Missionary Work 101

Summers here are rough. Everyone escapes to whatever paradisiacal location they can afford. 

 Everyone but the missionaries, of course. 

 This means that finding people to talk to, let alone teach, is hard. What's weird is that this week has passed so fast, even though nothing exciting has happened. 

 Although I did participate in a ping pong tournament. And promptly lost. 

 Since we've got time, let's talk scriptures. 

 One of my all-time favorite scripture stories is found in Acts chapter 3. 

 This is an event that takes place as Peter and John are fulfilling their commission from Jesus Christ to take the gospel to the whole world. Below, you will see verses 1-8, intermingled with my simplistic interpretation of the somewhat confusing language. 

 1 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

 Peter and John are on a temple trip. 

 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

 There's a guy who's never been able to walk. His friends offer the best aid they can, which is to carry him every morning to the temple so that he can beg for food and money from people. 

  3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.

4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.

5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.

 The beggar turns his attention to Peter and John.

 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 

 Peter doesn't have anything of value to give this poor man. Except, you know, miracles wrought by the power of God. No biggie. 

 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.

 WOW. Just like that, the man can walk. 

 Here's the parallel this story has in our own lives. 

 We are surrounded by people who are handicapped in a spiritual sense. Whether they lack faith, don't care to have faith, don't know how to have faith, or don't know what to have faith in, people are struggling spiritually. The whole world is. 

 Our job is simply to share what we have (aka knowledge of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ).

 We share what we have, people miraculously find their footing in faith, and then we help them walk the gospel path until they can enter into the temple themselves.

 Pretty simple. Kinda scary. Absolutely necessary. Now GO and DO.  

 Good luck, love ya lots. 

 Sister Barlow