We had some crazy experiences yesterday, and some real miracles! To start, on Wednesday
we were told by a member in our area that a member that one of our
investigators that we thought had moved back to the Philippines was
actually still in Taiwan! And still wants to get baptized! So, yesterday
we went down to go visit them, and on the way, we ran into ANOTHER
family of investigators, who have been hard to visit lately. We talked
to them, and set up a time to meet with them again! Then, we went and
visited the other investigator, and his wife, who is a member from the
Philippines, kept apologizing to us for not staying in touch! We were
just happy they were still around! A little later, we were doing
language study, and we found a man sitting on the ground. His face was
covered in blood, and he looked like he had been hit by a car. We called
an ambulance, and stayed with him until they showed up. Come to find
out, he was drunk, and might have just fallen off his bike onto his
face, but we wanted to make sure he was OK before we left. Then, while
we were having dinner, we met a family with two little boys who said
they had been to our church before, and wanted to start coming again!
Yesterday was so amazing, and I am so tired!
Lately,
in my personal study, I have been reading the Old Testament, about
Moses and the Children of Israel. In the book of Numbers, chapters 13
and 14, God commands Moses to send 12 scouts to explore the land of
Canaan, and to report on the status of their people. When the scouts
return, 10 of them report that the land is beautiful, and blessed, but
that the people are strong, their cities are defended, and there is no
way that the Children of Israel can overtake them. They murmur to Moses,
and start to complain, saying they wish they were still in Egypt, in
bondage. But one scout, Caleb, from the tribe of Judah, tells the
people, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to
overcome it." He knew these men were giants, that their cities are
walled, but He also knew that God was with His people, and that the
promises of God would most surely come to pass. However, the faith of
those around him was not as strong, they did not believe they could
overcome their challenges, and they complained, wishing that they could
go back to the pains of before. They knew that God had promised them
multiple times to deliver them to a Promised Land, that He had ALREADY
delivered them before, but they doubted. And because they doubted, the
Lord required that the Children of Israel wander in the wilderness for
40 years, until those that murmured and doubted had passed away. But
Caleb, because of his faith, was promised he would be supported in his
trials, and that he would see the Promised Land. God has promised us, as
His children, that He will always deliver us, that our trials and
afflictions will be "consecrated for our good". (2 Nephi 2:2) But
sometimes we still doubt. We doubt God's power, or we doubt ourselves.
And so we lose the blessings that God has promised us. God wanted to
bless the Israelites, and He wants to bless us. But we have to be
willing to endure our trials, to trust our Father in Heaven, trust in
the healing power of His Son Jesus Christ, and keep going. And if we can
endure, and do all that the Lord has asked us to do, trusting that He,
as an all-knowing being, knows what He's doing, He will bless us. I know
that God loves us, that we are His children, and that if we follow His
commandments, and live His gospel, we will find a peace in our life, and
a joy that cannot be found anywhere else.
This
month we have a very special opportunity to live the gospel, and to
remember the birth and life of the Savior. Christ, the Light of the
World, gave his entire life so that we could find joy, find peace, and
receive all the blessings our Father in Heaven wants to give us. He
healed the sick, He raised the dead, and ultimately, He gave His all,
for us through His Atoning sacrifice. His ultimate expression of love
was His sacrifice for us, and we can honor his sacrifice, show our
gratitude and our love for Him, through our personal sacrifice and
service. So, how will you remember Christ this Christmas, how will you
show Him you love Him, and are grateful for His sacrifice? Mosiah 2:17
says "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these my brethren,
ye have done it unto me". One of the best ways we can show our love for
Christ, and for God, is through helping those around us, finding those
in need, ad lifting them up. And the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints has put together a list of 25 ways, in 25 days, we can show our love for the Savior, and for our brothers and sisters.
I
love you all, and I know that God loved us so much, He gave His Only
Begotten Son to save us, and give us a way to return home to Him (John
3:16-17). May we always remember His sacrifice, follow His example, and
Light the World.
Love,
Elder Shope
#光照世人
Here is the link to the #LighttheWorld campaign kick-off video: https://www.mormon.org.
Every day will also have a specific video on what specific things you
can do to Light the World. There is also a calendar you can download for
every day!
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