Sleep? What is sleep?

I feel like I haven't slept in ages. Physically I'm wiped out and yet somehow despite the exhaustion I always feel so spiritually revived every day. This last week was a struggle as it seemed none of our efforts yielded results. We spent 29 and 1/2 hours focusing on finding and on the surface nothing came of it. BUT there in lies the lesson of the week. We can't be looking on the surface. If we look at the week and say "well we didn't find any investigators, nobody came to church, this week was a waste." then it most assuredly was. I think that's the trap the devil tries to catch us in on a daily bases. He wants us to feel like we haven't done enough.

The lesson I learned this week is how to yield. Jesus Christ fell on His knees in agony and in the Garden of Gethsemane begged for relief but in the end He closed each prayer with, "nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." What a lesson! If our Savior had looked at the surface results of everything that had led up to that moment in the Garden it would have brought nothing. He would have seen nothing but pain, agony, and hatred from His brothers and Sisters. Thank goodness He saw the bigger picture and looked below the surface and saw His purpose. Thinking about this yesterday in Sacrament I was reflecting on the week and the Atonement seeing just how many times it came into play the past 7 days. Let me tell you it was involved every single second. Without the Atonement we would be nothing.

So here's a surface view of my week. We spent 29 and 1/2 hours knocking, contacting less actives and formers, street contacting, and knocking some more. We didn't find a single person willing to learn more about this gift we share. We were threatened with the police, having dogs sicked on us, and had very condescending looks/comments sent our way. It was rough.

BUT here's the Gethsemane deep view. We are stronger for our efforts. This isn't our work, that was made clear this week. If it was we'd have found at least one solid investigator every day. This is our Savior's work. He's the one who bled from every pore, he's the one who hung on the cross and still asked Heavenly Father to forgive those who took His life, this is HIS work. From a deeper perspective I can see the strength that has and will come from the difficulties of this past week and the lessons learned. While I would love to have seen some surface results I can see last week served the purpose of preparing us for more. I'm excited to see what the future struggles and miracles bring. Especially on a deeper level.

Well my wonderful brothers and sisters sorry to cut this off but we are out of time. Just know that we are all given challenges and blessings to help us grow so that we can then reach out and help one another. It may be difficult to understand why things are happening certain ways but if you take a moment and look below the surface you'll find peace, strength, and determinations, among countless other blessings.

Until next week I pray you may feel my love for each of you and more importantly the love our Savior has for each and everyone of us. He knows us personally. Each one by name. Take care and keep faith.

Love,