Labor Day Miracle!

Hola!

 

This week we had Zone Conference up in Nazareth. It's always really fun seeing other missionaries and getting to spend most of the day with them and President and Sister Anderson. (For those who don't know, Zone Conference is a big ol' meeting put on by the President and his Assistants, and multiple zones of missionaries go to it.) The focus of our meeting was understanding our purpose as missionaries even better. You see, we recite our purpose every day:

 

"Our purpose is to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end" (Preach My Gospel, pg 1).

 

I don't have my notebook with me, but I promise I learned more about why exactly missionaries serve, and it made me think about all the things I do in my missionary work and if they're helping to bring others closer to Christ.

 

This week, once again, was a trying week. We were still struggling to find people to teach, so it was no secret that I was looking forward to fast Sunday. I fasted so that we could just find direction in the Whitehall area and for someone who needs help. On Sunday night we were visiting with a less active member, and we were just telling her how we felt like we hadn't accomplished much in the past five weeks. She stopped us mid-sentence and told us that because we've been visiting her and helping her, we changed her life. It was a very humbling moment for me; I had been ungrateful for the things that we were seeing and had focused on the things we weren't seeing. I have seen many miracles in the past few weeks-- they weren't the miracles I wanted or expected, but they were there. And for that I am incredibly grateful.

 

I guess since Labor Day is included in this email, I'll let you know how awesome it was. We were just out and about in the morning when we got a call from Bishop Smith. He had been referred to a woman by a Bishop in Nazareth who needed financial help. Bishop Smith talked to her about helping with the financial aspect of things, but then told her about the missionaries and what we do. So lo and behold, we were at her house later that afternoon and taught her the Restoration. It was a very powerful lesson, and she was just so sweet. We invited her to baptism and she said yes! We are so excited to be working with her, and it was definitely an answer to our pleas for someone to teach! Miracle!

 

A quick message I wanted to share with everyone in lieu of Labor Day:

 

One form of work that we do is serving others. It is by far the most rewarding work, and I've never met anyone who has regretted an act of service they did for someone. We need to serve one another out of love, because that is how we show our love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

 

"35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25:35-40)

 

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." (Mosiah 2:17)

 

My challenge to you all this week is to look for an unplanned opportunity to serve someone. Service can take place in many forms, so don't feel like you have to organize a leaf-raking brigade. Then let me know how things went, okay?

 

Love yous!

 

Sister Singleton