Planting Seeds

    Here in this area we have planted a lot of seeds. Seeds that are taking their own sweet time growing. Sometimes it is frustrating not being able to see the fruits of our labor. We talk to a lot of people, and with most of them from the beginning they show a disinterest in hearing the gospel. So we leave them with a pamphlet, trusting that eventually they will accept the fullness of the gospel. The hardest by far is when we are working with a person for months, they've received a witness that this is true, and then in the end they use their agency to reject the message we've brought.

     This week we had to say good bye to Anita. She has been receiving visits for as long as there have been hermanas in this area. She is sweet, humble, and we always feel the spirit strong in lessons with her. However, she hasn't made real progress in reading the Book of Mormon and doesn't come to church because of her bad foot. She knows she needs to be baptised and every time we visit she describes how she got an answer to her prayers, however she insists that she needs to learn more. Finally my companion said this week that we need to stop visiting her if she is not willing to progress. We had one last lesson with her to explain why, and by the end we were all crying. In her case it didn't feel like we were leaving a planted seed, but rather she was using her agency to choose not to progress. That she was letting her fears rule and doubts overcome. I cried for her, and I can only imagine how our Heavenly Father feels every time one of His beloved children uses the gift He's given them to reject the invitation to come closer to Him. It's made me reflect on how I have used my agency to accept or reject opportunities He's given me to grow.

     Little by little we are finding the prepared people--the seeds that have been planted long ago that are ready to be harvested. Yesterday we had a large family of Misquitos join us for church! They are always so happy to receive us and are beginning to open up more and more. It was probably one of the highlights of my week when one hermana in the family brought out the pamphlet we left and her bible, explaining that she had been looking up the references in the back of the pamphlet and studying the questions. We just have to learn misquito and todo cheque. :)

     The greatest success we have seen here is the change in the members. We've been helping them form their own Family Mission Plans, and as they have begun to see how crucial they are in this work the more excited they have been to help us out. They have begun to feel the responsibility of helping their friends, family, and neighbors come unto Christ. They are willing and excited to help, and that is the greatest miracle I've seen here!

Well, until next week! I hope you have a great week!
Hna. Thacker

p.s. La Mosquitia is an area on the farthest east part of Honduras and there live a people called Misquitos who speak Misquito. It sounds really cool, and it would be pretty neat to learn.