Hey I hope you had a good week and that this week has started off right for you. If not, it's gonna be alright. Sometimes life is tough but we are always promised brighter days ahead. Never stop expecting brighter days.
I met some really interesting people out on the streets this week. And I found that this week, that more often than not, I was the one taught something by the people I met. In a variety of ways. I love how much we have to learn from one another and know that there is so much we can learn each time our path converges with someone else's. God didn't create us to be here alone. We all have each other. That's beautiful to me.
This week I also had the most fire egg custard buns from this Chinese restaurant called Jim's. The food is spectacular and the lady who runs it is SO nice. A must if you are ever passing through Seaside.
One of my favorite experiences this week and maybe of my mission so far was a little service project we did for a woman named Brooke. She had met missionaries in the past and told us she didn't really want to hear what we had to talk about. But upon offering our services to help spruce up her condo's cool little patio garden, she happily accepted. We scheduled a time to go over and work when we weren't in our "nice white shirts" as she put it. Upon our return we helped for a few hours to clean, and prune out some of the dead things in her garden and tidy up her storage locker. Afterwards she asked us if we could stay for lunch. We told her we'd love too, and we had a fun little lunch and teatime out on her porch.
Before we left she asked if we could leave with a prayer and we responded by asking if she would be willing to offer it. She said yes and proceeded to give a short but very genuine prayer of gratitude. As we finished, we opened our eyes and she was weeping. She told us that we would never know how much it meant to her that we would spend our time helping her.
We didn't teach or instruct her in any capacity. We didn't even expect to. We just went to serve and love her and it meant more to her than anything else ever could. That is the Savior's way. To love without any reservation or expectation of reciprocation. That is a powerful truth.
This week we went and visited a lot of old friends and what impressed me once again was how the Spirit will speak to the heart of anyone who is truly seeking. Whether they are searching for truth, hope, repose, or greater faith, God will send his spirit to those who are diligent, humble, and sincere.
With Moroni I seek to "show unto you a God of miracles" and testify that "God has not ceased to be a God of miracles." The struggles and sorrows of morality can have great and devastating power that can leave us feeling completely desolate. But I can promise you that God has not forgotten us, that he can literally enable us to do the impossible, to work miracles. Christ taught, "whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you." When we are seeking miracles, we must always remember that God can do anything for us, but he will do that "which is right" for us. God may not answer our cry in exactly the time, or in exactly the way that we want. But he knows better than anyone else what we need, not merely to be happy, but to grow. I know that "God listens to all His children’s sincere prayers, and heaven is open to all—not just a few."
"ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Never stop seeking miracles.
Phew sorry she's a long one today. Thanks for taking the time. I love you. Stay strong.
Here's a song.
Maybe You're the Reason--The Japanese House
Elder Winegar
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