Two weeks ago, an elder in our district got covid. Unfortunately, the day before he tested positive, we had a district p-day. So, we were placed in a 5 day quarantine. Guys. Don't even worry. By now we should all be experts . :))
However, while we were all spending some bonding time together - we really did try to focus on some service. For the elders in our district, we ended up making some cookies. Well, the original plan was to drop them off, run, and to not look back. Well turns out looking ahead was A BAD IDEA. After we knocked, Sister Rogers and I ran out towards the back half of the apartment complex. Well, while she was trying to run away, she tripped, fell, and quickly met the ground. But don't you worry! Before I had any time to laugh, I tripped over her arm and rolled over her back. It was really special. :))
Ok. But on a serious note. We got to help Sister Rogers and Sis. Brooks with a baptism this week. It was such a miracle. Their friend called Wednesday morning and told them that the Baptism had to be that night. So in 5 hours, they had a baptismal program planned.
After the confirmation, the recent convert, Angel, just sat in the chair in silence. After a minute, he started to tear up, and the spirit just entered the room. Alfredo, an old, frail, Peruvian man maybe 75 years old came up to him and simply put his hand on his back. And for 5 minutes he stood there comforting him- reassuring him that everything was going to be okay. There was so much reverence, and peace. Not one person in the room spoke a word.
This week I've been thinking a lot about what it means to be successful now as a missionary. Is it in the number of people we talk to every day? Is it measured by the number of likes or comments we receive on a FB post? Or is it determined by our strict obedience to our missionary purpose. Really you could measure achievement in all of those. However, after the baptism I really started to understand how little I knew about success.
Even though I was only invited to this special event, my life had been changed. It became a memory will never be forgotten. Success in the eyes of our heavenly father, is much different than what we understand. I was able to feel of the spirit, see someone's life begin to change, and help invite someone to Christ. All by the act of BEING PRESENT. How many acts of miracles done by Gods hand are missed? Well that's impossible to answer. Because simply, the number is infinite.
I definetly wouldn't want to be the person marking the tally marks every time God chooses to give out a miracle. Heck. that would be one stressful job. The poor guy would probably have a neck problem on his first day caused by long hours of looking down. Unfortunately, this neck problem would not be the only problem he would have to face. When the job is finally done, and the day of work is over - will this guy be able to look at the tally Marks and recount all of the miracles? No. The Marks will just be marks on a paper. The guy was too busy looking down to understand what story it held behind it.
Guys. The greatest success God can ever give to us is the opportunity to EXPERIENCE his miracles. When we are able to see what God sees, and experience his love through the Holy Ghost, we really then can comprehend the definition of success.
I hope you have a great week! Thank you for all your emails :))
Love,
Hermana Pulver
