The Best Decision I've Made

I can't really think of a creative way to start this one, so I'm just going to start it.

This week was another typical week of missionary work in central Tarawa. We had district meetings, coordination meetings, church meetings, transfer meetings, bishopric meetings, zone leader meetings, and teaching appointments. It was a pretty busy week. We weren't able to get in as many lessons as we would like, but it was still a solid week. We had a few new investigators and less-actives show up at church, so it was a nice Sunday.

Remember those families that showed up at church last week? They all came again, and they brought all of their kids too! We spent a lot of time getting fellowship for them and inviting people to have member-present lessons with us. It's way exhausting, but totally worth it!

Elder Murri and I are trying something new. These past three months or so we have really been focusing on the Book of Mormon. We made a goal to give out a BOM every single time we have the first lesson with someone. Also, we have a goal to give out four BOMs each day. That counts street contacting and in lessons. We have had some success and seen some cool spiritual experiences. However, we are now focusing our efforts on fellowship and strengthening member missionary work in our ward. We have seen exponential growth! The effects are incredible. The more connections the investigators have with ward members, the more they are able to focus on taking steps to come closer to their Savior and have less distraction in overcoming the shyness or fear of trying something new. It truly breaks down barriers that we as full-time missionaries are incapable of influencing.

This begs the question - what have YOU done to be a member missionary? How have you tried to fulfill your duty as a follower of Christ? How have you helped your brothers and sisters, your fellow men, in taking steps to come closer to Christ and the peace and joy that comes from following him? f you have already felt this, what is keeping you from sharing it with others?

"And thus God provided a way that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore, he becometh a benefit to his fellow man."

How will you make this come true? I have seen it come true through my efforts to find fellowship for our investigators. I have seen the miracles! Not huge ones, just little tender mercies that I know wouldn't have come without the help of ward members. This is one thing that we can all do - be friendly! Be welcoming! Share a smile! Greet someone new! Take an evening to teach with the missionaries! Your diligent efforts will can be exactly what someone in the world might be waiting for. In this small and simple way we can become the catalyst for greater things - and become a benefit to our fellow men.

I love being a missionary. I know that I say that a lot, but it's something that I can't keep hidden. It's the best decision I've made in my life. The satisfaction that comes from seeing a change in someone else's life is life-altering in and of itself. I can't thank my Heavenly Father enough!

Elder Barker