Week 89

October 27, 2014

 

Family!!!

 

God is amazing and really working with ALL of his children, his missionaries, members, investigators, less actives and everyone else. He really cares about all His children. I’m a witness. So this week was pretty normal which is the best!! No zone leader distractions or anything else. Just working!!

 

Wednesday, I had a very spiritual and uplifting personal study that left me thinking a lot. So I’m currently studying in the BOM. As I was reading in Jacob 5, I felt like the Lord lead and guide me in that moment. Jacob 5 is one of my favorite stories. The allegory of the olive trees. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to serve the Lord in any way. The first thing that caught my eye was that the Lord of the Vineyard constantly asks himself "What could I have done more for my vineyard?" or "what more can I do?" Obviously as a missionary I was left thinking the same thing. I prayed for strength and help to endure to the end. Then I read verse 71 and 72:

71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and laboring the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.

72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.

This was the Lord speaking and telling me, "It's not over yet, go and keep working." I’ve given it my all up to this point. It would be a shame to start slowing down now. I had my regular interview this week with president and he asked me how I would like to finish my mission. I told him I want to finish like I’m just starting. I want to just be a normal missionary. He said that’s exactly right. And if you do that, the Lord will be very pleased. It was a very eye opening experience for me.

On Thursday it was about 8 o’ clock and we were about ready to go back to dinner but we felt like we had not finished. We felt like there was more to do. We even asked each other, so what do we do? So we stopped and prayed and then started walking. As we were walking, we heard a voice. Hola Elderes!!! We turned around and there were 3 girls that had the missionaries and gone to church before but had not been baptized. They wanted us to meet their family, so they took us to their house and we met their mom and dad and grandma. Their grandma we later discovered is a member! The Lord helped us find them. We are very excited to get to know this family better, the Baptist family, and teach them.

I’d like to end with my thoughts after listening to the temple president, President Jensen, talk yesterday in our stake conference that we had. He is an ex general authority of 25 years that was recently released. He focused his talk on one phrase. "When your priorities are out of order, you lose power." Holy cow, how that touched me. He told us about divine priorities and goals. He said when he finished his mission 54 years ago he made 3 divine goals and priorities that he would not fail in.

1. Always be worthy to hold a temple recommend. (hasn’t failed)

2. Pray twice a day on his knees every day, alone and with his wife. (hasn’t failed)

3. Read the BOM everyday (hasn’t failed)

54 years!! Those are Godly priorities that are in order. And he has not lost his power. I could feel it in his word. It was a great experience!

Well, I love you all so much! I hope all is well!! Hopefully I get your letter soon!!

Until next week!

Elder Berrett