April 21, 2014

Good-bye Key West, hello Hialeah, Miami, the heart of Cuban Spanish in Miami.

Elder Low's report,

This week I've been reading in the war chapters of Alma and was interested by actually the first couple of verses of Alma chapter 57. in them they talk about the result of an attempted exchange between the king of the Lamanites and Helaman, in which Helaman refused to trade prisoners in exchange for a city, stating:
"...we were sure our forces were sufficient to take the city of Antiparah by our force; and by delivering up the prisoners for that city we should suppose ourselves unwise, and that we would only deliver up our prisoners on exchange."
This struck me as interesting because Helaman understood his priorities. He organized that which was important for his long term or eternal success of his mission and would not trade that which was best for that which was good.
This week we were very focused on following your council and trying to get someone to the temple. When on an exchange with my district leader Elder W.,  we spent all of our time whether it was finding or teaching searching for those who would come with us to the open house the next day (it being the last day we could go). We knocked doors, and though found quite elect people who we decided we would return to later, none were willing to go to the temple the next day. We decided to go to the bishops house to see if he knew of any part member families we could take, and instead found a former member standing outside his house. Though this man was certainly ready for the gospel, he as well could not go to the temple. Finally, at 8:30 at night we decided to pull into a gas station parking lot and contact those around the area. We saw a man filling up on gas and, our last temple invitation in hand we went and talked with him. As we walked up Elder W. said, "sir, we are representatives of Jesus Christ. Tomorrow we will be going to the house of God, a temple (I held up the invitation) and were wondering if you will come with us." He seemed comfortable with the situation and spoke with us openly about his religious past. He unfortunately did not accept to come with us but expressed his interest and wished to talk with us more. The next day as we were biking we stopped a man on the street and using a similar approach invited him. He accepted instantly.

Though we were unable to find someone initially to come with us, the day taught me that as we put forth our faith and focus on accomplishing that which God wants us to accomplish we will rejoice seeing God's hand as he saves the faithful, and be forever glad that we did not trade that which was best for that which was good.

Elder Low.