Repeatedly Trying

     Yesterday was our Preparation day once again, and like always, it managed to be more busy than we thought it would be.  With trips out to Marshall's for sweaters, then to Aldi's for food, we got our errands done so that we were able to go out and play soccer with one of our recent converts and a few of her friends. When we got out there to finally start playing, the temperature was sitting right around 40 ish degrees and the wind was constantly blowing, almost enough to snuff out our candle of enthusiastic glee  for soccer that afternoon.  With our cold, but merry, band of friends we proceeded to play, while one of her friends came just to be there sort of thing.  We invited him to play many times, but his resolve was his to work out.   However, the idea here is that we did invite him despite what we knew the answer would be.  As we continued to play, we invited him once again, thinking to ourselves that he would probably say no.  But to our surprise, he said yes and joined us in partaking of the joy we gain from just playing soccer together as friends.  These seemingly small acts helped us to show him that we cared for him and wanted to have fun with him.  We could have stopped trying after our first attempt, and just let him be, alone and out there sitting in the cold.  But we did not--all because we wanted him to have what we had.
     This same principle applies very realistically to what I do everyday out here as a missionary.  I go and try to share the Gospel with others who, currently, do not have it.  Why, you may ask?  For the same reason-- because I want them to experience the joy that I have gained from being a member of this Church.  Many times we could have easily given up hope on others as they reject our glad offer of happiness, but we try, try again so hopefully we can help someone grow closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
     So, how is this a part of seeing God's Hand in my life?  Well, by trying to help someone else grow closer to Him, He is allowing me to help in His work, in His way, and this allows me to be a bit more loving to everyone I meet.
 

The Lord will have a Humble Elder

     One would think that the more you study something, the more you would know about it and feel closer to understanding it as a whole.  One would usually be correct in this assumption, however, that is not the experience I have had this week.  I have been studying recently about the attribute of Humility in my daily studies and how to apply it in order to be more humble in my actions.  A couple of things have happened as I have been out here serving a mission that have helped me to understand why it is so important to be humble.
     To begin with, as a missionary we talk with our leaders in order to better help the people in our area.  We are not all perfect, but when we council together we have increased ability to do what the Lord would have us do.  During a couple of these meetings, I have had the opportunity to publicly acknowledge the mistakes I have made in the past and try to do better in the future.  Not that the impact of these actions was bad, but I could have done things better.  I have to admit that my initial reaction was a little anger and embarrassment that my leaders would call me out in front of others, but as I look back, why should I have been angry?  All they want to do is help me understand what they have come to realize over the course of their lives through the mistakes they have made in taking similar actions to the ones I took.  I should have been grateful that they want to help me change, not angry that they pointed out my mistakes!
     In short, I can wrap this up in one statement through a quote I heard in the Missionary Training Center from Jenny Oaks Baker:  "The Lord will have a humble [Wesley]."  So, as I am trying to work at being more humble, the Lord will help me by putting these experiences in my path.  In humbling myself before Him, I can learn to do what He wants, instead of what I want.
-Elder Wesley Cannon