Agua Verde Semana 1

Well this week was nuts! We went to Curitiba, had a Zone Meeting, argued with the electric company of Guarapuava about which apartment they should connect the electricity to, moved our apartment, and prepared our area to be whitewashed by Sisters. Yup that´s the life of a missionary. The idea was that we would move to the Guarapuava Center branch... and that´s where my companion is at, but I got a rather interesting call when I recieved the transfers for our zone `Elder House to Agua Verde as Executive Secretary` I thought for sure I would stay in Guarapuava, but I was moved to the `escritório` to be companions with Elder Rocha, for the second time :) This´ll be interesting.

Our zone was lacking a bit of fire in the bones in relation to talking to EVERYONE as chapter 9 in Preach My Gospel teaches, and in finding ways to help the members fulfill their responsibilities to the Lord as his people who have been charged to bring the gospel to others... So we gave a training that maybe left everyone a little bit `sharply reproved` but we showed an increase of love afterwards sharing the wonderful Reeses Peanut Butter Cups that mom sent. The result was very positive and everyone left more animated. I guess the Lord knew what he was doing when he taught this principle to Joseph Smith.

I loved General Conference, and I´ve been reflecting about the messages that where shared. I loved the comment of Elder Ballard `Oh, no... not again. Missionary work?` because many people really feel this way. But it´s cause this is the hour for us to get to work. To invite a neighbor who never visited the church or an activity (or one who has!) to come to an activity or a church service. We also need to help those in our family who aren´t participating 100% to come back or start doing so. We need to look at that ward directory and search out the people who are members but we don´t know too well who need help. Some people think that missionary work is done by people with nametags. Teaching is done by people with name tags. Finding, supporting, retaining, helping come back, testifying, is done by members. It doesn´t have to be something that you plan for 3 months to do. Just pray that you will recognize the person that is close to you that the Lord is already preparing, and have the courage to open your mouth when you get that little feeling that you should (that same feeling you have sitting on the church bench during testimnoy meeting that says you need to bear your testimony :)   ).

I also have been doing a bit of thinking about how helping others feel the joy of the gospel helps us and our families. Doctrine and Covenants section 4 is all about misisonary work, but I think that this verse helps us to see what helping others does for us,

 `For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store, that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul`

Participating in the work of salvation is one way to help us bring salvation to our souls and the souls of our families. Missionários and missionárias are there to help members with the teaching part. Don´t worry about having to do that... just help them find, support, retain, help come back, and testify to  the children of our Heavenly Father who is preparing more of those who will follow Him to accept the gospel.

I know that this is His work. And we can do a very little in it, but it will do a very lot in us.

-Elder House