Ever since we got back from the Sister's Conference, we have been really trying to find the less actives. This week, we got a copy of the CMS list (not actually sure what it stands for....oops), but basically it's a list of every member in our branch. Now we have set out to find those who are less active, so that we can bring them back to church. Our numbers in the branch haven't been as high as they have in the past, so we are trying to help people remember their testimonies, to help them remember why they joined the church and to help them remember what it feels like to have the Spirit in their lives! As we've gone around this week, we've talked to families that were sealed in the temple about their experiences there, hopefully to jog their memories about the covenants and promises they made there. I have a special place in my heart for those who have gone less active from the church, and I hope that as Sister Bechu and I continue to hunt them down (quite literally, we are tracking people and searching high and low) we will be able to bring them back.
One thing this week that helped was our Sister Trainers from Ba came to visit, so on Wednesday we split up, two of us to one koro, and two of us way out to the other. And it was a great experience! One of the sister trainers and I were able to visit some of the less actives, and it was almost like they had been waiting for us to come. Sister Bechu and the other sister trainer went and found a TON of members who had been baptized, but have since gone to a different church and one of them even said, "this is the first time sisters have come into my home!” There were people who had been prepared that day for the missionaries to come visit and share a spiritual thought. The Lord works in mysterious ways, and prepares the hearts of His children to receive his word!
Another great thing is that Sister Bechu and I are now helping members teach lessons to the less actives- called an MRP- member rescue plan (i actually know what that one stands for…) But basically, before we visit the home of the less active, we help the members figure out a spiritual thought or scripture to share. We all go to the home, the member teaches, and the missionaries testify. It is such a strengthening experience because the members are the ones that will always be here. Missionaries come and go, and it's important to help the members, recent converts, less actives, and investigators to help build their own testimony, rather than relying on the missionaries. It's a hard thing to do, since we get so close to the people we teach, but we understand that it really is the work of the members and the love that they feel that will help them come back to church, AND to STAY in church! Harnessing the power of the members will make the combination of members and missionaries unstoppable!!! Just like our Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Ever new member needs 3 things- A friend, an assignment, and nourishment by the word of God.” These things can also be included with people who are less-active. They need friends to bring them back, an assignment to help them feel involved, and nourishment to remind them of the goodness of this gospel!
Despite all this rescuing and hunting, we have been able to still help others come closer to Christ through this restored gospel. We had a sweet missionary moment with our recent convert from last week, Peni. He brought a friend to church, and then we gave his friend a Restoration Pamphlet. We then got a call, only a few hours later, from the friend, asking us if he could be baptized next week!!! Haha Sister Bechu and I were so impressed and surprised! We are so proud of Peni, and his courage to share the gospel to his friends. I challenge every one to follow in his footsteps. Be brave, and share what you know!
This week during my personal studies, I searched a long time to find different motivational scriptures and things to share with those that we see who have fallen away. One scripture that I really love helps describe resilient saints in Alma 26:6: "Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day, yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds, but when the storm cometh, they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate them, yea, neither shall they be driven with the fierce winds withersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.” I really love this scripture because it just reminds me how important it is for us to stick together as members, and as missionaries, to help those in the gospel be strong, and develop that strong testimony that they need to withstand the wiles of the devil. He is a sneaky one, and he knows exactly how to make us fall. But when we follow the advice of Helaman 5:12:
"And now my sons, remember, REMEMBER, that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send for this mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whilrwind, yeaa when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because off the rock upon which ye are built, which is ta sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall"
As long as each of us REMEMBER who our rock is, we cannot fall. I have such a strong testimony of that, that if Christ is the center of our lives, we will be able to have the strength to overcome any challenge. It's through His Atonement that we will have the strength to endure through trials and afflictions. I'm so grateful for the hard times that I've been faced with because I have learned that only one person knows exactly how we feel. As long as we put our trust in Him, we can be given the things that we need to endure.
Au lomani kemudou kece!
Loloma Levu,
Sister Trammell
Typical sunset in Taveuni
