Week 16 : GOD WILL FIND A WAY 💗

 

To be honest, I have been been a little stressed this week. About our friends lessons falling through, about not teaching the way I am supposed to, not being where I want to be in the language. We have been teaching a 15 year old girl named "Z." She is very interested in the gospel and has a lot of awesome questions. But she speaks really really fast. I don't understand a lot of what she says and it scared me to meet with her at the language level I am at without my trainer because I wanted to be able to answer all of her questions. Well, we had the idea to have one of our new converts Dora join a lesson with her. We thought it would be perfect because they were both young and had some similar interests, and also Dora could help answer some of her questions. It was extremely hard to set up a time that worked for both of them with both of their schedules being so busy, but after 2 weeks of trying, we finally found a time. In my head  it was going to be perfect, they were going to meet and become best friends and everyone would be understood. But the night before the lesson, Z asked to move the time to earlier because she had a funeral. I was so frustrated and stressed thinking I couldn't possibly teach the lesson on my own. I thought before going to bed, maybe I will just do more language study so at least I can have some vocabulary words prepared for tomorrow, but I was prompted to read my scriptures before bed. The thought just came to my mind, and  I turned to the chapter about faith being like a seed. (Alma 32) My mind suddenly became clearer. Maybe, things would work out. Maybe we didn't have to teach Z and Dora together. maybe we could just try to teach Z a principle as simple as faith and not try to cover the entire lesson. So thats what we planned. With some memorized phrases and a very simple lesson plan, we walked to the main square to meet her. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and we found Z sitting on a bench. 

After about 10 minutes of discussing faith and reading some of Alma 33, I wasn't quite sure where to take the lesson. I started going awkwardly into repentance because that is he next step of the Gospel of Jesus christ. Suddenly, Z broke out into English. English!? "Z, you speak English?!" I was really good English too, and very few people speak English here in Pápa. But she stared to explain how she had to change plans today because she was going to a funeral for a dear neighbor. She proceeded to explain how a terrible accident happened. A mom and her little girls were hit by a train in their car. One little girl lived. She then asked if we thought God had possibly pre planned these bad things to happen. Genuinely asking. Such a pure heart. Genuinely wondering. We both shared our thoughts and it was so amazing to be able to discuss with her naturally in English. My companion, Terry Nővér shared personal story. Similarly to how a young mom's daughters from home that she knew had passed away after being hit by a car. This mom was so heart broken, that she started to make small rocks with little hearts on them to hold and give to those you love. Well Terry had received one and she always carries it in her pocket with her. Sister Terry told this story and then gave the rock to Z. She held it in her hands for the entire lesson. We talked more about God and his love for us, and got to explain so much about the Book of Mormon and where it happened geographically. This was my very first time on my mission teaching a lesson in english. She had so many awesome questions, and as we explained you could just see her eyes light up. Things began to click, we explained Jesus Christ coming to the people in America and how he came to establish his gospel. It was the coolest and most true felling ever. Especially since we got to begin the lesson talking about faith. Then, after explaining and teaching, she gave the small rock she had been holding back to Terry Nővér. Terry insisted on her keeping it. But then Z said, but how will I know where to find you to give it back? Terry said it was a gift and Z had tears in her eyes. She said "My heart feels so warm." We could tell it meant so much to her. 💗

I learned from this today that God knows his children so so well. He knows Z perfectly. He knew what she needed going to the funeral that day and that she needed that little rock and our message.💗 At the end, Z said she felt so peaceful when she met with us. I felt the same way. So much peace. And going into that situation, there's no way we could have foreseen or planned on that happening. But we prepared to the best of our abilities and God did the rest. Sometimes that's all God asks us to do. Make steps forward in faith. He lead and guided the lesson. He gave us all the gift of tongues. The power of this gospel is real. We also got to talk about our interests and what we studied in college before we came to Hungary. So cool to make such a genuine connection with her. We then naturally invited her to church and she said she would love to come! She couldn't yesterday, because busses don't run that early on Sunday. But GET THIS she said she would stay with a relative next Saturday night who lives in Pápa so that she could wake up and come to church. So cool! The ones who are prepared by God will find a way!!

FUNNY

-I wish you could have been there. We went to Veszprém (a different city about 1 hour away) to sign some papers for my companion. We got to meet up with the elders to have lunch and it was way fun! But on our way back, we were waiting for us bus and this homeless man stood up, stared at us, and then ran towards us. He was a big guy, long blond hair, and many teeth missing. All he said was "Hello hello hello hi!" About 10 times. Then proceeded to try to give us chocolate, buy us coffee, and ask us what city we went to church in. We definitely told him a different city haha. We thought we lost him but he found us again and really did buy us chocolate. When we got onto our bus, he ran up to the window and tapped on it and waved at us until the bus was out of sight. I think he just really likes the missionaries? Either way it was quite the experience. 

-One day this week, 4 people canceled on us. The only person we interacted with that day was our landlord. I would give that day a 2 out of 10 hah.

The night before we went to Veszprém, I prayed for an opportunity to be able to talk to someone on the bus. There was one lady who got on and I knew I had to say something. I told her I liked her coat and the color of it and she said thank you then came and sat by us! I talked to her the whole way there and she told us how she had been to our church before! I showed her pictures of my nephew and she showed me pictures of her son. We got her contact information and invited her to church! If that is not a God sent opportunity I don't know what is  

This week, just ask God for something, in faith. That means you pray, ask God, and then come up with some way to ACT on it. I think you will be surprised what will come of it! God knows our wants and our needs and if we're willing to put in a little but of work, he is willing to bless us and enrich our lives!! 

Weekly groceries in Pápa