Week 38: The Refiners Fire and Manna

Hello everyone. This week has been crazy. Um. I don't really know what to say. the refiners fire is real. It has been a really hard week this week, but I have learned and I am still learning how important it is to rely on the Lord daily.

I am sure you all know the story of Moses and the manna. I have come to a greater understanding of what it means to rely on the Lord. The work here is slowing down while the winter quickly approaches. It is kind of frustrating to be 100% honest because I want to help these people so bad. In Exodus 16 the story of Moses and the manna is told. it says in verse 21 that the people gathered the manna every morning. Every morning they went out and worked to gather this food. and In verse 35 it tells us that they did it for 40 years. Every day for 40 years these people relied 100% on the Lord. They trusted that when they woke up in the morning there would be manna for them to eat. They couldn't save up the manna either. They had to go out every day to get it. That is what sustained them in their 40 of trails in the wilderness. This morning I was able to look back and see the "manna" that the Lord has put in front of me every day this week. As I looked back here is what I saw:

Monday through Wednesday: these days were pretty normal. They were good and things when pretty much as planned. Thursday is when things got interesting. So I am going to go straight into Thursday.

Thursday the 5th: Another hard day. My wonderful companion and I talked about everything going on and she shared with me 2 Nephi 33:3-4 it says, "I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, an mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry. And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people." Exactly what I needed to hear. The Lord and I are on the same team, so he will help me.

Friday the 6th:
Everything fell through this day. We planned for a whole day of good activities and everyone cancelled. No one was home. Literally everything fell through. I was done. I was so frustrated. So we decided to go knocking in a trailer park. We got a very cold welcome when we came in. All the people that were outside ran inside and said some choice words to us. So as we were driving out of the park, I recognized a little girl jumping on a trampoline. We pulled over and talked to her. She ended up being the daughter of Deysi! A lady who has been coming to our English classes! She let us in and we had a wonderful lesson with her. Man. That was a tender mercy and a huge humbling learning experience for me. The Lord sent us there at that time for a reason. To find Deysi. And the only way that that would have happened was if everything else fell through.

Saturday the 7th:
I woke up again pretty discouraged. In my studies I found Alma 32:42. It says, "And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure about all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst." for me this was a promise straight from God, that even though it is rough right now, if I am diligent and keep going, I will see success. That definitely got me through that day!
Something else that got me through Saturday. The other sisters in this area had a baptism and we were able to go to it with Bartolo! He absolutely love it. he leaned over to me and told me, "Hermana, I feel like a changed man. Being here has changed me." I told him, "Bartolo, imagine the change that you are going to feel when you are baptized on the 5th." He gave me the biggest smile and you could see the joy radiating from his eyes. And he said, "I know." Bartolo understands that this gospel, this church and it's teachings changes people. He has seen it and he knows it. To be part of this change in his life right now is a huge blessing to me. I am so blessed. For me this was quite a large chunk of "manna" that helped me a ton.

Sunday the 8th:
I was studying in the morning in Matthew and I came across Matthew 11:28-30 it says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." That was exactly what I needed to hear to get up and go work that day. Then we had a lesson with Rosi and Juan. We talked about how the Book of Mormon answers questions of the soul. I think I needed this lesson more than they did. We made if fun and the spirit was so strong.

It is so true that the Lord really does help us through everything. He will help us if we go out of our way and look for the daily bread. John 6:31-35
 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

The Lord is there and he is helping us. He is helping me and I am so grateful for him and for his help. I love you all so much and hope you have the best week ever!!!

Hermana Hilton

Yup! I am still living with these two crazies! sister Young and Hermana Snowden!! I love them so much!!

Well November is here, so we set up our Christmas tree!!! woohoo!!!!