Salut my dear family and friends!
We had a pretty darn wonderful week, full of teaching. I have to admit, our weeks full of teaching are much more preferable than our weeks of finding. But it takes those weeks of finding to have those people to teach! So our hard work paid off!
I'll just tell you about a few of the highlight lessons. Starting from low to high. So, our little French amis. He is so great, always coming to FHE and English class, and to church when he doesn't have to work. But, as we taught him this week, we hit a little stumbling block. After teaching the Gospel, he proceeded to tell us that he doesn't need to repent, because by his age (49) he is wise enough to not make mistakes, and therefore has nothing to be sorry for. Oh la la. Haha literally he just took some prophetic verses out of the scriptures about the last days when those who are so lifted up in pride will proclaim they need to repent. So, needless to say, we will be working on humility with him. He did tell us he would get baptized when he felt the time was right though, and if he continued to find that what we're teaching him is true.
So we also taught both of our African amis again this week, finally! The first one with Tony was good, but a little disappointing. He loved the Plan of Salvation. But, every time we talk about baptism, he keeps saying how he's already been baptized when he was a baby. (that's literally what every person tells us here) So, we're really working with him on developing a testimony of the priesthood, and that since our church holds the only valid priesthood to perform saving ordinances, he needs to get baptized again. Pray he develops that testimony please!
The second lesson with our other African, Bienvenue (thats really his name), was so incredible. He has been reading the BOM, and is such a spiritual giant, with a huge heart and desire to do good. We got to really get down deep with him about what it really means to have faith, the faith to act. To pray and know if this is all true. And he said he would, but still didn't know how to recognize the Spirit. I was so glad he told us that, because that's literally THE most crucial thing for developing a testimony. So we taught him all about recognizing the HG, and he was like "yeah! I've felt that way a lot while you've taught me!" So...we got to set a new baptismal date with him! November 15th...please pray that will happen!
Then we had a great lesson with our Albanians. Hijazi has a smoking problem (as does everyone here) and so we taught Word of Wisdom...we were really nervous though because we didn't think he'd like this too much. But guess what? He loved it! He wants to stop so bad, and thought everything about the WOW was genius. He is really working hard to cut down, and he evens wants a priesthood blessing for extra strength. I'm so proud of him! Please pray that he'll be able to stop smoking! It feels incredible to help people change their lives for the better. It's really so fulfilling.
The last lesson was the best ever. It was with the family we found while exploring the little village. Michel and Sophie...the COOLEST people ever. They are soooooo prepared, it's insane. If we had never gotten lost and decided to pull in there village, we never would have found them. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways and lead us to those who are prepared. Just for an example of how golden they are, she looked at us and said "after this life, do we still get to be married and be together with our kids?" She had such a sincere, hopeful look in her eye. I literally almost jumped out of my seat and was like " oui oui oui oui!!!!" Telling someone that they can be with their family for eternity is one of the greatest blessings I have. It's almost as much as a gift for me to give them that good news, as it is to them to hear it. She was overjoyed when she heard that. We taught them the Restoration, and I literally can't wait to go back and do plan of salvation, which we're doing this week :) I just can't express how grateful I am to have this knowledge of the gospel, and I can testify to you that sharing it really will bring you more joy than you thought imaginable.
So, that was basically the week in a nutshell. Lots of other stuff happened of course, lots of other lessons, crazy chaos, sad times, funny times, hard times, and great times. But, this is all I have time for!
I LOVE what I am doing and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Love,
Soeur Shields
We had a pretty darn wonderful week, full of teaching. I have to admit, our weeks full of teaching are much more preferable than our weeks of finding. But it takes those weeks of finding to have those people to teach! So our hard work paid off!
I'll just tell you about a few of the highlight lessons. Starting from low to high. So, our little French amis. He is so great, always coming to FHE and English class, and to church when he doesn't have to work. But, as we taught him this week, we hit a little stumbling block. After teaching the Gospel, he proceeded to tell us that he doesn't need to repent, because by his age (49) he is wise enough to not make mistakes, and therefore has nothing to be sorry for. Oh la la. Haha literally he just took some prophetic verses out of the scriptures about the last days when those who are so lifted up in pride will proclaim they need to repent. So, needless to say, we will be working on humility with him. He did tell us he would get baptized when he felt the time was right though, and if he continued to find that what we're teaching him is true.
So we also taught both of our African amis again this week, finally! The first one with Tony was good, but a little disappointing. He loved the Plan of Salvation. But, every time we talk about baptism, he keeps saying how he's already been baptized when he was a baby. (that's literally what every person tells us here) So, we're really working with him on developing a testimony of the priesthood, and that since our church holds the only valid priesthood to perform saving ordinances, he needs to get baptized again. Pray he develops that testimony please!
The second lesson with our other African, Bienvenue (thats really his name), was so incredible. He has been reading the BOM, and is such a spiritual giant, with a huge heart and desire to do good. We got to really get down deep with him about what it really means to have faith, the faith to act. To pray and know if this is all true. And he said he would, but still didn't know how to recognize the Spirit. I was so glad he told us that, because that's literally THE most crucial thing for developing a testimony. So we taught him all about recognizing the HG, and he was like "yeah! I've felt that way a lot while you've taught me!" So...we got to set a new baptismal date with him! November 15th...please pray that will happen!
Then we had a great lesson with our Albanians. Hijazi has a smoking problem (as does everyone here) and so we taught Word of Wisdom...we were really nervous though because we didn't think he'd like this too much. But guess what? He loved it! He wants to stop so bad, and thought everything about the WOW was genius. He is really working hard to cut down, and he evens wants a priesthood blessing for extra strength. I'm so proud of him! Please pray that he'll be able to stop smoking! It feels incredible to help people change their lives for the better. It's really so fulfilling.
The last lesson was the best ever. It was with the family we found while exploring the little village. Michel and Sophie...the COOLEST people ever. They are soooooo prepared, it's insane. If we had never gotten lost and decided to pull in there village, we never would have found them. The Lord really does work in mysterious ways and lead us to those who are prepared. Just for an example of how golden they are, she looked at us and said "after this life, do we still get to be married and be together with our kids?" She had such a sincere, hopeful look in her eye. I literally almost jumped out of my seat and was like " oui oui oui oui!!!!" Telling someone that they can be with their family for eternity is one of the greatest blessings I have. It's almost as much as a gift for me to give them that good news, as it is to them to hear it. She was overjoyed when she heard that. We taught them the Restoration, and I literally can't wait to go back and do plan of salvation, which we're doing this week :) I just can't express how grateful I am to have this knowledge of the gospel, and I can testify to you that sharing it really will bring you more joy than you thought imaginable.
So, that was basically the week in a nutshell. Lots of other stuff happened of course, lots of other lessons, crazy chaos, sad times, funny times, hard times, and great times. But, this is all I have time for!
I LOVE what I am doing and I wouldn't change it for the world.
Love,
Soeur Shields