Two conferences, an exchange, and a traffic jam later, the tired Elders sat in the back of the big blue mission van. Elder Andersen, the zone leader from Texas, was at the wheel, and Elder Anderson, the AP from Utah, was lolling in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position to enjoy the trip back to Prague. It had been a week, but what a week it had been. They had met with Lilia on Monday and she had her interview for her baptism. She passed, and sat down afterwards beaming with the two Elders. They talked about how far she'd come, about how she'd fasted for a week, and about her willingness to obey the commandments. When it came to the Word of Wisdom, she complied with faith and no doubts. Time for church was readily sacrificed. Her interest in living the Gospel was evident, and she was grateful for it. Even tithing, something that few in today's world will accept and live by without a flinch, was no issue. She then shared with them something miraculous that had started from that point the week before.
When taught Tithing, Lilia expressed her desire to keep all the commandments, but she also knew that in order to pay tithing, she must be making money. While she was a legal resident of the Czech Republic, she did not have full working status. Thus, her options were extremely limited. While she wanted to work, she was not as young as she used to be and she couldn't handle the demands of some jobs like working for a cleaning agency in the middle of the night. And, without english or computer skills to back her resume, she had struggled for six months to find someone who would give her a job. She simply didn't know what to do, especially when faced with the commandment to pay tithing.
As with each of her meetings, Lilia was worthy of an outpouring of the Spirit. His unrestrained influence guided the missionaries and taught her many things that perhaps were not even said. So it was when Elder Thompson taught about fasting. And so it was today when the Elders simply knew what blessings to promise her. "Lilia, if you are willing to keep the law of the tithe, we promise that the Lord will provide you with work. We don't know how and we don't know when, but we know He will." She accepted the commitment and they closed with a prayer. They were both content and peaceful in their hearts, and they knew that within the week the blessing would come. The day of her interview came, she passed, and we return to that moment when she spoke of a miracle. "I wanted to tell you how glad I am that we met and that our paths crossed. I remember your promise last week, and I want you to know that I start work as a hairdresser tomorrow."
She was baptized that Saturday and could see a bright, straight, and narrow path laid in front of her. She had friends, and she had knowledge. Most importantly, she had a covenant with her Heavenly Father which she was prepared to keep forever.
To anyone who reads this, I declare that there is a God in heaven and that He has servants, and I and my companion and our fellow missionaries everywhere are among their number. He is a God of miracles, and the miracles exist today in every shape and kind just as they ever have, and I am a witness of those miracles.
It's been a really good week, and I hope that yours is just as good too. I will also mention that my sister had a baby this weekend, his name is Kelton. I'm way excited to see him.
Love you all,
Elder Brent Anderson
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