Hastening the Work

Since we cannot openly go knocking door to door here in Indonesia, we take to some fun creative measures to introduce the gospel. Elder Sutadiyono and I set a goal to talk to as many people as possible this last week, which meant we had some pretty great experiences as well as some pretty hilarious ones. Like the time we sat on an angkot and started talking to this slightly overweight lady when all of a sudden, this Muslim woman gets on as well, hands the overweight lady a brochure, and her first question is "Soo are you looking to lose weight?" Dang. I lost a contact to a weight loss program. Pff. Who needs a weight loss program? I was thiiiiis close to start explaining the resurrection... Haha! Best weight loss program ever! 

Elder Canfield moved in last Monday so it's 3 bules and an Indonesian in the house. He's from Cache Valley and has been out 6 months. It's fun having him around. Sorry, there are pictures today, but Elder Canfield is using my camera and cord to send pictures today, so will have to wait until next week.

We found this one dude, his name is Pak Charlie, and he's got 2 priceless qualities: he's interested and he has time to meet with us. He's from Jakarta, but he lived in Germany for 6 and speaks fluent English. His father owns a bunch of rukos all over Tangerang, and he's also a member of GKI, or the general Christian Church here in Indonesia. He's super smart too. He asked what makes our church different, and so we started with the Kitab Mormon and worked backwards. He received it pretty well, but he kept asking "If this is really scripture, why isn't it inside the Alkitab?" Good question! We're trying, but no one else receives it as scripture except the Mormons! We're meeting again with him on Wednesday and we'll follow up on things.

Both Mas Txx and Mas Bxxxxx came to church yesterday so after Gospel Principles class, we sat down with them individually and with a member and had really great productive lessons with them. Mas Bxxxxxx was really funny because he didn't want to use the word "commit" when we asked if he wanted to be baptized on the 13th of April, but rather he said he likes the word "planning". Yes.... "planning"... But both him and Brother Txx received "plans" to be baptized on the 13th of April. They'll definitely be ready if their desire is personal.

We've been trying really really hard to meet with less active members as of late and invite them to experience the blessings of returning to activity, but a lot of them are really really "offended". And as we discuss how we can help them return to church with the members, some of the members are really really offended. It's a vicious cycle. So here's the lesson of the day: Don't Be Offended. We're trying to just love everyone and set a good example of not spreading stories around, but rather shut it down when we hear it. :)Others have their agency too, but in order to fully repent, we have to forgive others, even if they still hold something against us. There's no way we can be perfect, but we have to be trying. And as members of His Church, we've got to try to be better. Being offended is very much a poison that can only be remedied as we rely upon God's mercy and grace and His Son's Atonement. 

And that remedial treatment comes through prayer. In Jesus the Christ, James E. Talmadge explains, "Prayer is for the uplifting of the suppliant. God without our prayers would be God; but we without prayer cannot be admitted to the Kingdom of God." God will always hear our prayers and will always answer a heartfelt prayer in His own time. 

Allah akan mencurahkan berkatNya di atas kita kalo kita mau menerimanya. (God will pour out his blessings upon us if we want to accept them.)

Elder Seth Barrus