For me, this week was a tutorial in faith. I have had my faith in humanity tested, then restored by events that have taken place in our lives over the past few days. We've experienced a variety of highs and lows. We have had, to say the least, an incredibly diverse and instructionally faith promoting and faith trying week.
Quick recap: One of our children's good friends died in St. George from extended high 110° heat exposure. So heartbreaking for her parents, who from their hospital beds heard the news of their daughter's death.
Opposite end of the spectrum, It's always a thrill when we have a job seeker/applicant find work after a long period of time, just as it can be very disappointing when a caregiver gets fired over a misunderstanding and inability to communicate, one speaking only English the other speaking Spanglish.
Thursday we had the double treat of seeing Ubaldo, who had just barely been into our Employment Center creating a resume and applying for a job, being baptized that day in a nearby town. We watched from the Visitors Center via zoom, and he bore an amazing testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ! Later that night, a couple of Chinese students came in and began looking around the Center, we asked them to sit down and listen to the Christus Narration, but they declined, looked around the Center, began to leave, and Sister Jerman said, "Wait! Here is someone who speaks Chinese," pointing to a newly returned missionary and also the Chinese Sisters. They said, Hmm, OK. The group of 5 talked for 45 minutes and set up a future teaching lesson! They flipped a 180 degree reversal of a gospel offer from "No Thank You" to "Hmm, Yes, Tell Us More,"
Had some fun, but a little frustration at an A's Baseball game. Oakland lost to Houston, 8-1. Houston played a great game, no wonder they were World Champions in 2022. I was out on my bike ride Saturday, when I came within 10 feet of a small pack of 3 coyotes! They were chasing a stray cat for dinner that scared up a turkey, which eventually flew up into a tree and they both got away. Good thing for those two, that coyotes lack faith.... and wings.
We were fed spiritually on Sunday, because we sang with the Tongan Branch at the ISC (Interstake Center), and we heard a return missionary bear his testimony about healing a 14 month old baby boy who fell down a flight of wooden stairs and cracked his skull. The doctors only gave him two days to live, and if he survived, he would most likely be brain damaged. Elder Xia and his companion gave him a blessing. Three days later, to astounded doctors, he was released from the hospital and given a clean bill of health. The Elders' faith combined with that of the boy's parent's faith were incredible. God's priesthood power and love are nothing short of a miracle!
Hoping we can each personally experience His Perfect Power, Mighty Miracles, and Tender Mercies this coming week.
Love, Elder and Sister Jerman
No comments:
Post a Comment