"Yen Hyease" (yen-shi-ah-see-eh) - Let us begin!

What a wonderful week I have had.

This week has been the best week here in Mpraeso I have had. Looking back on how hard the last 12 weeks were, I am truly in debt to my Heavenly Father for the success He has given to us here for our diligence. Elder Boyce and Elder Kangwa truly do help the work to move forward as we all labor together in the vineyard. I love this area. I have learned so much here about waiting on the Lord's time table, and working hard, even when we can't see the immediate results.  We had 4 investigators at Sacrament meeting this week which was amazing! They will have to build a bigger chapel if the work continues as it is now!!  :)

Happy Birthday to my buddy Wes in Anaheim!  :)  I love ya Brotha!

We had our Zone Conference this week, and we focused on how we can better teach repentance and plan better for better success.  I was asked to instruct for a little bit and it went pretty well!  :) We had interviews with President Cosgrave, and I always love meeting with him. He really does boost my spirits and teach me how to improve every time we meet together. We got to watch the first half of the missionary broadcast, as we didn't get to see the first half because of technical difficulties, and it was AWESOME!

At church on Sunday, we had 2 of our powerful investigators there to see the baptism of Brother Alex (Elder Boyce and Kangwa's investigator). One said he wanted to be baptized the following week, and the other said he felt that the church was right, so we are praying that all will be well with the 2 of them as they continue on their journey of coming to Christ through baptism. 

Our branch President has been giving me talks in Sacrament like crazy! I spoke this past Sunday, and also 3 weeks ago!  Nothing like being a missionary, it is wonderful.  :) I spoke on the Law of Chastity and about forgiveness previously.  The Spirit really does put into our minds the words we need to say, in the very moment that we need them, and I can testify of that for sure.

To close, I would like to talk about a Sacrament hymn we sang a few weeks ago that really touched my heart, and bore testimony to me of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In the LDS hymn book, we have a section of hymns that are sung before we partake of the Sacrament to help us focus on Jesus Christ and His suffering on our behalf. We sang Hymn 191 which reads:

Behold the Great Redeemer Die
 
1. Behold the great Redeemer die,
A broken law to satisfy.
He dies a sacrifice for sin,
He dies a sacrifice for sin,
That man may live and glory win.
 
2. While guilty men his pains deride,
They pierce his hands and feet and side;
And with insulting scoffs and scorns,
And with insulting scoffs and scorns,
They crown his head with plaited thorns.
 
3. Although in agony he hung,
No murm'ring word escaped his tongue.
His high commission to fulfill,
His high commission to fulfill,
He magnified his Father's will.
 
4. "Father, from me remove this cup.
Yet, if thou wilt, I'll drink it up.
I've done the work thou gavest me,
I've done the work thou gavest me;
Receive my spirit unto thee."

I don't know that I can express in words the way I felt, but as I read these words to our investigators class, I had tears come to my eyes as the Spirit bore witness to me that Christ did go through everything for me. He suffered all, not murmuring, no evil escaping His tongue, that we might live and glory win. The line that really touched my heart was verse 4, the first 2 lines, "Father, from me remove this cup. Yet, if thou wilt, I'll drink it up."
Jesus Christ did die for us. He suffered the Father's will so that we may find rest in the life to come, if we but choose to follow Him. This testimony I leave with whoever may read, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, amen.

Elder Wawro