So this week has been a good one. We've had some minor setbacks with Sxxx and Kxxx, having to push their baptismal dates back a little ways. They are still willing to be baptized. They just haven't received all the lessons yet, and Sxxx needs to somehow get work off on Sundays so that he can come to church! Other than that, we've been praying for more people who we can help bring closer to Christ through a knowledge of His restored gospel and baptism. Our prayers have been answered! The sisters in Antwerpen ran into a guy that had been meeting with the missionaries for a while, and was getting ready for baptism but then had to go back to Nigeria. Now he is back in Belgium and living in Brugge, and was looking to get in contact with the missionaries! Well, he's found us now, and hopefully we can help him continue to move forward. We also had another miracle with a less active who's been coming back to church. She ended up bringing her 9 year old daughter along, and she said she wants help getting reactivated and wants us to teach her daughter and get her ready for baptism. Sweet! We've also seen quite a bit of success with finding new investigators, more success than I've seen earlier in my mission anyways. We were let in 3 times this last week (miracle in and of itself) and allowed to share a short restoration message. All three have turned into new investigators! Really cool and funny experiences; I think I'll save some of those for after the mission though ;)
The Lord truly does pour out his blessings upon us.
In my personal studies this week, I was in one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon, Alma chapters 32-34. Oh, I love those chapters! Alma and Amulek have so many plainly laid out statements about the gospel it is beautiful. I love that duo! They really set the standard for teaching with a companion in unity, which is something to be strived for as a missionary.
I'll end with scripture from the end of Alma 34.
37 And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should awork out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;
38 That ye acontend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the bname of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and cworshipGod, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in dthanksgiving daily, for the many emercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.
It goes on further, but I would like to point out something. We are to work out our salvation with fear BEFORE God, not OF God. God is our loving Heavenly Father who is so willing to bless us, and help us in every way that we try live worthily of. He will never be angry at us as long as we are not working directly against Him. We can put our trust in Him, because He is perfect and because He loves us all infinitely and unconditionally. Doubt Not, Fear Not. That is the only thing we really have to fear then, is that we will one day stop trying. Other than that, the Lord has everything else covered.
I love you all!
-Elder Hayden L. Lott
Question of the Week: Do the Belgians have town squares and festivals/flea markets like the Netherlands?
Answer: Yeah there are markets here in Belgium as well. Here in Brugge it is on Saturdays, but I know that other towns around here have it on other days. On Saturdays we go to this one stand in the market to get lunch because the lady has a sweet deal with the missionaries where we both get half of a chicken, a whole ton of fried potatoes, and a lot of super good veggies for only 5 euro! Actually there are a lot of people who give us deals here if we go to them. There's a waffel guy who gives us a euro off because we are missionaries, and other people like that. Cool stuff. Missionaries are famous here. We get stopped daily by member tourists and just other random people who know about the church or who have met with us before. There are tons of little old ladies who talk with us on buses, and tons of conductors on trains who know who we are. Perks I guess for serving in one of the oldest missionary stompping grounds and tourist city ;)
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| Brugge Market - Just outside of Centrum. (Just wait, I'll get pictures of the Centrum!) |
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| Brugge Apartment Living Room |
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| Kitchen in Brugge Apartment |
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| With Elder Thornock, also from Bountiful, Utah |
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| Old MTC Group; 8 of us were at the same zone conference! Sister Whittington, Sister Voss, Sister Bush, Sister Watts, Elder Reese, Elder Morrell, Elder Lott, Elder Hirsche (Only missing Sister Thomas, Sister Robbins, Elder Cook and Elder DeWitt) |
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