OYM - Open Your Mouth

Well this week we enjoyed the work. We have seen how much control Satan can have over people that are so close to finding their answers. Our investigators are struggling with coming to church but understand the importance and have even followed the words of Moroni “… Doubt not, but be believing…” They started to realize how these things they have been learning and studying are true but the feeling of how it all cannot be true. Each investigator believes that the Book of Mormon is true, and with the explanation that if they know that the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith and the Church have to be true hands down. They understand this and then when they get so close to making big commitments Satan comes and just tempts them with things that seem so small and insignificant and they end up becoming further and further away from their answers. This is hard and tiring because we don’t have much control over this and we constantly encourage them to come back to the right path. I have gone back recently and studied Lehi’s Dream and just looked at that Dream as if you were a missionary. You would be Lehi and everyone around you would be your investigator, you have partaken of this fruit (which would be the Church or Baptism) and you are waiting for the others to come as you beckon for them. There are those who have partaken and felt embarrassed from those laughing and pointing from the building and fall away. They become lost in that dark mist and end up worse then before. As missionaries we stand tall holding our light for those to come and partake or return to that warmth and comfort that was felt when you partook of the fruit. I also had a new insight or a testifying moment in the mission work about being in the right place at the right time. I testify right now that as missionaries you are PUT or PLACED not just in your area but in brief moments, to OPEN YOUR MOUTH. We had a horrible afternoon the area we worked in had a party going on so no one was home. So we went to our back up area to re-contact some OYM’s we had. No one was home as well so we circled about and stopped a at recent converts cell phone load booth thing to check up on how things are going. Her “boss” is a very nice lady but kind of quiet. Elder Gregorio pointed out the Book of Mormon that was on the desk and asked “Have you been reading it?” She replied “No, well sometimes, just a little here and there.” We asked a series of simple follow up question which lead to her asking a lot of perfect questions about the Book of Mormon. We then had a great opportunity to share about the Book of Mormon to her. She like immediately understood that this is not a new Bible, that these were Prophets called to teach the gospel and write down the things that are happening in their lives. We introduced to her The Restoration briefly so that we can come back and talk more about it with her. We then immediately met this Nanay who was looking for lotto numbers and had an immediate contact and shared briefly about what we do as missionaries and explained the pamphlet to her. She agreed to a return appointment and just seemed really happy to have met us. As missionaries when you get depressed when basically all of your appointments fall through and you tend not to open your mouth because you are just so depressed, but this is the time to just find new people even if they are not interested right now about the message because you did your part by inviting them, they need to choose to accept. As long as we do our best our garments are clean, don’t miss good opportunities to Share the Gospel! So guess what the next time you are randomly somewhere or doing something just think how can i share something about the Gospel to someone and invite them to "come to church, read the book of mormon (that you just gave them, hahaha) or pray to know that what you shared is true" Just think about how many missed opportunities you have had in your life. Anyways last Christmas in the fillipines! Enjoying it while i can! Love ya all!