"God's timing is Perfect"

Hola Todos! 

God's timing is truly perfect.   Lately I have learned a lot about how much the Lord knows and loves us with a perfect knowledge and love.   I have seen more miracles this week in my life and in others than ever before.  

I want to start of by sharing a story that Jeffery R. Holland shared recently to the Mission Presidents:  "One night a young man (from Southern Idaho) stormed out of the house and set off to join an infamous motorcycle gang. He succeeded in that resolve and for 20 years became immersed in a culture “of temptations yielded to and degradations explored,” never contacting his parents, who feared that he was dead.  Eventually ending up in Southern California, he one day was sitting on the porch of a rented home when he saw two LDS missionaries making their way up the street.  “With a rush of memory and guilt, regret, and rage, he despised the very sight of them,” Elder Holland recounted. “But he was safe, because he kept all visitors at bay by employing two Doberman pinschers, who viciously charged the gate every moment that anyone came near.”. The dogs startled the missionaries as they passed by and continued on, “our man on the porch laughing at the lovely little drama he had just witnessed, wishing only that the gate hadn’t restrained his two dogs.”. Then, the two elders stopped, looked at each other, conversed a little, “likely said a silent prayer,” then turned around and approached the gate.  “The Dobermans on cue charged the gate again, hit it, snarling, frothing, and then stopped in their tracks,” Elder Holland said. “They looked at the missionaries, dropped their heads, ambled back to the front steps, and lay down.”. The man on the porch was speechless as the missionaries opened the gate, walked up the path, and greeted him.  “One of the elders said, ‘Are you from this part of California?’. “The man said, ‘No. If you want to know, I’m from Pocatello, Idaho.’. “There was a pause. ‘That’s interesting,’ the elder said. ‘Do you know the [such-and-such] family in Pocatello?’. “With a stunned look, our biker paused and then, in very measured words said, ‘Yeah, I know them. They are my parents.’. “‘Well, they’re my parents too,’ the missionary said. ‘God has sent me to invite you to come home.’”. The younger brother had been born after the older boy had left home. The elder brother did not even know of him.  “Mom and Dad have been praying for you every morning and night for 20 years,” the younger brother said. “They were not sure you were alive, but they knew if you were, that someday you would come back to us.”

The wayward son invited the two in, and they talked for the rest of the day and some of the night. He did return home, returned to Church activity, and, in March 2015, was married and sealed in the Boise Idaho Temple.  Commenting on the account, Elder Holland said, “This is a story of the role of Almighty God, the Savior of the World, and the Holy Ghost involved in the work of the ministry to which we’ve been called.  “The Holy Ghost prompted those parents to keep praying, to keep believing, to keep trusting. … The Holy Ghost inspired that rebellious boy to come to himself like the prodigal he was and to head for California. … The Holy Ghost influenced that younger son to serve a mission and be willing to accept a call to Southern California. … The Holy Ghost inspired one of my brethren in the Twelve, who was on the assignment desk that Friday, to trust his impression and assign that young man for service not a great distance from his native-born state. The Holy Ghost inspired that mission president to assign that young missionary to that district and that member unit. The Holy Ghost led those missionaries to that street, that day, that hour, with big brother sitting on the porch waiting, and, with Doberman pinschers notwithstanding, the Holy Ghost prompted those two elders to stop, talk, and in spite of their fear, to go back and present their message. …

“And through the elders, the Holy Ghost taught repentance and brought true conversion to one coming back into the fold.”. Elder Holland said the young elder, without realizing it, gave the missionary speech of all time, when he said to his brother, “God has sent me here to invite you to come home.”

“We are sent by God to invite His children home,” Elder Holland concluded. “We do that through the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, on the strength of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Welcome to the divine companionship.”

