Hello from Ishigaki!
First things first, somehow it's already February... I don't even
remember how January went. We have the opportunity to pack so much
into a day, the days start to feel like weeks, and then you look back,
and it feels like we emailed only a few hours ago last week. I was
talking to Elder Hafen earlier, and we realized that the transfer so
far has only been 23ish days, but it feels like we've worked together
for months. Really hard to put a finger on anything. But with that
feeling, excuse me for not having crazy experiences this week, because
it's really been a lot of thinking and working, but I can't tell where
it started and where it ended.
I think one of the reoccurring thoughts I've had is on sharing our
testimonies, as members and as missionaries. It stems from a verse in
Timothy, which President Hinkley quoted at times, which reads: "For
God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,
and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of
our Lord". How wonderful, and how simple! We had a sister leave from
the Ishigaki branch to the MTC yesterday, en route to the Sendai
mission, and she talked about the blessings of sharing simple truths,
and sometimes the challenges associated therein. As I've pondered how
to share my testimony better, to help the people of Japan find more
joy in their lives, one thought that's floated around is 'why start
now?' Listening to the soon to be sister missionary, I realized that
there have always been chances. And I realized, sometimes, our actions
are our testimony. Waving, saying kind words, being a good friend,
trying my best, in high school those were all signs of who I was, a
divine son of God. On a mission, those same small things have huge
roles. We can say anything, but the true measure of a man is in his
actions, and people see those! When we get the blessing to share the
gospel in the rain, people notice. And they know that God loves them
enough to send two white kids from around the world to find them in
the middle of a winter rainstorm. That might be one of my favorite
testimonies.
Another small thing is the voice of the Spirit. Just yesterday, we had
a contact, which, really, looked like any other contact. We knocked, a
guy opened the door, we introduced ourselves, he was busy, and that
was about it. But something told me to get his phone number, to set up
an appointment, to come back. I don't know why, but we did, and have
plans to return. But why him, I don't know. I can't see what God has
in plan for him, or for me, but I do know there are plans. And no
matter how incapable we think we are, if we try, He will accomplish
His plans through us. It's crazy to be a part of it all.
Lots of love!
Elder Mitchell Woodhouse
No comments:
Post a Comment