So yeah, I'd say I've been pretty successful.
This week has been great...
One day we ate McDonald's Mcflurries for lunch and it tasted like America in my mouth.
And my friend Bettina is obsessed with Harry Potter and she even made me a wand.
One
day our friend Søren was showing us his artwork- Sister Pete guessed
one of his abstract paintings to be Satan.... turns out it was Jesus.
And John Mayer was playing in the cafe where we ate lunch.... TENDER MERCY. I love John.
And
the leaves on the trees are starting to paint themselves all different
shades of red and orange... I'm stoked on life because Autumn is my
FAVORITE.
And this week Sister Peterson and I didn't take any of the wrong trains and we only chased one bus.
So yeah, its been a really successful week for us!
I'll tell you about this weeks biggest success story...
We taught our friend- our Italian investigator- the first lesson.
Its exhausting to teach in a a big mix of Danish and English and
Italian! We told him more about Joseph Smith and then showed him the
Restoration video. I couldn't understand the words, so I just sat there
and prayed my heart out that he would feel the truthfulness of
it. The Spirit in the room was almost tangible, and after the film
he was at a loss for words. He said he felt an indescribable
peace and warmth and joy. He said he felt it was true. And before we
even invited him to be baptized, he said he will definitely become a
member of this church. It was the best feeling to have somebody accept
our message! AH. As I'm sitting here at the library typing away and
thinking back on it all I can't help but smile. Because its the most
wonderful experience to help one of God's children. And to see someone's face light up when you flip the switch and turn on
the light.
But while its the best experience in the world and
missionary work is so awesome, it can be really really hard. There are
sooo many people that I want to help... and the trials and challenges
that some people face would be enough to send me diving under my covers!
So sometimes the responsibility that the Lord has given me weighs on my
shoulders like nothing I've ever tried to lift before. Like a pool
table. Or a refrigerator. Or the whole world maybe.... Sometimes the
task is so daunting I don't even know where to start.
Maybe you've felt that way before too. Maybe you even feel that way right now.
The
Lord does ask a LOT of us. But, he doesn't ask us to do it alone. He
will always give us the inspiration and direction that we need to
accomplish everything He's asked. He always does! If He can show Nephi
how to build a ship and if He can show Joseph Smith how to restore His
church to the earth, then He can show two sister missionaries how to
help His children. And He can show you how to overcome the challenges
you face too. Its my testimony that the Lord always shows us the way.
One of the ways the Lord has given me guidance and
shown me the way is through my Patriarchal Blessing. Seriously, how cool
is it that we can have personal scripture? You can keep a copy of it in
your Book of Mormon and go ahead and call it "The Book of Kaden" or
"The Book of Joshua" or "The Book of insert your name here."
Elder John E. Witsoe said that "It is certain that our Patriarchal
Blessing, if we give it proper respect, may be a source of divine help
in life's journey. Let us examine our lives from time to time, to learn
whether we are so living as to be worthy of the blessings promised."
That's the thing- those blessings promised are conditional. They are
contingent upon our obedience and faithfulness. We can't just sit back
and expect all these wonderful things to happen and expect all these
great blessings to just show up on our front porch. We have to seek them.
I've spent a lot of time studying my blessing this week, and its given
me so much strength and guidance. Its also amazing to realize that right
at this very moment I'm experiencing some of those blessings promised
to me.
Speaking of promises and revelations and
prophecies... I read one of Nephi's incredible prophecies in the Book of
Mormon yesterday.
"And now I would prophesy
somewhat more concerning the Jews and the gentiles.. there shall be many
which shall believe the words which are written, and they shall carry
them forth unto the remnant of our seed.. And the gospel of Jesus Christ
will be declared among them.. And it shall come to pass that the Lord
god shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and
people, to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth..
and the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters
cover the sea." (2 Nephi 30:3-15)
When I read those verses, sitting at my cluttered
desk that's been used by missionaries for the past 20 years, reading from
my Danish scriptures a billion miles from home in this beautiful land
of Denmark, I looked down at my black name tag and realized that I'm
living out Nephi's prophecy right now.
Have a great week and go seek after all the promised blessings the Lord is ready to give you!
Jeg elsker jer!
MKH,
Søster Rogers
