Sydney has gotten a couple of huge storms this week, but the work continues to move forward regardless. The chapel and one of the missionary flats have some leaks, but we've all been alright. By the way, Happy Anzac Day!
The last few weeks have shown me again the power of the Book of Mormon. I don't know if I've mentioned this in the past, but we've been visiting a less-active member who has severe schizophrenia. When we first started going over to his place, we weren't really sure what to do to help him feel the spirit, but a couple of weeks ago, we decided to just read the book of Mormon and discuss it with him. We've found it to be very effective since it allows us to base our conversations on a solid, concrete idea. Also, as we read and discuss, he has been able to comprehend and talk about the scriptures in a much more understandable way. I'm thankful that the Book of Mormon teaches fundamental doctrinal truths in a way that is clear to the mind and the heart.
We had a great trade off last week. I was in Greenwich with Elder Vaughn and we were teaching one of their recent converts. As we were teaching, the recent convert brought up a few problems he'd been having since he joined the church. His problems were similar to the problems that a lot of recent converts face, such as difficulty keeping the commandments, adjusting to a different lifestyle, struggling to maintain their new-found testimony, and so on. However, as we were teaching, all of the answers just seemed to flow from the spirit to us as we were talking with him. The lesson ended really well, and the recent convert seemed excited to prepare to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood next month.
An important lesson I've learned as a missionary is that the Lord qualifies those whom he calls. It's completely normal to think that as someone gains experience in a thing, they become proportionally better at doing that thing. In the Lord's work, however, I've learned that while that is true, there is something different. That is that when the Lord needs something done, he gives you power to do it. I remember a bit of training we received when I first came into the mission field. It went something along the lines of "Don't wait until you are good at missionary work to do missionary work." In other words, don't wait until you have all of the skills to do what you are called to do. Why? Because you find that as you do what you can, the power of the atonement magnifies your efforts to the level that is needed, regardless of what your current experience or ability is. In the context of missionary work, it means that it doesn't matter whether you've been out for a few weeks or if you're nearing the end of your mission, you can teach powerfully and effectively. In the context of church leadership, you can give effective, spiritual counsel regardless of previous experience. When the Lord gives a commandment or assignment, he gives not only a way to accomplish it, but power to follow in that way.
Love,
Elder Clark
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