Photo Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QuW5JQQJL6emqhb68
On Thursday we went on an exchange with the Southside Elders. I was in Southside with Elder Hall. He just got out of training and so it was a fun time to be able to just work hard all day because he's a very hard worker. We had a funny moment at McDonald's where we wanted to get some ice-cream because we had been low energy all day. We got a bonus McFlurry and 10pc Chicken Nuggets all for free, what a miracle. We got slammed all day and found almost no success in all the rain that was coming down. We did have some great opportunities to share and give out copies of the Book of Mormon to 5+ people. Recently I've been working on teaching the Book of Mormon with questions and I found a lot of success out of doing that with Elder Hall that day. He is a powerful missionary and I was glad to have a day with him.
We had exchange on Saturday with the Zone Leaders. I was with Elder Bylund and got to lead out Northside with him. Wow what a day to say the least. We really wanted to "Shake up the Box" and try new things inside our area. We prayed and decided to go to Point Park in the heart of Pittsburgh and just go around talking to people in the beginning of our day. We split up from eachother and so I was able to found 3 really cool people and a couple number for the hour that we were there. Elder Bylund found some people that have been taught in the past and have had experience with our church before and definitely could be baptized within 3-6 weeks. We then went to go knock some streets and for context, this was a beautiful day. It was blue skies and 80 degrees, just amazing. Out of nowhere we just hear thunder and it starts pouring rain and we got soaked instantly. It was a crazy thunder storm that came out of left field. Elder Bylund is so awesome and I loved the opportunity to serve with him, he his such a strong missionary. We also knocked into this elect black albino lady who came outside of her house and she really wants to learn more and come to church with her 3 teenage kids aswell. We set up a zoom call meeting with her on sunday.
On Friday we had such successful day. We had been fighting a lot of opposition all week and we found 3 people that day. There was this miracle that happened where we went to this street that I put in the schedule and it just didn’t feel right. We said a prayer and decided to leave and find a different street in the schedule. We knocked and knocked and near the end of the street we talked to this elect Taiwanese young lady named Kuan. She has no christian background at all and knows nothing about it. Her and her family practice Taoism which is pretty common in Taiwan and so it was cool to learn about it. She lives by herself and has been here for 2 years for school and her family lives back in Taiwan. We had a long conversation about simple beliefs we have about God and Jesus Christ. She loved it and really wants to step into Christianity. We set up a Church tour for saturday. When saturday came around she gave us a text saying that she had talked to her parents about this and they were angry for some reason and so she canceled and hasn't responded to us since. Definitely a bummer to see a potential 3 week baptism elect asian lady drop us do to parents disagreeing.
Philippians 1:20-23:
"20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:"
My life's purpose is to magnify Christ, no matter what. Like Paul, I'm torn between staying here and serving, or departing to be with Christ. But either way, I want my choices to bring Him glory.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, "Our purpose is to magnify our calling." For me, that means living like Christ, loving like Christ, and sharing Him with others. It's about reflecting His light in a world that desperately needs it.
When life gets messy, I clove to what Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught: "The best way to magnify Christ is to become more like Him.'" That means embracing His attributes, His compassion, His kindness, His forgiveness. And it's not just about feeling these things, but about living them.
President Russell M. Nelson said, "When we put Christ first, we are blessed with spiritual power.' That power helps me navigate life's twists and turns, trusting that Christ's "strength is made perfect in my weakness."
I'm not sure what the future holds, but I know Christ does. Like Paul, I'm "in a strait betwixt two", wanting to serve here, but also eager to be with Christ as we all are. Either way, I want to bring Him joy, just like the Savior brought joy to the Father.
So I'll keep striving, serving, and trusting. Whether life or death comes, Christ will be magnified in me.
With Love,
Elder Batman
1000001867.jpg1000001871.jpg
Comments
Post a Comment