La Obediencia Trae Bendiciones

Obedience Brings Blessings

¡Hola Mi Familia!

This week really was a week of miracles. As most of you already know it has been a little bit difficult for me to be in this area for so long. President has told us that in this way we can see what he calls "real growth" and I will have to be honest I had my doubts. I doubted that I could work effectively here for so long. That I would still have the desires to talk to everyone in the street and help the active and less active members with all my heart. The very week that I was having so many doubts, I received a dearelder from Louie Cibrian (the brother of the twins). He didn´t say much but he sent me this quote from C.S: Lewis "The work of devils & darkness is never more certain to be defeated than when men & women, not finding it easy or pleasant, but still determined to do the Father´s will, look out upon their lives from which it may seem every trace of God has vanished, and asking why they have been so forsaken, still bow their heads and obey." ha ha when I read that, or course I cried. But I knew that the key to being happy and finding success was obedience. After all the scriptures tell us that "when we obatin any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated". So for these past few weeks, I have been living by faith and not by sight. Not really sure as to why the Lord still needed me here... until this weekend.

I don´t know if you remember but in September one of our investigators named Juan got baptized. Well this weekend his neice also got baptized and Juan was able to baptize her. As I watched them both stand in the waters of baptism and I could remember seeing him in almost the same position as he was getting baptized just a few months ago, I realized why I am still here. It wasn´t something that the Lord still had something for me to do here, it was that he wanted to bless me by letting me participate in not only the conversion of Juan but of Milagros as well and so that I could really see the fruits of the spirit and of the growth of the church here. As I had an interview with my mission President he told me that he knew that this transfer would me hard for me but that I had a decision to make. I could decide if this would be a "special assignment" and just do it, or if I would really take it to heart and let it change me. I have been striving to do this and still am and I know that the Lord is blessing me for my efforts, because although they aren´t perfect, and I am trying my best.

This week the traveling assistants also came to our zone and it was such an incredible experience as we could learn by the spirit the things that we need to do better and have a sweet witness from the spirit that also we are doing what the Lord wants and needs us to do. I love the mission! It´s such a roller coaster of emotions!

In closing I just want to share a few things that I read in Preach My Gospel this morning about obedience. It said, "As you obey, you increase in faith, knowledge. wisdom, testimony, protection, and freedom". Wow so many blessings and all we have to do is be obedient! There is also a quote by Elder L. Tom Perry where he said, "the discipline contained in daily obedience and clean living and wholesome lives builds an armor around you of protection and safety from temptations that beset you as you proceed through mortality". I know that these things are true. As we live obediently to God´s commands we are protected and we are happier. Really this is one of the great tests of life. One of the tests that we can really learn how to overcome by the Savior. Even in the most painful moments of His life, He pleaded for the Father to "remove this cup" from Him. But shortly after He followed with the statement "neverless let thy will be done". Even in complete agony, an agony that in part we may experience sometimes, the Savior of the World was still completely obedient and willing to do the will of the Father.

I know that as we are obedient in our lives we will have an added measure of the spirit and will be happier and will feel the love of God more as we strive to do His will.

I have to go now BUT I think about you often, I pray for you always, and I love you forever!

Hna Scanlon