Weekly Letter #87
My dearly beloved brothers and sisters,
This week was a wild week. This Wednesday we talked with Aura, our investigator whose son is on the mission in El Salvador. She said she wanted to go to the temple this following month. We talked with the bishop and we found that we could make it possible. And thanks to the wonderful help of those who worked with us to help her have spiritual experiences with the Gospel, especially the amazing sisters from the Relief Society, she was ready to be baptized, and the service was held just this last Saturday.
I feel very relieved, after several weeks of working in Las Flores, now that we could finally baptize -- but not only baptizing, but establishing the Church in the process. We have tried so many different things, and we were finally able to get different results. We are not alone in the work of the Lord, and because of that the Lord can bring to pass more miracles.
Over everything, I cannot give very much credit to myself. Elder Marino and I have thought about different things we can do, and we have been trying them, but it is the Lord who directs the work and inspires us. We are nothing in comparison to Him. It is His plan, not ours. We exercise our faith and make our plans, and then the Lord does His own. That is the beauty of the mission work, and that is the beauty of being a follower of Christ.
During the transcourse of this week, there were additional loads of stress added to my back, things which I could not say, but I was able to find consolation and peace in the grace of the Savior Jesus Christ, and I was able to find perspective in the plan He has for us. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve as a missionary, helping others to find the peace and perspective and joy that I can find as a disciple of Christ. I would like to share a song which I wrote, which for now will be a poem.
Heavenly Father Has a Plan
The world is designed so carefully under His hand;
Its motion is timed in ways I can't understand,
And nothing can move without His wise and tender command.
Surely my Heavenly Father has a plan for me, Heavenly Father.
People pass on away to the other side.
Messengers come and welcome them to the light.
Preparing their hearts to match the type of life they desire.
Surely my Heavenly Father has a plan for them, Heavenly Father.
We make mistakes to learn how to choose the right.
Corrected and chastened, He wants us to be like Him.
Through voices and books, He teaches how to live like His Son.
Surely my Heavenly Father has a plan for us, Heavenly Father.
He wants to forgive us and guide and protect us,
But couldn't accept us without using justice.
But only a God could take on all the weight of our blame;
Only the Christ could bleed the blood required to save us.
Only the Christ could die and live to lead us and love us.
Only the Christ could comfort and comprehend us.
Surely my Heavenly Father has a plan for me;
Heavenly Father has a plan for us, Heavenly Father.
I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
My brothers and sisters, have a wonderful week!
Your friend,
Elder Dredge
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