Family and friends my eyes have been opened to seeing that Heavenly Father has a perfect plan and that the Holy Ghost can lead us in all things and put us where the Lord needs us to be when he needs us there.  We truly are the tools in the Lord's work.  I have seen many miracles this week that gradually lead me to learn these things.  Monday night we had planned to contact some less active members that the Austin ward council had asked us to contact.  As we were walking through an apartment complex we saw this lady in the distance struggling to carry her groceries up the stairs.  We immediately ran over to help her.  She invited us in her home and we sat and talked for a little bit.  She wasn't too interested in our message but was grateful for our help. She then referred us to her upstairs neighbor, so that was our next task at hand.  As we walked up some more stairs we knocked on this referrals door.  Another woman answered and said she was catholic and wasn't interested and quickly shut the door.  We started walking away when we decided to knock on the door right next to her.  A young single adult answered. (Mid 20's) she said her name was Ruby.   At first, before we began introducing ourselves, she didn't seem too interested, but as we just began teaching her 20 minutes went by and we had taught her the restoration and gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon.  She was answering questions and was fully involved in our discussion.  We invited her to read the introduction and asked if we could meet again, and she excitedly accepted.  As I walked away I could feel the love that God has for her and knew that every encounter we had that night lead to her.  

We had another experience (miracle) just like that.  We were trying to contact a former investigator one night and couldn't find the apartment number that he lived in.  We looked all over and then I had the impression to ask for help.  We knocked on someone's door and a man opened up.  He was from India and couldn't speak any English.  I tried to communicate that we were looking for apartment number 315.  He immediately ran and put his saddles on, came outside, locked his door and started walking down the stairs waving for us to follow him.  We must have been looking for this apartment for another 5-10 minutes and then he pointed up a floor right at it.  We kindly thanked him for his help as he walked away.  We walked up some more stairs and knocked on #315.  No answer. Then we decided we should try to call him.  No answer.  So we left a note on his door and began to walk away when we ran into a couple walking up the stairs.  We had a quick conversation as they were fast to tell us they didn't have time to talk.  We decided to go the opposite way as we walked away, and knocked on another door.  A woman answered and we introduced ourselves to her.  She said her name was Celina.  We shared with her that we were going around and talking to people about their family history and how we can be together as eternal families.  She was thrilled.  She came outside and talked to us and shared some of the experiences and stories she's learned about her ancestors.  We introduced familysearch.org to her and she was so happy and excited about the thought of an eternal family. Later that night as we were walking back to our car we met a man named Kelvin.  He told us that he was happy to see us because he just moved not too long ago from another state and he had been meeting with missionaries there.  Then when he moved he lost contact but he wanted to keep learning (miracle).  Every event that happened that night lead us to those two people. We were where we needed to be at those exact moments.  

I thought a lot this week during my studies about how to better help others understand the importance of keeping the commandments.  Some ask, “Do I have to be so different from others?” “Can’t I be a disciple of Christ without thinking so much about my behavior?” “Can’t I love Christ without keeping the word of wisdom?” “Can’t I love Him and do what I want on Sunday?” Jesus gave a simple answer: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

We had lots of opportunities this week to do service.  We got to serve at a nursing home, attend the Central Texas Food Bank, and help a less active member move from her flooded house.  I sure do love serving others and this community.  

I had the wonderful opportunity this week to go on an exchange with Sister Smith.  She has many talents and skills that she uses and has an ability to connect with others around her.  We found some new investigators together and had the best finding experience.  As we were walking down the street we saw a bunch of people playing volleyball in their back yard.  We called out to them and they motioned for us to come over.  We introduced ourselves to them and said we were representatives of Jesus Christ with a unique message to share with others and asked if we could share it with them. We made a deal that if we played volleyball and beat them then we could share a message.  Well, we played a good game and tied, but we were still able to share a little bit with them.  I have learned a lot about the importance of talking to everyone.  Now they have a seed planted in their hearts.  

I attended my last Zone Conference this week and it was bitter sweet.  I have loved getting to learn from our leaders especially our Mission President and his wife.  I will forever remember the lessons they have helped teach me.  I was also able to see one of my previous companions, Sister Loveridge!  It was really fun to see her again and she has become an even more awesome missionary since we were companions! 

Last miracle of the week!  On Saturday night I got a call from the wonderful Carrizo Springs Sisters saying that a family that I taught with Sister Landon while in Carrizo was getting baptized (Isabelle and two of her girls).  I am so excited!  They are getting baptized on August 5th so I will get to Skype them!  I am so happy for them and so happy the sisters are doing so well down there and finding the prepared! 

I hope y'all have a wonderful week and know that I love you.  Remember God's timing is perfect and He knows what He is doing.  He has a plan for each of us and He knows how to help us learn and grow.  

Con Amor,

Hermana Mann