Frustration to Dedication

 What a great week to be a missionary! Every email I receive I absolutely love! Thank You everyone!

Weekly Summary:

This week was... different. So here are the highlights!

-Tuesday morning we got a text from our family of Golden Investigators that they had an emergency trip to their uncle's house 5 hours away. This was really unfortunate because their baptism was supposed to be this week...

-We organized a temple trip for our investigators and 26 people came! It was such a sacred experience and almost all of them asked to be baptized at the end! Temple for the win!

-Can officially confirm that a companionship of four (even though we are not technically in a companionship of four) is not always sunshine and rainbows. But it is full of eventual love!

-God most definitely performs miracles and once again we accomplished the goal of asistencias for Sacrament meeting!

Funny Story:

Very short funny story, but my Companion and I find it absolutely strange. A two minute walk from our house is a Massive Catholic Cathedral. It is absolutely beautiful and the street is all cobblestone (It makes me feel like I am serving in my sister Rachels mission). But in front of the gates of this Cathedral/Castle are 20 or more Market Stands that all sell one thing... Baby Jesus Dolls and accessories to personalize your baby Jesus. So every Catholic in Chicoloapan has a Baby Jesus doll that they carry around everywhere. I kid you not 50% of this population has a porcelain doll in their hand throughout the day. I thought it was going to be a one day thing, but no it has now been going strong for two weeks! They have karts, clothes, and back carriers for their baby Jesus dolls. It is quite literally strange.

Spiritual Thought:

D&C 3:3 "Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men"
Well this verse runs through my mind everyday and humbles me every time I begin to be frustrated. There have been times on my mission where I just ask "WHY?". Why did that person not accept the gospel? Why did that kid give us the rejection hotline when we asked for his moms number? Why did that person not show up to their baptism? Why did that person not come to church even though they told us a thousand times they would? and the list goes on and on Why? Why? Why? And with every why I get a little frustrated. I feel like all of the plans for that person somehow just got dramatically changed because of one decision. In these moments now though D&C 3:3 plays in my head as a mental screenplay. "Elder Bennion Remember, Remember that it is not my work that is frustrated. My work can never be frustrated or tied into a naught. Only the work of men can be frustrated. So Elder Bennion who is this work for right now? Is it my work? or is it your work? Give up your nets and pick up mine. You will find a lot more success and my joy".

I challenge you to create your own mental screen play of D&C 3:3 that can help you focus on the work of God and less of the plan and work of men. I know as we focus on the work of Christ we will see an eternal plan for the people around us. Gods plan for them will never fail and will never be frustrated.