The best way to describe this past week was a battle. It is so true that we have to have opposition in all things. But pressing forward through opposition meant we saw miracles.
One of the biggest miracles of all is something that started many months ago. Going all the way back to July, Elder Seely and I found an investigator named Bernadette who was visiting from Northern Ireland.
We were able to teach her a few times before she went back home. I have stayed in contact with her since then, and fast-forwarding to November of last year the miracle continued. She had problems getting ahold of the missionaries there but was finally able to. I got a picture from her of all her pamphlets and a Book of Mormon on a table explaining how much she is learning from the missionaries. Jumping ahead again to current time, she was able to be baptised on Saturday and confirmed as a member, as well as receive the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday. This has been such a great continuation of joy for me to see all of this unfold. It feels like yesterday that we were walking around trying to invite people to a barbecue on July 25th, and that's how we first met Bernadette. Something that stood out to me in one of her messages was she said she has learned more about the truth from us and the missionaries in Northern Ireland than she had her entire life before this, growing up with a Christian background. She had given up on religion two years ago until that warm sunny day in Witham when my trainer and I, still a very new missionary, simply invited her to a barbecue and a tour of our church building. Just as Nephi wrote while traveling through the wilderness with his family "And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things" (1 Nephi 16:29)
The other miracles this week also came about by very small means. We saw many hearts softened as we were able to answer many questions of the soul that people have. For example, why is there so much evil in the world? The Prophet Lehi answered this very question that his son asked him. In his answer, he explains that "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things... And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away" (2 Nephi 2:11-13).
As I have studied and tried to find answers to questions like this, I have gained answers that I have been able to use to help others. The changes I have seen in people have been immense, bringing a new sense of light and understanding to their conscience.
This coming week we have a district meeting on Wednesday, and I will get to go on another exchange to Northampton. These past weeks have been crazy busy, and the time has flown by, and this week shall be no exception!
- Elder Ammermon
Both pictures, Left To Right are Elders Santiago, Dalley, Ammermon, and Koponen. All of us are wearing our boots and sock ties.
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