By Small & Simple Things

Alma 37:6-7.

The adversary pushes us harder this week than any other week in Manchester, he is tugging and pulling us down so that we cannot accomplish what the Lord whats us to do. We only had one appointment this week where no cancellations were made.

He was working hard because this week was nothing short of a week full of miracles.

Kalisa is getting BAPTIZED on May 17th. It'd be in April, but he doesn't celebrate in April. That's the anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda. Respectfully, we set a later date. We can't teach Kalisa without member. So we go to pick up our member and she wasn't there, she was in Concord. This would be the second appointment this week we would've had to cancel and we weren't about to let that happen. We called EVERYONE (missionary work involves a LOT of calling) and NO ONE picked up... We called the Skidmore's who work in the mission office, they were just leaving the office and said they could head over. JUST IN TIME we found someone to come with us. That lesson was the climax of everything we've taught. Prophets clicked. We had an Ammon moment and the Spirit helped us discern a question that he's had on his heart for a long time. When he was in Africa he asked one of the ministers a question, they answered him with something Moses said thousands of years ago. His question was, why wouldn't they give him an answer for NOW? Prophets answered that. He is reading the Book of Mormon and praying. He then asked us if our church was like the church Paul set up, where they lived the law of consecration. We taught him about fast offerings and tithing. He LOVED it. He said "now I want to be a member of this church." So we picked a date! Had the Skidmore's not come and shared their testimony, and had we had to cancel that appointment, I don't know where we'd be. Satan will not win, he tries hard, but we try harder. The Lord will ALWAYS provide a way to accomplish that which he requires us to do.

Oh my heck. We met with Gigi again, this time with Sister Methot who is from the Dominican Republic (no one in Manchester actually comes from Manchester, unlike the rest of New England). They matched SO well together. My goodness! Most of the lesson was in Spanish, but I felt the Spirit SO strong. Sister Methot testified of the Plan of Salvation in a very personal way. I know I've said this before, but the Plan of Salvation is my favorite lesson to teach. Seeing others figure it out, and have it make sense over the course of time is my FAVORITE THING! So Gigi is well.

Patty is a referral from our neighboring ward. One of her Spanish students gave her a Spanish Book of Mormon. She's very very very Catholic, but is curious to know what we believe. She sees many ties between our religions and wants to know what the difference is. She's a well off lady with a curiosity about our church. Tonight we are meeting with her and Sister Stoker!

There is never a wrong reason to investigate the Gospel.

So John surprised my by coming to church in Manchester. What pleasure it was to talk with him and see how he's doing! MY GOODNESS YOU CAN SEE THE PROGRESSION IN HIM!!! You can tell he is doing everything the Lord asks him to do. I also talked with someone else from Hanover who came to the youth activity I helped with and she said that he was her home teacher. They adore him. He's almost read the Book of Mormon THREE TIMES. He's been going to the temple with Creed. He has a calling!! He told me all these experiences where the Lord answered his prayers on the spot! He asked the Lord why I wasn't writing and Sister Korman called him then and there are told him I could only write once a month. He recognizes the Lord's hand in all things. He's lifting those around him, like Rob! Always looking out for them!! It was everything I needed to go the extra push, to keep on working hard.

If the Lord knows you'll do the small and simple things, He'll trust you with His power. Authority comes with the calling, but power comes through prayer, study, and application. Nothing happens until you decide to ACT. He will make you a powerful instrument in His hand if His hand is the only one you desire. Once you rid yourself of any other desires other than to serve the Lord with your WHOLE HEART, then He gives you His spirit and His power. He works by those small means you do, they matter. They all add up to help God fulfill his purpose (Moses 1:39). Is everything you are doing leading to that?

Hastening the work doesn't necessarily mean a growth in the numbers of the church as much as a growth in creativity of how we share the Gospel. The invite and the message will never change, but the way we go about it is. It is through the members that the Lord wishes to hasten the work.  So it's about teaching them, through small and simple ways!

 Ben&Jerry's

One of the members offered to do our laundry.