Week #4 – With Full Purpose of Heart
So as far as the schedule goes this week has not been much different than last, but the lessons that I learn do not cease to amaze me and teach me new things everyday.
Teaching with my companion is a blast. I love him. He is such an awesome companion and we get along really well. We have gotten to the point in our teaching that we don’t have to plan out very much, we can just study what we have prayed to know what the investigator needs and then go talk to them about it. Our Italian is by far the best in our lessons because we depend so heavily on the Spirit to help us.
So yesterday we had Choir rehearsal, which is honestly the best part about the MTC. The Choir director is amazing – such a humble, funny, stud of a man. Whatever song we are singing he knows the backstory to and he is able to connect it to our role as missionaries. He knows tons of history about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and he shares some of the most inspiring stories I have ever heard. One of those stories was of Wilford Woodruff (who would become a Prophet of our Church) serving a mission in his younger years. He came upon a town in England and began teaching there. Six people decided they wanted to be baptized, but the rest of the town said that if he tried to baptize anyone that they would stone him. So he said to the six that if they had the faith to be baptized that he had the faith to perform the ordinance. And so they went to a pond in the town and HE BAPTIZED THE 6 WHILE BEING STONED BY THE ENTIRE TOWN! So why do I bring this up? Because I know that to people who do not share the beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints that we seem weird or intrusive for going all over the world to share the Gospel to anyone we can.
But I testify that I am going out to a place I have never been before, to speak a language that I have spent only 4 weeks learning, to share a message that they will probably reject – all because I love them so much more than I will ever be able to describe. I will withstand all obstacles because this Gospel has made me happier and given me more purpose than anything on this earth ever could. And I want so badly for anyone who is willing to just try to believe to feel of the happiness that I feel because of the love that the Savior has for us.
Have an amazing week and do amazing things!
Anziano Friedman
And if they desire to take upon them my name with full purpose of heart, they are called to go into all the world to preach my gospel unto every creature.
Doctrine & Covenants 18:28