Week 10 - Miracles in Rimouski

Bonjour à tous!

This week was really good! We had an interesting event that happened this week. So last P-day we were at the Branch President's home and we were discussing the needs of the branch and how we could best help the people in Rimouski and we talked about how we wished we could get a progressing investigator and someone to be baptized because the branch is struggling a bit. Anyways that same night we got a call from the Sister Missionaries, who are serving in a nearby area. They said they received a call from a young woman who is in our area inquiring about the church.  She had heard about the church from her friend who recently joined the church. 

She really wants to follow Jesus Christ and wants to be baptized! Miracle #1. Unfortunately, she had a super busy week so we weren't able to meet with her, but we are going to meet with her this week! 

Also, we taught a lesson about the Restoration to the daughter of one of our members. She was really interested and involved in the lesson and afterwards we gave her a Book of Mormon and invited her to be baptized. She said she would be baptized after she reads the Book of Mormon, prays, and comes to know that the church is true! It is so incredible to see people progress spiritually! Miracle #2.

Additionally, yesterday we had a visit with one of our members named Chantale, who was the last person to be baptized in Rimouski about 3 years ago.  We met with her and her husband Yvan, who is not a member of the church. Elder Shaw spoke about Elder Neil Marriott's general conference talk, because that was the basis for his talk in sacrament meeting on Sunday. 

Afterwards, without any suggestion by us, Chantale asked Yvan if he would start going to church with her.  Without hesitation he said yes. Miracles really do happen! Miracle #3.

It is such a blessing to be an instrument in the Lord's hands to help people feel the Spirit and come unto Christ. Something I feel I should share with you all comes from General Conference and specifically from the testimony of our new apostle Elder Renlund who said:

    

         "I now realize that in the Church, to effectively serve others we must see them through a parent’s eyes, through Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them. We cannot completely fulfill our covenant obligation to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort unless we see them through God’s eyes. This expanded perspective will open our hearts to the disappointments, fears, and heartaches of others. But Heavenly Father will aid and comfort us, We need to have     eyes that see, ears that hear, and hearts that know and feel if we are to accomplish the rescue...Only when we see through Heavenly Father’s eyes can we be filled with “the pure love of Christ.” Every day we should plead with God for this love. Mormon admonished, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ.”

I know this to be true. As I strive to see the people I meet and to serve them through the eyes of Heavenly Father, my love and concern for them increases exponentially. I am more aware of their needs and I understand better how I can help them. It is another testimony to me of charity - the pure love of Christ and how blessed we will be if we should be found possessed of it at the last day. 

I love you all and I hope and pray that we will find opportunities during our earthly days to serve others with Christ-like love and that while helping them in whatever way it may be, I pray that we will be able to see them as our Heavenly Father sees them. I love you all! Stay safe, stay faithful! Happy Halloween!

Love,

Elder DiReda