On Thursday we ended up having our last district meeting together because next week we have the Zone conference and then it´s transfer week so we bought a cake and took pictures at the very end.
Okay now for the amazing spiritual experience I had. So the sister missionaries who we share a ward with had a baptism this Saturday @11:00 am and they asked me if I would do the ordinance so of course I accepted. The only thing was with this baptism it was special because the man is a paraplegic and has to use a motorized wheel chair to get around. So Pedro Gutierrez and I both baptized him. Vanderlei Garcia de Abreu is the man´s name and what we did was Pedro held him in his arms and went into the water and then I followed. I said the prayer and then we both (Pedro and I) baptized him together in our arms. I have never felt the spirit so strong in my life as i did during that baptismal service. I teared up probably 3 different times and just seeing how Vanderlei looked after the baptism was something i also will never forget. Pedro then put Vanderlei in my arms and I carried him out of the font so that he could get changed out of his wet clothes. Absolutely will never forget that experience.
Got another package from the Russos this week. These always help make an already good day even better 😊
Since I'm in charge of making name tags for the mission elders and sisters, it allows to take the occaisional liberty and make up tags that don't get used but will be a souvenir:
Spiritual Thought from my studies this week:
Alma 26:26-31
26 But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls.
27 Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success.
28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.
29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.
30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.
As missionaries and children of God, we all only want what´s best for our spiritual brothers and sisters. As we look forth, and look back on the fruits of our labors, we can truly find peace and joy in the work and the instruments we have been in the harvesting of the Lord´s vineyard. If we strive daily to become better accustomed to the trials and the tests the Lord puts in our path, we will have a different mindset as to why the Lord has put these trials in our paths and like Christ says in Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Humility is the key. Humility and meekness are what draw us closer to God. Once we learn to develop these attributes of Christ, coupled with charity, our entire mindset changes on everything. Instead of asking "Why is this happening Lord?" we can be like Nephi when he was asked by the Lord to build a boat and answer "How Lord?" Nephi didn´t complain because he had no idea how to even construct a ship, but rather humbled himself and trusted in the Lord and asked him how he would be able to complete the task. Through humble and sincere prayer, the Lord will show us all our weaknesses and the manner in which we can overcome them so that we may be able to look back on the fruits of our labors and know for a fact that we have done all we can do and that our Heavenly Father is content with our progression and our diligence as workers in his vineyard.
Have a great week. I love and miss everyone!
Elder Connor deCocq
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