Go and Do

This week was surprisingly busy. I know I said previously that the World Cup time would be slow and no missionary work would be happening, but I was wrong. This was surprisingly one of the busiest weeks of my mission. We started work about 8 o clock every day and didn’t finish until 9! Most days, we did get to watch a game. That was fun. Every day we always had investigators and members in attendance. Which was the goal. The only thing we would like to improve on is that more members bring their friends which is what we stressed in church yesterday. So, it should be another great week of soccer and missionary work. We had quite a few new people at church, who came because they came to the world cup activities. It was exciting to see. Also, church yesterday was amazing in the Singles Ward. We have been working with this less active for a very long time. He has been a member for a while, but never received the priesthood. So we have been working and working with him, to get him ready to receive the priesthood. Personally, I felt he was ready a long time ago, and have been wondering what the Bishop was thinking, not willing to give him the priesthood. But yesterday Bishop Matswogathata, came to me and asked me to make sure that I was in their sacrament meeting (They meet right after the family ward dismisses so we sometimes miss their sacrament meeting to do things for the family ward). I told him I would definitely be there, thinking he wanted me to give my departing testimony before I change wards. But as I was sitting there listening to the prelude music, I looked at the less active, Nyasha, and it hit me, that he was going to be sustained to receive the Aaronic priesthood! Wow! The bishop walked in and smiled at me, and I knew what was up. He was sustained! And then Bishop asked him to give a testimony! Which was powerful! I love this kid! He is amazing! And then, to top it all off, the priesthood was singing the special musical number, and Nyasha was leading them! Wow! It was powerful. I lost control of my emotions. It was so touching to see him sustained, bear a powerful testimony, and then leading the priesthood choir! Wow! Bishop came up to me after and thanked me for all the hard work I have put in to helping Nyasha, and how the Lord’s timing is everything. And it really is. If it were up to me, Nyasha would have received the priesthood months ago. But he wouldn’t have been ready, and wouldn’t have honored it, or used it the way God intended. The bishop is truly inspired, and did things according to God’s timing! It was powerful, and made a huge difference in the life of Nyasha. He will be a powerful priesthood holder, and a wonderful missionary, and a great instrument in the hands of the Lord as he honors his priesthood. Wow! It was an amazing Sunday! Helping less actives back to the fold and to see them progressing, is just as rewarding as seeing an investigator being baptized! Missionary work is great! But here comes my plug for home and visiting teaching. While on mission I have come to learn that home teaching and visiting teaching is the backbone of the church. Without it, the church would not grow or progress. It is so important. There are many less actives out there across the entire world, that just need a little love, support, and encouragement, that can only come from a diligent, concerned home teacher or visiting teacher! And the rewards for both are so outstanding as they both start to progress in this gospel! Really, do your visiting and home teaching. No excuses. It is really the most important calling in the church, and the most rewarding! So go, do it, and change the lives of those the Lord has assigned to you!