Well, the race against time on Monday is always one I'm not thrilled about - but as a trip down to southern Göteborg to get a free haircut for Zone Conference tomorrow has destroyed my time . . this will be a short letter.
This week was strange. We've been working hard. As hard as I can without hurting myself, and we've been calling people, knocking doors, contacting, and teaching. And then more of the first few things when those teaches happen to fall through.
This, is frustrating. It makes every missionary wonder why. Why on earth is this happening? If this is Gods church, then why is it so hard to get it to go forward (as it seems.) While answers, have I none - I learned this week during sacrament as we were singing ''I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go.'' That sometimes, we need to do more than sing the hymns. We need to live them.
It's hard, it's unpopular, and it's tiring. But the call to discipleship is stated no better than in that line (I was singing in Swedish, but the point echoes true) I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go. Sometimes we have no idea why on earth things happen. Is it our choices that caused this? Or is it just God putting me through trials? Is the common question reverberating through my mind.
But one thing that has been pulling me through all of this, is God telling me. This is exactly what he wants me doing. As of today, I don't see the ins and outs of what I'm doing. But God has told me so, many, times, that this is what he wants me to do. . and when we grip that attitude of going where he wants us to. Things become so much easier.
We had some serious discussion with a Muslim this week. He was very open and friendly, and simply curious as to our beliefs. We discussed and he understood better the purpose of prophets, and how they always have communicated with God about the gospel of Christ. Meaning Christ was far more than just a prophet - leading him naturally to ask . . if God is all powerful then why does he need Christ to forgive sin?
I thought, and I thought . . and I'm still thinking. I truly don't know the why. But this reflecting has allowed me to evaluate my feelings, and it's been very inspiring.
I don't have a good answer for him (yet) but - this much I can say. That independent of any other human being, or any earthly force. I know that Christ is the Savior. I know that God lives and his plan for us lies in the standard works.
The why's in life don't really always add up - but mans reasoning is not to be compared with God's reasoning. . and all I can do is convey my conviction, and hope that people will understand why I feel the way I feel about this. . and if they don't understand - well there's really nothing I can do.
Thanks for all your letters and support. It does not go unnoticed.
-Ä Sargent
This week was strange. We've been working hard. As hard as I can without hurting myself, and we've been calling people, knocking doors, contacting, and teaching. And then more of the first few things when those teaches happen to fall through.
This, is frustrating. It makes every missionary wonder why. Why on earth is this happening? If this is Gods church, then why is it so hard to get it to go forward (as it seems.) While answers, have I none - I learned this week during sacrament as we were singing ''I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go.'' That sometimes, we need to do more than sing the hymns. We need to live them.
It's hard, it's unpopular, and it's tiring. But the call to discipleship is stated no better than in that line (I was singing in Swedish, but the point echoes true) I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go. Sometimes we have no idea why on earth things happen. Is it our choices that caused this? Or is it just God putting me through trials? Is the common question reverberating through my mind.
But one thing that has been pulling me through all of this, is God telling me. This is exactly what he wants me doing. As of today, I don't see the ins and outs of what I'm doing. But God has told me so, many, times, that this is what he wants me to do. . and when we grip that attitude of going where he wants us to. Things become so much easier.
We had some serious discussion with a Muslim this week. He was very open and friendly, and simply curious as to our beliefs. We discussed and he understood better the purpose of prophets, and how they always have communicated with God about the gospel of Christ. Meaning Christ was far more than just a prophet - leading him naturally to ask . . if God is all powerful then why does he need Christ to forgive sin?
I thought, and I thought . . and I'm still thinking. I truly don't know the why. But this reflecting has allowed me to evaluate my feelings, and it's been very inspiring.
I don't have a good answer for him (yet) but - this much I can say. That independent of any other human being, or any earthly force. I know that Christ is the Savior. I know that God lives and his plan for us lies in the standard works.
The why's in life don't really always add up - but mans reasoning is not to be compared with God's reasoning. . and all I can do is convey my conviction, and hope that people will understand why I feel the way I feel about this. . and if they don't understand - well there's really nothing I can do.
Thanks for all your letters and support. It does not go unnoticed.
-Ä Sargent