This week has been awesome. We were able to go and help an older lady sand some doorways. When we showed up some of the other members of our congregation were there and the lady who we were helping was on the ground because she apparently had lost the feeling in her legs. They called an ambulance but while they were waiting she wanted us to give her a blessing that she would be ok.
After that while she was still on the ground she began telling us what needed to be done with the fence and a few things in the garden and I was sitting there thinking wow this lady is handling this really well lol. After she was picked up by the ambulance we sanded and picked green beans out of her garden and it was super cool because I thought it was a great example of how God knows that she really needed some help and we were there at the right time at the right place to be able to give her a blessing.
The other cool thing that happened this week is that I was able to cook a Filipino dish called adobo for a bunch of missionaries and some of the members of our congregation.
I'm so glad that my dad always took the time to let me taste the adobo as he was making it and he would ask me "what do you think it needs" or "what do you think I haven't put in it yet"
And slowly but surely I learned exactly how to make it myself.
I think that when it comes to learning what God wants us to do it's a lot like cooking something that doesn't have a set recipe. When I first started my dad was the one who would make it and I would watch and taste as he made adjustments.
Once I started making it myself I would have to ask "hey dad what do I need more of to make this taste right" because there was a lot I could do on my own but without his help it wouldn't be quite right.
Now I can make it for others so that they can enjoy one of my favorite foods even though it might not be exactly the same as when my dad makes it.
When we read the scriptures like the Bible and the book of Mormon we can see the way God works with people. We can see the impact it has had on THEIR lives.
Then we are asked to try to do the same things that the people in the scriptures did, to follow God and keep his commandments. But, we aren't perfect so we have to ask "How can I do better at doing what you would have me do" and when we sincerely ask he will tell us what we are lacking.
Once we understand how to recognize the blessings that we have been given and how God speaks to us we can help others to enjoy the same happiness and to receive the same help from God that we have received.
So the same way that when we want to share our favorite meal with someone because we know how much we love it. We can help others feel the same joy we have felt by talking about God and how he speaks to each of us and how we can receive help even when we feel like no one's there and no one understands.
That's the reason I'm out her on a mission, because I can't even count how many times that God has blessed me with amazing people in my life. How many times that things have happened that only could have been God's hand in my life and just how I love to cook this meal for people because it means more than just food to me, I share our message with people because its more than just a nice message about God. It's something that changes people's lives in a way that every person who applies it feels and I can promise that if you ever talk with missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and you even just try doing the things that they suggest, that you will see a change in your relationship with God.
Elder Amata
