SHOOT we just finished another transfer and I literally have no idea where it went. This means that I've been here in Brazil now for 3 months. I literally can't believe that. 3 months already. But at the same time October seems so far away now. Yet the fact that it is already January of 2014 just stuns me.
So today I wanted to express my feelings about something that took place within this past week, and even more so for the greater part of this past transfer. As I have said in past letters, things have been extremely difficult. From loosing water, to loosing baptisms, this transfer has been a trial of both faith and patience. Yet in the midst of it all there have been great and profound blessing that have come into my life. I cannot deny that the hand of the Lord has been present here in my life these past few weeks.
As I have said before, these past few weeks have been extremely difficult. I will start the week with an optimism and confidence that seems to fill my soul to unknown levels every week, and then come Sunday morning before church I feel drained of all energy: mentally, physically and spiritually. After spending the week being rejected, and watching people not keep commitments and not open their hearts to the simple message of the gospel, and then after anxiously waiting for investigators to come to church, you could pretty much ask, "Well why keep going if it is so hard and has no rewards?" Well that is the thing, it all depends on your outlook and something that Nephi calls in the Book of Mormon, "the tender mercies of the Lord".
For example: We had 4 baptisms fall through this past week. Four!! The worst was 3 of them, a mother and her two children. Her name is Raquel. She has been keeping every commitment and our only progressing investigator for weeks. And because of things that developed, her husband will not let her be baptized. He hates the Church. At first he was completely fine with it, but because of lies that spread about our beliefs from his neighbors, he will not allow her of the children to be baptized. This was so crushing. as we said our goodbyes after our meeting on Saturday, I felt as if we had completely lost her. Combined with the other baptism that fell through, as well as becoming drenched in pouring rain I asked the same thing as Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, "O God, where art thou?". Choking back tears I felt an unexpected feeling of peace, and I knew that He was there and knew what I was experiencing.
Then came Sunday. as we sat waiting for the meeting to start, none of our investigators who had promised to come, showed up. We couldn't go bring them to church because we had been invited to speak. I decided to count my blessings and I realized that 3 less actives had come! But the best and greatest miracle happened. Raquel showed up by herself. She has never done that. we always have to go wake her up to bring her to church, and she showed up by her self, no reminders, nothing. And she came and brought one of her daughters. I was overcome with joy. I felt the Spirit testify to me so strongly that the gospel changes lives because it is the Gospel of Christ. I know that she will be baptized this transfer, because she is showing the Lord that she wants this, and that will soften the heart of her husband.
The reason I say this was a tender mercy was from what Elder Bednar said about this very thing. He gave a talk about this a few years back, and said that when we are faithful, according to our faith the Lord will show his power and tender mercies to strengthen our faith even unto, as Nephi says, the power of deliverance. He said that the reason they appear to be coincidental is because of the Lord's timing. That is why we sometimes pass through sorrow before we are delivered by the tender mercies; it is the Lord's timing and he will ALWAYS bless us. I encourage everyone to listen/read to his talk.
Well everyone, that was the week. Here's too a new one and a new transfer. Keep the faith and remember the Lord's tender mercies.
Tchau tchau!
Elder Dimmick
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