Hello everyone,
The Lord has been revealing to us a pattern of the way He is
working here in our area. Over the past month, we have had numerous experiences
where our intentions on helping specific people have been augmented by our
Heavenly Father's greater vision and we have been recognizing that process. For
example, one night we planned on seeing a couple who are struggling with their
activity in the Gospel. We had knocked a few doors in the area and said hello
from a distance to a guy walking his dog. We didn't see much success and
started heading over to this couple's home. We didn't feel good about actually
going and visiting with them. Then the guy with the dog came by again and we
started talking to him. Elder Ainsworth recognized him from another family in the
area that we have had no success in contacting and discerning their interest in
the Gospel. As we talked, the Spirit brought out a work connection between this
man, nicknamed "Newt", and a recent convert in that ward. We had also
been praying about how to help this recent convert. The Lord made the
connection. Newt isn't a member of the Church, but will be reading the Book of
Mormon on a business trip and rooming with other people who are members of the
Church. The Lord's work is His own.
The Lord has been teaching me a lot about charity. You could
say that was the trial of this week. My planning for a district meeting had not
gone well and the only thing that was really sticking out like a laser beam in
the eye was the topic of charity. In my mind, the topic was finding new people
to teach. The meeting began and went well and another missionary gave a
magnificent training on charity. I stood up and tied charity to finding and the
meeting progressively got more and more chaotic. When the meeting ended, I
realized that charity should have been the main topic. That's what everyone was
needing. I learned a lot from the Spirit at that point.
The experiences and internal conflicts I experienced
throughout this past week could be boiled down to one simple, but incredibly
difficult admonition: "love the people". Charity, the pure love of
Christ, was the test and I can honestly say that I didn't do well it. It is
interesting how things you succeed in at times on your mission suddenly appear
to be your greatest weakness. I know the Lord is building me. He wrapped His
arms around me this past week and the sweet comfort of the Holy Spirit lifted
me. I love Jesus Christ and how He saves me from myself. I know He is my Savior
and Redeemer.
I am grateful for the prayers you send my way. They mean a
lot more than either of us realize, but I do know that they work.
Love,
Elder Adamek
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