We're Here to Help

Missions have a lot of ups and downs. I feel like it wasn't a super eventful week. I've been having trouble with my attitude recently. I've been dwelling too much on the negative things. Yesterday I heard a powerful testimony of a missionary about to got home. He talk about how he has seen the people here suffer, how he has seen the pain in their eyes, the emptiness. He talk about all these people have gone through and where they are now. Then he said what we should all be thinking: what these people need is the Gospel. We are here to help them. The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is what will change their lives for good. Even though on average I think our mission probably talks to close to 2000 people for every one person that gets baptized after running some rough numbers, it's worth it. We represent Jesus Christ in this country, in our respective cities. If Jesus Christ himself were here, even though he would be laughed at, spit upon, harassed, yelled at, etc, he would not give up. He would continue to live a perfect example and he would spend his days in the service of others. That's why we came here. That's what we need to remember.

I was reading in 3 Nephi this week and something really hit me. I've been thinking about it quite a bit. In chapter 7 we read about Nephi having seen angels and hearing the voice of the Lord. He ministered with great power and authority. He "testified, boldly, repentance and remission of sins through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ." He ministered with such power that "it were not possible that they could disbelieve his words." He performed many miracles, including raising his brother from the dead who had been stoned to death by the people. It was not possible for them not to believe him. They knew his message was true, but still they were angry with him. Even after all they had seen, "there were but few who were converted unto the Lord." In his first year preaching, but few were converted. These are the first years of the Church is this country. The people are angry. They are hardhearted. But there are some who are ready and it will be said of them too that "as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed." Even if there were nobody ready here, we are here to be an example of the believers, to literally represent Jesus Christ.

These people need help and I have what they need. I'm sorry for being less than what I should be. I pray for the strength to press forward, to love the people and to serve them. I want to be here. I want to do as the Lord commands. I love Him and want to be like Him. Please pray for all the missionaries around the world. This is a marvelous work.

Our Branch President in Khmelnitskiy is awesome. The Area Presidency here has asked leaders to read the Book of Mormon 3 times in 2011 and President Megega is already reading it for the 4th time. There are amazing leaders in the Church here. It's an honor to be counted as a saint among men like this. We actually have 4 baptismal dates in our District for June. I think there's a good chance that they will all happen. Even though we've been privileged to work with some great people we have very few people to work with so you have a good lesson and then you have a whole day where you need to just do things to try and find people and it can certainly get discouraging. I'm trying to be more creative here. The way to these people is through their friends. It is very strange in this culture to just approach people you don't know with no connection to them. The results show that trying to do that yields almost nothing. Most people that get baptized basically come up to us. We need to work through the people to get to their friends. If they aren't ready it's okay, they can still introduce us to their friends. That's what I want to get good at. It will be fun and it will be effective. President Steinagel says, "If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right." If anybody has any other ideas for how to make the work fun, I welcome them.

Yesterday morning I got on a train at 04:00 to come over to Kiev. The whole mission gathered yesterday evening for a Family Home Evening with the Steinagel family as they will be leaving in about 3 weeks and a new Mission President and his family will replace them. It was so great to be around all the missionaries and to hear the testimonies of 14 missionaries going home in less than 2 weeks. Today we will have another meeting where President L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy and President Larry R. Lawrence of the Europe East Area Presidency will address us. I'm excited for that. Then tonight we'll get on a train home at midnight. I love being a missionary. I am very grateful for all the prayers and support. This Church is true. Jesus is the Christ.

Love,

Elder J. Mahoney

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