Surprise visit from a 70

We had a surprise visit from an area 70 this week. Elder Araujo. It was really cool. He did a special training just for us in Parnaíba.

Anyway, the Lord really has been blessing us here. We´ve been able to find some very special people. There is a family that we are teaching and they went to church on Sunday and really liked it. Next week they´re going to bring their four children and the grandmother. It´s really interesting to see how the Lord puts people in your path. It´s all for a good reason. We´re all here on earth to learn and grow and to go back to our Father in Heaven. The trick is only few of us know how. For those of us that know the gospel of Jesus Christ it is our duty to help our brothers and sisters find the path back to heaven.

So, I have a challenge for all of you. Because we´re all in this journey/battle/adventure together, lets help as many people as we can. This week and the following weeks until I get home and even continuing after, invite a friend/relative/collegue/co-worker to church. Offer to pick them up and be ready in enough time to pick them up before church so you don´t arrive late.

Something that really made me think during the training with Elder Araujo is that he said that no one knows what the future will hold. There was a story about him in the Ensign/Liahona. He was a less active member, and was out surfing. His bishop went out in the water to bring him to church. Anyway, when he was a little boy he would harass the missionaries and even steal their food, or something like that. Anyway, the elder the baptized him didn´t think to much of him, but look at him now. He´s a general authority. You never know who´s (eternal) life you´ll save by a simple invitation. Don´t ever think that someone isn´t good enough or not worth while. None of us know what the future holds. So, let´s invite. Hike up your pants and step outside your bubble of comfort and invite someone to partake of the fruit of eternal life. The family that I mentioned above is a reference from a member here, who had the courage to open his mouth and invite them to meet with us.

I love this gospel and am really happy to be a living modern witness in word and deed of the Savior. I´m happy to be a missionary. Try it, or if you have already, try it again. I know that God lives and that He has a plan for us. Let´s help everyone else too. I know that we have a living modern prophet and I am so grateful to be a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love you. Have a great week. Make sure to invite someone.

-Elder Samuel H. Chiba