The Beauty of the Silences

This week has been just absolutely amazing! I just can't even write in all the ways it has been amazing, other than what I have recognized has been my part in it. At this months Zone Training, where our missionary leaders and President teach us and train us, there was a focus on understanding why we need to be more obedient. In the idea that we do not know why all of the rules we are given are given. We may get a glimpse at this "spirit of the law" but we do not know all things. However we do understand and know all of the "letter of the law" or the rules that we must follow. And since we know these rules and we know that they have been given to us by a Father in Heaven who loves us, we can show that we love him and trust him as we go about following those commandments he has given us. In part of what made this week so amazing was that my companion and I tried our hardest to take this to heart, and be obedient.

During the training which our loving President was teaching he explained how these "rules" are not just rules but they are directions. They are leading us somewhere. And not just any somewhere, but Eternal Life; where we may live with our families forever in happiness. As we are willing to adhere to these commandments we may also see many blessings along our way to this final and beautiful goal. Which blessings could be held back from us. For example, many people not affiliated with the church may find our health guidelines, or "word of wisdom" rather strict. Which warns against most vividly the partaking of tobacco, alcohol, coffee and tea as well as many other harmful substances. Though strict the blessings are realized in the long run. We have seen how many studies have been done on tobacco alone and how it inhibits our bodies from being fully and completely healthy. So in the seem of things as we follow this commandment the Lord is able to bless us much easier with health and other blessings. And more personally I know that when I am obedient here as a missionary that the Lord is able to bless me with his holy spirit which has helped me and many like me to do his work more fully. Which was one of the blessings which Sister Ford and I directly saw this week.

There was one day in particular. We had woken up on time, exercised, had started our studies and in an effort to make our companionship studies more worthwhile, we studied a portion of "Preach My Gospel" a manual we as missionaries use to better use our time effectively and to know more fully what we teach. This particular morning a certain topic seemed to be taking precedent in both mine and Sister Ford's mind. This topic was that of what many call the "awkward silences." As we talked we thought about how these silences can be really useful as it is the time that those we teach can process what we are teaching. Immediately following that study we went to work teaching the people of Lemoyne. In one of our final lessons of the day, the woman we had been teaching had a question on one of the words we had used. To answer her question we turned to a portion of the pamphlet that we generally use that includes definitions of certain words. We read it and started to explain it. The woman was still focused on the pamphlet, thinking it may have been a language issue we allowed for a silence. Which Silence allowed for our investigator to read a portion on Baptism which was also contained therein. This lead to her asking a question that nearly knocked me off my feet, for it showed exactly what it was that she was struggling with. This question was "Why do I need to be baptized twice." We then taught the most joy filled teaching of apostasy I have ever given just because we had finally found her problem! FINALLY!

I know that as we are obedient to the commandments which the Lord has given us that we are truly able to find even more the blessings which he pours upon us. I see this everyday of my life out here as a missionary. I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have been given to be out here in Canada teaching the Lords word. May God bless you!