More Than Tree Sap: An Unforgettable Week!

This week was...interesting. And hard. But the work doesn't stop and God still continues to pour out His blessings upon us, even when I don't feel worthy to receive them.

We went contacting. A lot. This week was the last week we could get people to church to get them baptized on the 25th. It was a humbling week, but I saw the Lord's hand through it all.

Many odd things happened this week. Wednesday, one of our investigators (taxi man) asked me to marry him. And then as I tried to change the subject to that of missionary related things, he prayed to ask God for me to marry him. That's when I knew this week was going to be unique. Thankfully that investigator told us he wasn't interested in learning anymore yesterday. Unfortunately, he was one of our best potentials for baptism on the 25th. But now I don't have to worry about whether or not we should teach him anymore...

Thursday we were getting dinner at the market before heading home. I was waiting for Sister Sawangong to get her food. I was talking to her, and then I felt an urgency to look behind me. As I did I invited this lady to come to church with us without even thinking first. She says she believes in Christianity, and she really wants to be part of it but her mother forbid her from doing so. She's read the Bible several times, and she said "The only thing I haven't done is gotten baptized". We talked for a little bit, and she told me "You know, I was just feeling like a lost sheep, and then you found me." What is there more perfect than those few words. The Good Shepherd is gathering His sheep.

Friday, as we did our "normal rounds" walking the streets, looking for people to teach, I suddenly was infused with a sense of urgency. A feeling that someone I needed to meet was near and that I needed to find them. I saw this one lady - I felt like it was her so I tried to walk fast to catch up to her. How she walked so fast in high heels, I don't know, but I tried. Then almost immediately, I stopped in front of this other lady with her daughter waiting for a bus. I started talking to her. Turns out it is the same lady that the Elders told us about already. She has already met them twice randomly on the street this past week. This was encounter number 3 for her with missionaries. I think God really wants her to come join with us in Christ's true Church on the earth today! Unfortunately, she didn't come to church yesterday, but I am sure that is not the end of her story.

Saturday we worked really hard. We walked for hours and got what seemed like little to no success. It was hard, and I was dreading the next day (Sunday) because it seemed like we had no one that was going to come. Then at sports night, I received two different phone calls from missionaries in other areas with referrals. 3 people. Perfect. I called them all, and one of them came to church on Sunday! Peace is really interested in learning how our church is different from other churches. I think he watches televangelists... but I had a fun time trying to explain to him what is different about our church. That's something I could talk forever about. I think he should be good. We are calling him again tonight!

Brother Gan got baptized yesterday! It was a great day - you could tell he was just really excited to finally be able to enter into these covenants. The best part: he loves repentance and he can't wait to endure to the end. I know he has waited a long time for that day, and now he can qualify for all of God's promised blessings!

Through it all, I really learned this week the value of obedience and hard-work; not because I am able to bring about great things through them, but because those are the standards to which God holds us in considering our deserving-ness of blessings. The blessings don't come in ways that we expect them to all the time, but they will come, in God's own way and in His own timing, according to our faith and diligence. Faith is manifest through our works, and that is the means by which miracles can be wrought.

Love you all!

Sister Norrell

Pictures:

We went out to eat with Sister Natthaya's family at a super nice restaurant.

Contacting outside of Big C Extra!

It rained on Tuesday. The Elders ran to the church from Big C Extra, and were soaking wet. So logically they decided to play basketball! We didn't want to get SUPER wet so we took our umbrella out. Needless to say, no one came to English that night because of the rain. 6 students, 6 missionaries. Yay!