Turns out she had planned to have everyone there, let us talk to them and mingle a little, then give the message. We read a paragraph of the Family Proclamation and gave a short message and congratulations to the future-bride. As we finished our remarks, our former-investigator-now-recent-convert blurts out, "See! Mormons aren't that weird!"
She set up this whole thing and invited us to share a brief message so she could introduce all her friends in a non-threatening, scary way to the missionaries. She is ridiculous in the best of ways. She has such a strong testimony and she only started meeting with us 6 weeks ago. She has truly felt the Spirit and the change that comes from it and she just wants EVERYONE to know and to experience it.
Sometimes I wish I could be just like her:) She has such zeal to share that which she has recently found. How many of us jump for joy and go to lengthy extents to share what we have had for so long with those around us? It makes me think of the story of Abish in Alma 19:
16 And it came to pass that they did call on the name of the Lord, in their might, even until they had all fallen to the earth, save it were one of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father--
17 Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people.
I think so many times we praise Abish for what she did-and I am not saying that we shouldn't- but I think it is interesting that it says that Abish was "converted unto the Lord for many years," yet she never made it known. She waited and when a grand opportunity presented itself, she took it. And kudos to her for doing that, but think of all the good she could have done in those many years prior.
I have been Abish for much of my life--converted and enjoy the blessing of the gospel, but don't share it. I've learned that we don't have to wait for a grandeur, once-in-a-lifetime moment to share the gospel--in fact we shouldn't! But when we are able to continually share the things we have in little ways, the Lord will bless with with grand opportunities because he will be able to trust us. I think it would do us all a little more good to be more like our former-investigator-now-recent-convert:)
So, to add to the other 44.9 billion other missionary work challenges I have heaped upon you, try this one:
Make a list of the blessings you have received from the gospel. Make a list of gospel principles that you have a testimony of. Pick a few principles that you feel more stongly about that others. Think of why that is, what experiences you have had that have allowed you to gain that testimony.
As you study these things and truly ponder them in your hearts, sharing your experiences and linking them to simple gospel principle will become easier-even natural. It's incredible.
I love being a missionary and that I get to do this 24-7. Although most people reject it, shrug it off, or fight it--I still love it. As we bear testimony and do out part to try to bring our friends to the path back to our Father in Heaven, he gives us a little glimpse of His love and excitement for those individuals. And that sensation alone gives me the drive to make it though even the hardest day. And I promise it will be the same for all of you:)
Tenga una buenisima semana!!:)
Hermana Clark