Stories from Ruth # 55

This week we had a lot of appointments again and have been running wild. Sister Wilcken got really sick, and I mean really sick. So for a day and a half she stayed with Lianne and did phone finding while Sister Thiruthtuvaraj and I went to a lot of appointments and did some finding. We taught a woman named Chrishulla who is from Greece. In the last year she has lost four of her family members which has caused her a lot of grief, but has opened her heart to the spirit and the relief that comes from the gospel. Chrishulla wants us to bring a greek speaker next time so that she can understand the gospel clearly, which is fine because I just get to call Sister Georgieva! After that Sister Thiruthtuvaraj and I tracted and visited less actives. We have a map that lists all the members and we went to visit one. The member had moved and instead we were left with a muslim man who was telling us that he was better and more than Christ like us because he prayed exactly at the specific time, was circumcized, and did not eat pork. He also acted truimphant and said we were angry because of it, but honestly I was confused and about to laugh. He said he had read the Book of Mormon and every other religious book, but he refused to pray about it. And of course he will never know until he softens his heart and asks God. We left and then laughed.

On Friday we went and saw Theo before volleyball. He is so good! Theo is a friend to Lauren Berry

who left for her mission in Hong Kong. He has been to church twice and has been reading the Book of Mormon. We had Daniel teach with us and now the two are good friends. Not only that but Daniel invited Theo to be baptized and Theo said if he comes to know it is true he will. It was awesome!
Saturday we visited Claudia and Andree at a vintage sale they were doing and Claudia gave us hot chocolate and cake she made! It was so sweet! Then we went and taught Rafi and his brother Erwin. Those two are so precious. We shared the restoration with them and gave them a children's copy of the Book of Mormon to read. They love it. Both are excited to be baptized, love God, and love the gospel. They are quick to pick up on concepts and understand better than adults. It makes me realize part of why God tells us to be like little children. Then we taught Zidaine and Shawayne. Those two are hilarious! They always ask funny questions but they love learning and they recognize the spirit better than adults. They want to read and want to be baptized.

This week I want to share Moroni 7:8 "For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God.
9 "And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such."

I know that when we do the things of God we must do it with real intent and a sincere heart otherwise it is worth nothing before God. This subject has been on my mind a lot. We are to serve God with all or our heart, mind, and strength. We cannot be partway. We are either for God or we are against him. We cannot do good while desiring evil. That is why many people leave the path that leads to eternal life with God, because they do not truly desire God.

I am so grateful for this gospel in my life. It is a blessing to know and to have, and I want to offer that to all I know. I know that my redeemer lives. I know that this is the true church on the earth today. The Book of Mormon is the word of God along with the Bible. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and our living prophet on the earth is President Russell M Nelson. This week we will have the special opportunity to hear from him as he speaks to us in general conference. I would invite all to listen and to pray and see if he is a prophet of God and if this is true.