Mom's Day Mix-up

The much-anticipated Mother's Day phone call from Andrew didn't come as expected. He and his companion were out teaching some investigators, and by the time they finished, there wasn't much time for a call. He did call briefly to set up a time for next Sunday ... so we'll hope to hear a little more from him then. It WAS wonderful to hear his voice! He sounds good, and happy!

Andrew has a new companion, Elder Jimenez, from Nicaragua. As you can imagine, each new companionship takes some adjusting and a lot of give-and-take, but they are learning to work together for the good of those they are teaching. Occasionally they go on "splits," which means they split up and go out with another missionary from the area. He also learns much from these experiences. From Elder Valencia he has learned the value of self-confidence as well as genuine love for the people. He has seen that people are much more receptive to their message when they work with both qualities. 

He sees many people wearing Nike shirts which say "Just Do It." It reminds him to have courage and follow the promptings of the Spirit. (Probably not exactly what Nike had in mind ... but a good application nonetheless.)

Here are some excerpts from his last letter:

A miracle happened this morning. 

On our way to an appointment, we crossed paths with a disheartened-looking man. I felt like maybe I should contact him, but I didn´t do it. Fortunately my companion received the same prompting, listened, and did it. He greeted the man and asked if there was anything we could do for him. He looked up and said, ´Yes. My wife is dying of cancer.´ At first he seemed sarcastic and almost angry, but when he learned that we were in earnest and wanted to help, he said, ´Come with me.´ 

He led us back along the way we had come and brought us to a house. We entered and met his daughter, who we found out was the mother of a young woman we had contacted earlier. Then we went to the room of  the sick grandmother, who was in bed. We met her and talked a little bit, then gave her a Priesthood blessing of comfort and health. The grandfather accompanied us to the gate and thanked us for what we had done. And he shook my hand firmly and said, ´Thank you, my North-American brother.´ What a miracle that we ran into him just at the right time.  

Later in the week, they returned to visit the young woman, with whom they had scheduled an appointment.

We went back and Celeste´s mom answered the door. We chatted for a bit, asked how her mom was, then asked if we could share a scripture with her. She told us, ´Not with me. I´m mad at God right now.´ Upon conversing more with this woman we realized that she needed to be healed even more than her mother did. Although the mother kept her faith even in her sufferings, her daughter had allowed herself to become angry at God for letting her mother suffer so much. She asked us, ´How can God leave her in so much pain when she has spent her whole life serving Him?´ We reminded her that in the Bible, Jesus´ disciples were not exempt from hardship - in fact, they were some of those who expereinced the most trials and persecution. Jesus himself suffered beyond measure, beyond our ability to comprehend, and He is the most righteous Man who ever lived. 

At this point I remembered a story from the Book of Mormon: the story of Alma and his people in bondage. (Which, not coincidentally, I had just studied that morning in preparation for another investigator.) I told her the story - how directly after Alma and his people had made a covenant to follow the Lord and to be His people, they were captured by enemies and made to bear heavy burdens. How could the Lord allow this to happen? Didn´t He care that the people had just become righteous and promised to serve Him? But the Book of Mormon contains the words of comfort that the Lord speaks to His people: 

Mosiah 24:13-14

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

Her heart was touched. We explained that even though we may have trials and burdens, if we keep our faith in the Lord He will strengthen us and make us equal to the challenge. 

We left her the Book of Mormon so that she could read the whole chapter on her own time. 

It´s amazing how the things we should say are given to us, just like the scripture says. And how the Lord can use the things I studied recently to bless others. It´s great to be a missionary. 

............

Another experience:
Elder Carazas (his last companion) and I were working with a man who was baptized a year ago but stopped coming to church. He was receptive to having us visit him, but in our lessons we discovered that he has his priorities a little mixed: Work comes first, then God. So, for now, with his busy work schedule, he wasn´t going to make time to come to church. He´s a great guy. But he wasn´t progressing, so we stopped visiting as much. 

Elder Jimenez and I went to visit him a few days ago to see how he was doing and to share a scripture. And, although we had tried in the past to help him see that he needs to put God first, the Spirit guided me to find exactly the scripture that finally reached him. (Seek for treasures in heaven, not on earth.) He said, ´Ah. I understand. You´re right.´ And he promised us that he would come back to Church. 
...............

Yesterday an Evangelical Christian pastor blessed my companion and I. It was different, but, a nice gesture. I hope reads the Book of Mormon. He says he will. 

...............

I´ve started buying fruits and veggies to snack on, instead of the standard missionary-pench diet of... cookies. Mmm! Oranges to fight off the scurvy, apples, pears and potatoes.
...............

Mission life is great. Sometimes stressful, but great. It´s great to be an instrument in the Lord´s hands. I wish I had time to write everything that goes on, because there´s more. But, thank you, Mom and Dad and Family, for loving and supporting and teaching me. I couldn´t do it without your love and support. And the happy family that we have is giving families here hope that they can have the same thing.

The Gospel is true. It´s true and it´s what matters. Family matters. I love you all! Have a fantastic week!

Love, Elder Andrew Stockton