Hello Family!
Transfer time is here! I am staying here in Niagara Falls for at least 5 more weeks (this transfer is shorter by one week to accommodate all the new missionaries). I haven't met my new companion yet, but his name is Elder Li and he is Korean! Elder Welch and I have had fun together... he's definitely one of my favorite people and I'll miss him. He's now going up to serve in Oshawa, after being here in Niagara for the past 9 months or so. So, there's all the transfer news. Apparently it's supposed to get really cold here this week, so that should spice things up a bit! Or cool them down, I'm not sure.
We saw a couple of miracles this past week. Charles, who had gone missing in action, is now in contact with us again and has a baptismal date for February 3rd! Getting in contact again so fast was unexpected, but it's a miracle we welcome, that's for sure. And we had an especially good visit with Shawn, who I mentioned last week. Shawn is incredibly open-minded and is willing to do what God intends for him to do. The member whose home we met in, and who gave Shawn a ride home, spoke to us yesterday about a neat experience he had with Shawn after our visit. They were driving, and Shawn said "Whoa... that was weird!" Bro. Williams (the member) said "What's weird?" Shawn said "I just heard this voice in my head, I'm not sure if it was my own or what- but it said 'This is the right thing for you' and I got this, I don't know how to describe it, this feeling in my head and body." The reason why Shawn received such a powerful manifestation is because he knows what God wants everyone to know. That we can't say we went for a swim if we just dipped our feet in. We cannot know something absolutely unless we actually give it a fair try. Jesus said "If any man will do his (or God's) will, he shall know of the doctrine. Whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Basically He is saying that the only way we will know if the Gospel is real, if it is true, if it is from God, is if we try it for ourselves. God is always saying "Prove me." He is inviting us to "come and see." Shawn's life story, in a nutshell, has been: devout Catholic until his teen years, he then developed strong animosity towards God, he became a drug addict, spent time in jail, then he pleaded for God to save his life. And then, God did save him. And now, years later, he is coming to know God in an even more personal and powerful way. That's the point of the Gospel. That's the reason for the church and for baptizing. Not to have a statistic, or to have membership in a social club that meets every Sunday- but this church has the authority and resources to help us know God in a personal and powerful way. How would you change if you knew God personally, and if you knew He has a plan for each of us individually?
What I'm reminded of by Shawn's story, is that God never gives up on us. He never turns His back on us. Everyone, me and you, we all need to put away our foolish self-serving desires and turn towards God. Our life is not really ours. God gave us this life. Who are we to fight against Him who created us? This life is the time for us to prepare to meet God. Or in other words, we are being tested to see if we will make it back home to our loving Father. If that doesn't make sense to you, then try it out! Say a prayer, read the scriptures, go to church, ask questions. There is nothing to lose, and everything to gain.
I love you all so much. Keep on going, keep moving forward, and never give up. Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Brett Simper
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