DAY 155 -- SEEDS

I remember one hot day (they were all hot) in Puebla, Mexico.  We were tracting and finding no success.  Well, there was about 15 young kids, about age 12, who were playing football.  Since I was the senior, I decided we had to step it up and hit more doors.  But then, I felt this spiritual insight.

I told my companion that we had to set our sticks down and play with the kids.  So we did.  We played with those kids football for about three hours.  I know, it sounds bad and we should have been tracting, however, I was "told" by the Spirit that we were planting seeds.  I was "told" that one day at least one of those young kids would be approached by another set of missionaries and they would pause to listen to their message because two missionaries paused and played with them in the street one hot day.

I can't say anything about it.  I can't say that one of those kids was baptised.  I can't say that anything became of it.  But one day after we are all done with mortality, perhaps one day I will know, perhaps I won't.  However, I must admit that I knew we were doing what Father would have us do.  We were planting seeds in a group of young kids playing in the street.

That is what a mission is all about.  All the missionaries called are disciples of our Savior.  If they do not enjoy seeing anyone baptised, they do set examples, plant seeds, touch lives, and are still His messengers.  There is so much more than just teaching, baptising, tracting, encouraging other missionaries, etc.  Missionary work is being where Father wants you to be and doing what He wants you to do, whether resulting in a baptism, or going home with none, feeling like a failure.

Seeds continue to be planted.  Lives continue to be influenced.  Missionaries continue to meet with what they feel is failure when in reality they are doing exactly what Father would have done in their area.  For one day, some senior couple, some Conference talk will be broadcast, someone will say the words that will awaken a seed planted years before, etc.

That is how we can all be missionaries even with our neighbors, planting seeds, touching lives, setting examples of Christ's disciples, etc. 

So when Bonnie and I go out, I will watch for football games where I can plant seeds, but if I get too active, I may be doing things that will immediately run me to the hospital. I guess that is why my constant companion will try to get me to act my advanced age.  Good luck Bonnie.