They Come

My wonderful companion Hemana Macias and I have been working incredibly hard these past few weeks. Cutting back our lunch and dinner breaks to proselyte more, fasting, practicing exact obedience, and praying more fervently and frequently than ever before. Despite all these dramatic changes, we have yet to see much progress with our investigators, which, by the way, are already very few in number! I've been noticing an odd parallel here with my three transfers in Cornelius, where (at the time) there was no Spanish Branch to take our investigators, very few local Spanish members to come out with us and therefore, it resulted in very little progression. Though, we have many willing members and a large Spanish branch 5 minutes away, there is also little progression.  Why do things like that happen? Why does it seem that no matter how hard we work, no matter how obedient we are, no matter what sacrifices we make, we just don't see much progress or results? And I don't mean just as a missionary, but in our every day lives as regular people? Do you remember the elderly woman Gloria, who Hermana Sorensen and I found in her pumpkin garden in Cornelius? She's not Hispanic, but we introduced her to the Cornelius ward waaaay back in September. She was coming to church every sacrament meeting but left right after that because her legs would stiff up. She'd read the scriptures we left her to read but had a hard time understanding. Even after much fasting and prayer, we invited her 3 times to enter the waters of baptism and was rejected. But we continued to patiently guide and teach and love her. I left about 6 months ago. This week I was informed that she was baptized and confirmed this weekend as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. :) I testify that the powers of faith and obedience are real. Although it may be difficult to remain faithful and obedient in all things, The Lord blesses us with the ability to have patience, and to have hope for good things to come. The blessings will come so long as we remain loyal and true. As Jeffrey R. Holland beautifully puts it: "Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don't come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come." I'm grateful that all the missionaries that have taught Gloria remained patient, faithful and obedient were able to assist Gloria in her progression, but more importantly I'm grateful that Gloria was able to press forward, remain true to the gospel, and continue in her journey to find truth. Because just 6 months later, she did so. There is no reason to fear when we place our trust in our Heavenly Father. He has a plan for us.  Like Gloria, we can receive the answers we ask and the console we need. Whether we are missionaries struggling to help people come unto Christ, parents who are undergoing financially difficult times, a young man or woman trying to make it through rigorous schooling, stay obedient and faithful, and the blessings will COME!  What a promise! All we have to do is those small and simple things, and we get the blessings of heaven. If only this principle was in my childhood, it'd probably go something like "go take the trash out, and I will buy you all the Hobbit's and Lord of the Rings extended edition, autographed by Peter Jackson." Unfortunately it wasn't and isn't like that when dealing with matters of the world, but when it comes to matters of the heart and of the spirit, it will be like that but so much more.  Ether 12:4: "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." Siga adelante with hope and faith and obedience! Believe in good things to come! :) Love you all so very much! Hermana Blanchard