President Anderson chose these three stories to illustrate his letter this week. They represent the idea that great missionaries, above average missionaries like there are in the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission do not let opposition stop them from bringing the gospel to God’s sons and daughters. In fact they turn opposition into opportunity!<\/p>\n
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\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153We knocked our first door of the day \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u00a6 and we were met with an aggressive shout from within the house of a man asking us what we wanted and how we shouldn’t be knocking on people’s doors and how he wanted us to leave.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 He wasn’t very kind at all as we were explaining through\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0his window of\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0how we were representatives of Jesus Christ and that he had sent us here to leave a prayer with him, until we said that Jesus Christ loves him and because of that love, we were sent to pray with him.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Right after we expressed that love of the Savior for him, he quickly opened the door and welcomed us in to pray with him and his wife.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 He told us that they needed that love from the Savior right now to mend their breaking relationship!\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 We left the blessing and baptismal invitation with them and they explained how they had both been thinking of being baptized and that they were also looking for a church to join!\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 Expressing the love that the Savior has for them, unlocked and changed a heart and created a new path for them both as they now are preparing to be baptized.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You are testifying with love in every moment possible:<\/span><\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153My companion and I had an awesome harvesting time and it got to the point where we just wanted to continue but yet had other appointments to head out to, so we decided to knock on one more home. We came across Jo, whom had such a bright spirit and accepted the Saviors peace and blessing. After leaving the blessing with him and identifying the spirit, we invited him to church but he was kind of hesitant and wouldn\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122t give us a\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0for sure “YES”. So Sunday morning we head out to round up our investigators for church, and we came across Jo. Jo stated that he wouldn’t be able to attend church as he was waiting for a phone call in regards to a job. We did what we do best and that was “TESTIFY” letting him know that it\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u2122s something Heavenly Father wants him to take part in and that he will truly be blessed throughout that week! Then eventually he said “YES” and he came to church with us.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Then yesterday we go out to his house\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0for\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0our scheduled appointment and he stated that he liked church and that he plans to\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0come\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0again this Sunday. We had an awesome lesson with him and invited\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0him to be baptized\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a001\/20 and he accepted knowing that we as Representatives of Jesus Christ will be there every step of the way to prepare him for this exciting moment\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0in his life!\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u0153That day we set a goal to get 21 blessings (something none of us had done before), and it wasn’t going well. I expressed my frustration to my companion. I was really\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0beginning\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0to feel hopeless. I was desperately introspecting trying to fix the problem\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u00a6 AND didn’t have anyone solid for baptism for the month.\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0 My companion lifted me up and helped me realize I needed more faith. I humbled myself, and repented, realizing I needed to depend on my own strength less, and God more. If we were going to baptize, it was going to be by His hand. We were at 15 blessings and 4 yes’s. The next home was \u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0a\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Haitian\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0Family who\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0accepted\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0baptism! Then the following 3 did as well! All of which were super cool miracles (1 lady reopened\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0her door after rejecting us, another who wouldn’t open the door, but accepted baptism thru the window); and finally, Marlene and her family of 11, we blessed them and they all clapped after the blessing. They readily\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0accepted\u00c3\u201a\u00c2\u00a0dates and to come to church. It took 3 cars to get them all to church, and we saw them last night and they are preparing for baptism this Sunday! I think this has been my lingering problem, trying to do it all on my own, without depending on, and seeking the grace of the Lord.\u00c3\u00a2\u00c2\u20ac\u00c2\u009d<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I put that last thought in bold because I feel that there are too many times when I have the same problem as this young missionary…depending on the arm of flesh instead of the strength of the Lord.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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