These past few weeks have been rather difficult, being so that most our appointments cancel on us or are just not home or say they are too tired. It's a bit hard not to get discouraged and frustrated when investigators don't make it to church or aren't progressing for whatever reason. It makes me wonder if there is more I could or should be doing or if there is something I'm missing or if I don't know the whole part to their "iceberg" yet. Just a few weeks prior, they were progressing, ready for baptism, a whole family happy and excited for their date. It's hard to remember that agency is a gift and that they are rightfully exercising it.
It's also been difficult because the members are being a bit tough to work with. Until yesterday, we have never been to a ward council nor have the Auxiliaries been very helpful in finding, retaining, or reactivating. It would seem that according to them that is all a missionaries job. There are no ward missionaries, no ward mission plan, and not many people available to help us with teaching or fellowshipping either. In our first ward council we were un-uninvited (re-invited) to attend, we were able (with the help of the Ward Mission Leader, bless his heart) to convey our concerns and our needs to the Council. It seemed to go over well, but it will still be some time before we get a functioning ward mission plan. It will be a huge blessing to the work here when the plan is in effect.
I've had wonderful studies this past week including being able to read from Jesus the Christ and from The Book of Mormon. In the Book of Mormon I'm reading in 3rd Nephi in chapters 11 through the end about Jesus coming to the Americas and Visiting the Nephites and Lamenites and ordaining apostles and teachers and also giving them the higher law. In these studies of the Higher Law, I've learned something; that if you have charity, and genuinely love everyone, then that is the only commandment you need. If you have pure love, you wouldn't kill or commit adultery or steal or lie or commit anything against your neighbor. And, if you have pure love for God and for Christ, then you won't take his name in vain, or put anything before Them, or worship any other thing nor person. With love, with charity, you cannot sin. Now, by this I mean with the absolute pure love of Christ, you cannot sin. Unfortunately none of us possess this fully. There are many who are close, and many who strive to have the pure love of Christ, and if you see, those are they who have the least sin in their life. With the hire law, you take care of those around you, you think and feel differently about those around you, and you draw closer to The Lord because you are serving him by serving his children. "Charity never faileth."
Again I've been blessed to be an instrument in the Lords hands in being in the right place at the right time and following the promptings of the spirit to bless others lives. Thanks to God and his guidance my companion and I have been tools in blessing the life of a nonmember family. Allow me to share; Elder Wojahn and I were trying to visit a former investigator that neither of us really thought would be interested or even open the door. We decided to go and see them anyways. We knocked on their door and they showed no interest. We tried to bear testimony and attempted to invite the spirit but to no avail. They said goodnight and shut the door.
We were about to leave when I heard the scream of a child. Then again and again, crying from what seemed to be a very young baby. We turned around to the other apartment with the door partially cracked and knocked. A young man came to the door who seemed only to be about 20 years old. I asked him how he was and if everything was okay. A young lady came to the door in that moment holding the crying child that was only a month old. This broken family stood at the door, screaming child in hand, and seemed to beg for something we could give them. The young father was tattooed and ragged with long hair and the mother with lip and nosed pierced, and yet they seemed to be trying everything they could to begin to be parents. We talked over the cry of their baby girl and asked if they new about the church or missionaries and they said they had seen and briefly talked to them on the streets before.
They talked of how they lived with their devoted catholic mother who believes in Santa Muerta (The Saint of Death) and how their home never feels at peace. I asked what was wrong with their precious baby (who had not stopped crying) and they explained that she had a major fever and seemed to be in pain and hadn't stopped crying for a few hours now. I immediately had the impression to explain that we hold the power and priesthood of God and that we have the power to heal the sick. I asked if they wanted us to give a blessing to their daughter. They looked at us skeptically but they invited us in and said we could. I explained to them the process of a blessing, and that with their faith, their child could be healed.
Elder Wojahn and I have a great companion connection and we didn't need to go over anything. I took oil out of my pocket and dabbed a drop on my finger and with the father holding the child, I placed my hands under the crying childs head. I anointed the oil, and Elder Wojahn stepped in to administer the blessing. As he spoke the words of the blessing, the baby continued to cry, so much that no one could hear what he was saying. The baby stopped crying briefly right as my inspired companion "Commanded the child to be healed."
The spirit instantly entered the room. The crying continued for the rest of the blessing, and not even I could understand what was said. But when he said amen, the crying stopped. The father held his child in his arms and she fell asleep. The mother was shocked as he was able to lay the baby down in the crib without awaking her. The spirit that was in the room from then on was so powerful. As we prepared to leave, they asked us if we could come back again to teach them more of the gospel. We set up a time with the English sisters to come by to teach them again.
I testify that the spirit directs his missionaries. I know that the Lord loves all of his children and that he blesses them just as well. I know that if we live righteously we will be worthy of the spirits guidance. I know that the Lord works miracles in these days just as in days of old and I know that it is Him and His Spirit that gifts these wonderful happenings. I am grateful that the Lord trusts someone as me, a young 18 year old boy, with his healing power and I know that it is here on the earth today.
-Elder Hodges
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