Another experience happened with my convert Edendira. She is a young girl that is literally so rad. We arrived to her house to take her to church to get confirmed because she couldn't go to church last Sunday. That means if she didn't go to church this Sunday she would have not gone for 2 Sundays after being baptized. We arrived at her house and assumed she was already awake. We got to the house and talked to her Aunt that we there and I asked if Edendira was awake. She told me that she WAS ASLEEP NOOOOOOO. It was 8 45 and we were far from the church and we start at 9! I was like EDENDIRA GET READY WE WILL WAIT OUTSIDE AND ILL CALL A TAXI STEP ON IT! We were moving it to get to church LIKE HAULING. Edendira was able to be confirmed. I was so happy for her receive that ordinance. Ill never forget what she told me. I asked her how she felt after being confirmed and she told me she felt so happy and felt something incredible. That was response was worth all the effort. Something so little made it all worth it. It reminded me of a scripture in 2 Timothy 2 verse 10 which says Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. All that I do in missionary work is by love for the chosen by God so that they can receive saving ordinances and receive the love of our Savior. At the end of the day, the little things that are bugging to me most of the time don't matter. I do it out of love. I have really seen a change in her. The gospel changes lives.
The last thing I wanted to share was an experience that we had with a little kid named Santiago. We were sharing the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ with him and I was quoting the first vision of Joseph Smith. When I was saying it, the spirit flooded over us and Santiago seemed to feel it. I could tell that his eyes were getting red and wet. After he began to cry. Shocked we asked how he felt. He told us that he felt Gods love in his heart. He is going to be baptized on the 17th. He felt the truthfulness of the message that we shared. I thought that I had seen something incredible. It is the evidence that every single human being has the right to know. I left in amazement that even a 9 year old kid could receive such a strong impression from our Heavenly Father.
But after, I understood. Everything started with a 14 year old boy that wanted to know too. Thanks to our Heavenly Father that chose that boy, the truth was restored. The only TRUE happiness that we enjoy. Every blessing that we have recieved. It really strikes me that is all started with the trust that God had in a boy that was simple and humble. God choses the meek and humble to do His work. I find that refreshing and amazing knowing that I am imperfect and weak but he will use me in my weaknesses. I am thankful that he gave that spirit in that moment to say the very special words of Joseph Smith. God trusts in the simple and humble and I want to let you all know that. I want to finish with one of my favorite chapters of the 1 Corinthians 2 verses 3,4, and 5.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
I love you all
Giddy Up
Elder Smith
