This week was interesting,
especially because at the end of last P-day I got a dog. We went to
Pascual Segura for our weekly meeting, which is on the other side of the
city from us. Afterwards, we walked to San Miguel to have intercambios
for the next day, and Elders Mazzeo and Mecham walked from there to
Cementista. All that way, a random dog followed them, and sat outside
the pensión all night awaiting them. The next day it followed them
everywhere, and every time we take a bus somewhere we lose it, but it
just returns to the pensión and awaits us again. I guess it belongs to
us, now, considering it has not left us ever since. But we're not
allowed to have pets as missionaries, so I'm not sure what to do about
it. He already has a name, too, but it was established by the immaturity
of the other missionaries and is a vulgar word in English; it means
nothing here, but I still refuse to say or write it. Thus, its name for
me is Asistente de los Élderes. But yeah. I'll send pictures.
Yesterday
we had a baptism! Her name is Lorena (she's my age, 19), and the man
who baptized her is her novio, Brian, who was less-active but was
reactivated by of her conversion. He received the priesthood and only an
hour after baptized Lorena. She was initially uninterested in hearing
what we had to say, but one day we found her randomly at a kiosco and
she agreed to hear us. That was only three weeks ago. Now, she is one of
the newest members of the Church in the world. The service (held after
the meeting block, because Brian had to receive the priesthood that day)
was wonderful, and the Spirit was there. I had the honor of confirming
her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ, and even in that I saw a
miracle: my tongue did not slip once as I declared the words of that
ordinance and blessing. I spoke slowly, listening to what the Spirit had
for me to say, and I was not led astray; it was perfect. This gringo
conjugated every verb perfectly and surely, and it was a beautiful
blessing. And afterwards I gave a brief talk on the Spirit, using John
14:16-18,27 as the base, and I nearly cried for the force of the Spirit.
I'm a real cry-baby in the Spirit, and I am unashamed. It all fell into
place so well, and I am humbled to have been part of that experience.
Then,
I had an interesting experience with beggars. A small family approached
us one night (earlier in the week) as we were walking, asking for money
and saying that the father had lost his job and that they were in dire
straits. I thought of the fact that the money we have is from the Church
of Jesus Christ and is for our personal sustenance as called servants
of God, and because of that thought I started responding that the best
we could give them was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I immediately felt
something was wrong with my response, because I was literally holding a
bag of purchases in my hand and had more money in my pocket. But it was
for the sustenance of the servants of God, right? It doesn't belong to
them, it belongs to God. The father soon cut me off, expressing his
disappointment and just leaving. I was frustrated that they in their
poverty still had the pride sufficient to reject the best thing we could
give them, which is the Gospel. All that mattered to them was money,
and they didn't care about God. But as we continued on, my heart slowly
melted, and I finally began to see the situation with Wisdom. Why should
the father's focus be on anything other than money, for the support of
his family, which really is the most important? And, upon that
thought, my heart melted into shame, and my mind turned back on itself,
analyzing my own behavior. It was veiled in such a thick, callous
coating of pride. Yes, the money I have belongs to God. But that means
it doesn't belong to me. God said that if I serve even the least of the
children of God I have done it unto Him. Did Jesus have money in any
part of his life? The opposite. By definition, He was one of the most
destitute on the planet, having no money, no home, only clothing; and
treated like a criminal all His life, and even killed for it. He was
nothing in this world, but he was the most important person this world
has ever seen. Thus, the "sustenance" of God's servants is not found in
money or possessions, it is found in giving them to those who need them
more. It reminded me of the scripture in John 21:15, in which Jesus asks
Peter, "lovest thou me more than these?" While talking with that
family, I forgot the obvious fact that, before preaching the pure
doctrines of Christ to all the world, I have to live them. After all
that, I wanted that family to come back so I could give them everything I
could. However, I understand now that that experience was meant to
teach me the lesson again which I thought I had already learned: I own
nothing in this world. It all belongs to God; it's only on loan to us,
and the rent that we can pay to keep it is obedience to His laws. And
now I am earnestly working to repent and fix that heretofore-unseen
breach in my mind. I am reminded of the song "Viva Voce" by The
Rocketboys. "Can you hear me now? I'm singing out as loud as I know how,
but am I loud enough?" Now I'm learning to sing the song of redeeming
love, and I am progressing in that learning bit by bit.
And
just while writing this, I had the realization of the connection with
the passing of dear Grandfather Wilcox. Our families do not belong to
us; we are all children of God, and we belong by all eternal right to
Him only. He gives us family on rent, to be returned to Him in the end.
But in His infinite mercy, He has provided us with a rent we can pay to
keep them in Eternity, and that rent is obedience to Him. And in this
moment, right now while writing this, I have tears on my cheeks because I
am overjoyed that I am able to grow to pay that rent, gaining the
certainty that I will see Grandfather again. Perhaps it is best for him
to have passed because of his mountains of health issues; that does not
make it easier. What does make it easier is that mercy of God which
allows us to meet in a better place, where we will be together forever
and rest from all our cares and pains, laying down imperfection to put
on Eternity. That is my message for you today, and I share it in the
name of Him who is the Beginning, End, and Redemption of all things:
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Can you hear me now?
With undying and ever-growing love,
Elder Hill
Fotos:
- El Asistente de los Elderes (con ropa que fue un regalo de la familia de Brian)
- Limpiando la capilla a las 0700 en Domingo (eso es la verdad de la obra misional: nadie nos atiende, pero tenemos que hacer todo; me encanta)
- Nosotros con ellos
- Lorena y Brian
- Hermanos de Lorena y padre de Brian
- Yo y Brian
- Yo y Lorena
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