To
answer mom's questions about Balakova... it's smaller than Walla Walla
but the population is probably about the same. There's one branch of
about 15 active members (there are about 100 members total). The branch
president has only been a member for about 3-4 years and he and Katya
are about the same age I think. They're awesome and I love the branch
here even though it's pretty darn small.
It's been kind of a slow week. We have our one Nelya, other than that we're out finding. Saturday
evening after a long day of searching on the streets with little
success we talked with a middle-aged woman pushing her baby in a
stroller. She was very kind and respectful, expressing her belief that
organized religion is not necessary. I explained our church and sunday
service to her and tried to express how the church organization is
simply there to facilitate our communtion with God and stregthen our
relationship with Him. This was hard for me to illustrate in my limited
language skills. We laughed a bit at my struggling then she thanked us
for the nice conversation and told us, poignantly, to "keep on studying
Russian." This experience, in conjunction with many others like it,
haunted me for the rest of the night, my heart weighing heavy at the
thought that there was placed in my path someone willing to listen, and I
was not fully capable of imparting to her "that portion that shall be
meted unto every man." Then sunday morning I read this quote in the
Liahona from President Kim B. Clark, "When we act in faith in Jesus to
do His work, He goes with us to serve others and blesses us to say just
what they need to hear... What we actually say and actually do may feel a
little awkward or not very polished... But the Savior takes our words
and our actions and He carries them through His Spirit unto the hearts
of the people. He takes our sincere but imperfect effort and turns it
into something that is just right, indeed, into something perfect."
Into
something perfect? Wow. This brouht me such great comfort that my
service and sacrifice will be perfected through Him as I keep acting in
faith. No matter how weak my best is, it will count and it will make a
difference. We truly are doing the Lord's work, His ministry on the
earth, and just as He is perfect, so is His ministry. As I act in His
name by keeping His commandments and following His Spirit, He will
sanctify my efforts for the benefit of His children. It's funny how I was there BYU-Idaho when President Clark gave this devotional, but his address means so much more to me now and has increased my understanding of what it really means to rely on the Savior and changed my view of my service.
Keep
praying for me... we need your prayers in the Russia Samara Mission!!
Pray for faith to perform miracles, safety and understanding and
speaking the language.
Be happy! & good luck with everything you do :) I'll be prayin for ya'll too.
Love you muchly!
Sister Johnson
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