mormon and pray earnestly about because then it would disprove his
assertion that there is no such thing as an incorrupt organized
religion. The C family we stay with surprised Sister C with fabulous
strawberry shortcake. We chatted with a lady at the burger wagon over
sliders and by the end she was interested in having us come over and
talk sometime. I think if you talk to anyone long enough and show that
you actually care about their life, that could be all it takes to get a
foot in the door. We brought a Finding Faith in Christ dvd to a
referral (the kind we get by text), and it was a little girl that the C
family's 8 yr old daughter have given a pass along card to at school.
Guys, if an 8 year old can do it, you can too. Come on.
Funny story. Remember the curious kid we taught
that asked questions until we'd relayed the entire Restoration and Plan
of Salvation in one sitting? Well we went to recontact him twice,
second time talked to his mom, she wasn't interested, asked if she knew
anyone who needed help she said "My sister needs her roof fixed" and
gave us her info, we were like "Ok leaky roof, here we go" and we meet
the lady, she's kinda interested in our message, lets us teach her, we
go back the next day and her daughter is there, who saw the Book of
Mormon in her mom's house and wanted to read it and has been looking for
a church and loved learning about the Restoration. She accepted a
baptismal date for May 10. She was a potential's mom's sister's
daughter. Right? This neighborhood she was in was not even on our
incomplete map, i.e. we probably never would have found her otherwise.
God's got it all figured out though. Leads us along a breadcrumb trail
until we get where we were REALLY supposed to go.
We tracted a lot in that same neighborhood, it being
uncharted waters, it was bound to be riddled with gold. Which was
correct. We found another lady, who, since we talked to her awhile and
actually cared about her life, was open to hearing about the Plan of
Salvation. People really like this. Know why? Because it makes more
sense than clouds-or-fire heaven-or-hell. Because it's both just AND
merciful. We found another woman, same hood, who's attention was caught
when we mentioned a modern day prophet. Even when her obnoxious
neighbor walked up and tried to tell us our Book of Mormon was adding to
the Bible, she rolled her eyes and said "Well it makes a lot of sense
to me, even if it doesn't to.. some people..." and I felt victorious
because this neighbor's unwelcome presence just made us look even
better.
Sometimes I just wish we could soapbox this place.
Problem is, there are no big cities where people just walk around in
crowds. But how awesome would it be to stand on a crate and shout the
verses of Alma 5? Real awesome. Some days, all I wanna do is rebuke.
All day. But it's okay. Because I still get to cry repentance.
Usually not until after someone's begun to have a testimony of the
restored gospel, and then you bring up the commandments, where many
people have to slow down and reconsider how much faith they have. Such
as with Diddy, who's roadblock is still the law of chastity. Marrying
her live-in boyfriend and thus potentially sacrificing her pension,
which they've been living on. However! She reads and prays everyday,
AND receives comfort and revelation AND found out that she may possibly
get to keep her income even if she remarries. Finally! Someone who can
move forward because they're actually keeping commitments! That's the
only way to build faith, and only faith will keep you afloat when you
step into uncharted waters.
Speaking of faith. We had an awesome discussion
with an atheist this week. For real, it was a rush. Felt like I was in
college again. So this guy, late 20's, an attorney, is asking all
these questions about "if there is a God, how do you justify such and
such," but he's sincere, like he wishes he had evidence enough to
believe in God cause he knows he'd be happier. So we answer as best we
can using Plan of Salvation and eternal perspective, and then he asks
"If God is all knowing and already knows what we're going to choose in
the end, then how is there free will? Are we not already pre-destined?"
Not the first time I've heard this one, so I looked at my comp like "I
got this" and gave my view on the matter. "First of all, no matter
what we're going to choose in the end, God never stops working on every
single one of his children, in hopes that they will ALL choose Him in
the end. Secondly, while Heavenly Father may know the outcome, we do
not. And He's not going to tell us. Therefore, so long as WE don't
know the outcome, it's still a choice for us. We still have to choose."
Well, he told me that was the first coherent answer he'd ever received
for that particular question, and I boast not of myself but very much
of my God for that. Because I came up with that answer when I was like
16 and what 16 year old could do so without having received it divinely.
Like we studied this morning, all truth and light which giveth
understanding, come from God. He's the one with ALL the answers. And
he's given us SO many of them through ancient and modern day prophets in
the gospel we have today. That's how I know I have the right one.
That plus, the confirmation from the Holy Ghost. God wasn't going to
let us sail into this mortal world without a reliable guide, no matter
how much remains uncharted.
6 He that aascended up on high, as also he bdescended below all things, in that he ccomprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the dlight of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the alight of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was bmade...
11 And
the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who
enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your aunderstandings;
God governs by light, and light is everywhere.
Find it. Walk in it. Sail by it. Like the primary song says, it is
"the light of his love."
Sincerely,
Sister Valdez
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