Week 41: Sometimes it's about sowing the seeds

Well apparently this Sunday it seemed like members and investigators all chose to take the Sunday off. We had very few members at church (around 15 when we started) and only 1 investigator showed up to church. It was quite frustrating, seeing how around 15 committed to coming. But these kind of days happen.

On a happy note Elder Bindrup and I were able to find a lot more people to teach this week. One of which, his name is Timothy. He is very excited to learn more about the gospel and he is very open to learning. He wasn't able to come to church this week but this coming week he should be there for sure. We will be putting him on date for baptism this week.

Elder Bindrup and I have also had a lot of lessons with people who probably won't end up progressing. I have really come to realize that it's not all about reaping. Sometimes it's about sowing the seeds. The spirit was very strong in these lessons and Elder Bindrup and I both know that these people felt the spirit. But sometimes it's about planting seeds for those who will come in the months and years following us. 

Elder Bindrup and I also had a very tender lesson with Edward earlier this week. So before we met Edward and Margaret, Edward was experiencing a very weird and difficult thing on the 26th of every month for the past 3 years. Each night on the 26th of every month Edward would wake up because it felt like someone was choking him and he could not breathe. He would also bite his tongue every time. This caused him to never be able to get sleep on the 26th of every month. He has been living in a bit of fear the past 3 years. Well Elder Bindrup and I met Edward and Margaret a few weeks before the 26th of May. In those weeks Edward has been reading the Book of Mormon and keeping the commitments we have been giving him. Earlier this week Edward, a 40 year old man, opened up to us and broke down in tears. He said "When the 26th of May came, nothing happened. On the 27th I was waiting for it to happen, but it never did. You are my angels. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I don't read these pamphlets because I know you guys are coming. I read them because it gives me power and I know it is true." Edward bore a simple but heartfelt and powerful testimony. We expressed to him that this miracle didn't happen because anything Elder Bindrup and I did but because of him exercising his faith by reading and praying. 

I know that miracles still happen to this day. Sometimes we do not see them or recognize them because of our lack of faith. All it takes is a particle of faith. As we let that particle of faith work in us it will grow. It will grow into a firm belief. And from a firm belief to a knowing. I have seen this progression in my own life and testimony. The first 17 years of my life my faith/belief was merely a particle. I didn't allow it to work in me. However, in 3 short years that small particle of faith has become a firm knowing and understanding. I know with all my heart that this gospel is true. This has grown as I have born this same testimony to countless strangers. I have never felt Gods love and presence more in my life as I do now. God is real. He is there. He loves us. 

Love Elder Rash
P.S. I am going to cut my own hair today so we will see how that turns out. I'll send pictures next week.
P.S.S Next week we are going to Philanesburg National Park for a Zone activity on P-Day. Also I'll have lots of pictures. 

View from a hike they took....

.....in their proselyting clothes!

More pictures of food!  At least I know he is eating well!