This week has been INSANE. I don't even know where to begin! Time is moving so fast and so much is happening! It's crazy!
We
have been finding so many people to teach lately. People are just
popping out of no where! We are so so busy and are teaching so many
people! I am so grateful, I love missionary work so much! Nanaimo is
also absolutely GORGEOUS. I love it here!
On Friday
we got to hear from Elder Bednar. It was absolutely incredible. I
learned so much. One of the main things I learned was that we can be
continually learning. It shouldn't take an apostle to come to help us
learn. Elder Bednar taught us how to be spiritually self reliant so we
can receive our own guidance. It was so amazing to hear from him. I got
to lead the music for the meeting which was so stressful. But it was a
great opportunity! I wish I could share with you all everything I
experienced, but it's difficult to formulate the experience into words. I
know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is God's
church on the earth and that it is continually being restored. This
truly is the greatest time in the history of the church, and it will
only get better.
Something else I've been
learning, is about the continual guidance of the spirit. God is involved
in the details of the details of our lives. If we listen, He will guide
us. And when plans change, that's how you know the Lord is guiding you.
Just because Home and Visiting teaching have been suspended doesn't
mean that the decades of Home and Visiting teaching were wrong. It's
just time for something better. Plans always change when God is guiding.
We just need to bind ourselves to God so that we can always be guided
by Him. In this time, it is essential that we "lean not unto our own
understanding." God knows far more than we do. As opposition in the
world increases, we need to ensure that our testimonies of the church's
truthfulness inspire us to be true to the church. True to God. No matter
what.
On Friday
I was also able to go to Vancouver to renew my passport. I know that
God is involved in the details of the details of our lives. Elder Crane
drove me and went with me into the US consulate. I was determined to
find the reason why I had to go through all this hassle, so I was
talking to everyone. Nothing really came out of it though. I did notice a
young family with 3 little boys I felt I needed to talk to. The
opportunity never presented itself however, and I didn't think we'd get
the chance to run into them again. After applying (successfully :D) for a
new passport Elder Crane and I walked over to the cashier so I could
pay the fines. They young family was in front of us. As we stood there
we realized that the dad was in a bind. He only had a debit card, which
they would not accept, and no cash. He didn't know what to do. After
observing the situation Elder Crane suddenly stepped forward and paid
the full $130 without even asking the man's name. The man was shocked
and tried to deny Elder Crane's help. Elder Crane just told him he
trusted that the man would pay him back. He gave the man a business card
and then the family was whisked away. The spirit confirmed to me that
this was why I needed to go to Vancouver. After paying my fines we
stepped into a waiting room, expecting to see that family there. They
were gone. That surprised us. As we sat and waited however, the family
returned and said they had taken a wrong turn. We talked with them and
shared about what we do as missionaries. The man and his wife seemed
interested. It turns out that the man actually worked at his own church.
He was raised in a non christian home and country however and was
intrigued at what we had to say. He took a pamphlet, promised to read
the book of mormon, and listened to us tell him about Family Home
Evening and the Book of Mormon. The spirit was strong, and we parted as
friends. As we left the consulate Elder Crane said "we just bought his
time." I agreed, there was no way the man would have listened to us in
any other setting. It was clear that the gospel is something that would
help is family, something they were even searching for, but if
missionaries had knocked on their door I feel they would have turned
them away. It was a miracle. I'm just amazed that God allowed me to
participate in it. It was incredible.
Something
I forgot to mention in my last email is that we also cover a little
branch called Qualicum. It's about 30 minutes away from Nanaimo but we
spend about a day there. It's so fun to be covering this little branch
and I love the people there so much!
We have a
few baptisms coming up that I am so excited for! I love the people here
so much. I know that God is there and that if we seek Him, we will find
Him.
Lately Sister Yraguen and I have been
saying "fear no man!" as our catch phrase. The gospel is something that
motivates me to be fearless. Yes, I still feel fear. But something that
I've learned is that if we act despite fear, the strength of our fear
will be turned into the strength of our courage.
Sister Bloomfield
