Elder Benjamin Michael Conover Mission Blog : Week 78: The Windows of Heaven Open Because of Hardship and Sacrifice

Hello Everyone!

This week was a hard, good one! Satan tried to smash us, but we got to smack him right back. It was awesome.

First off, on Pday, we took advantage of the new Pday schedule, and we got to play soccer with all the young men, which was just super fun.

That night, we got to see the first miracle of the week. We were about to go to the house of a family that we are teaching, and we had a couple of minutes to work before our appointment. We started knocking doors, and we met a boy named Eugenio. He is 17 years old, and just the most polite, intelligent kid you´ll ever meet. We taught something small, and we set another appointment.

A few days later, we got to teach him again, and when we went by, he actually was there and let us in again! (That doesn´t happen that often)

We got to teach him about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the spirit was strong. He paid really close attention, and he was asking questions. At the end of the lesson, we invited him to be baptized, and he sat and thought for a while. Then, he responded that he will, as he feels the truth of the Book of Mormon and as God answers his prayers. As he gave the closing prayer, he thanked God for sending us to his house, and for the peace that he felt. asking Heavenly Father to guide him to the truth. It was one of those ¨Run away from the house dancing in the street¨ kind of lessons.

This week, I´m not sure why, but I had some really hard feelings that come over me. I just felt really discouraged, and low on energy; physically, emotionally, spiritually. What I have found on my mission is that those feelings are quite common, and they really hurt, but they make the wonderful moments even more special, knowing that we have pushed through hardship to get to them.

Before the mission, I used to think that as a missionary, I´d have some type of ¨Happy-Anti-Satan¨ Power that just would make all the hard feelings go away, but I think that D&C 58:4 explains it best:

¨For after much tribulation come the blessings.Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand.¨

That being said, the blessings came.

On Saturday, we were knocking doors. and after we knocked one door, a man opened the door, probably about 28 years old. As soon as I saw him, I had a very strong feeling come over me that we were getting into the house, something that had never happened to me before. And, sure enough, he let us in.

His name is Augustin, and as we talked, he told us about the hardships that they had this past week, and how he didnt understand why they happend. We got to teach him for a few minutes, and he told us how much he has always wanted to talk to us, but never had the opportunity, and he offerd to most beautiful prayer at the end. We have another appointment with him tomorrow, so we are super excited.

Finally, a family that we have been teaching for a while. Maira and Gustavo came to church for the first time this past week! It was so incredible, and the Lord blessed us so much!

Funny

When our investigators came, of course hardly anyone recognized them, and they got surrounded after sacrament meeting. One brother from the branch went up and talked to Gustavo, and then came up to me, asking if I could ¨accompany¨ Gustavo. I was super confused, and the brother explained that we need to start giving him the missionary lessons, as if that wasnt the very reason that they were there hahaha.

Thank you all so much for the pictures that you sent in for Maria. It put me in tears when I opened my email, and I know that she will love them. She wasn´t able to come to church yesterday, but we are trying to get her to the temple, so please keep praying for her!

I Love You All!

Elder Conover