Yogyakarta (Week 34)

WOW! It's already Mei! Where did April go?

This week wasn't quite as good as last week, we had a couple hardships, but it ended on a really good note and this week is a new week which will be great! I'm quite excited. 

The reason this week wasn't quite as good is because lots of our investigators aren't quite progressing and we are losing a few. But it's OK, they'll accept this glorious message some day, whether in this life or the next, and then they will say, "oh that's what Sister Toegono and Sister Sperry were talking about...oh why didn't I understand that before?" Everyone has their own time. 

But I would like to share what I learned at Stake Conference. It was in Solo and it was really good! It was all about hastening the work of salvation and we had 2 from the area 70 here. They both delivered great messages about the importance of missionary work and family. I never quite realized how much missionary work and family are similar. They are the same work. We are all family, all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father. Also doing missionary work blesses our earthly families. It actually helps family grow closer. Even though I'm the furthest I've ever been from my family I can feel us all growing closer, including my relationship with extended family members. Parents are missionaries for their children, siblings can be missionaries to one another, and we as members of the church are missionaries to all those that don't know the blessings of the gospel yet. 

The Stake Choir - Sydney even got to lead one of the numbers they sang!

One important part of missionary work is strengthening less active members. These are people that have felt the blessings of the gospel but for some reason or another have fallen away. We have a responsibility to help them. In my experience sometimes less active members are harder to teach than investigators. But we need to help them. This church needs to be strengthened in this time and we need the help of the less active members. We all know someone who isn't very active. Maybe this week instead of looking for someone to baptize, invite a less active member to dinner, to church, go visit and share a good message, serve them, anything! They need our help. 

I know that the family is ordained of God. I know that we are all brothers and sisters and I know that God loves us all. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Good luck with your missionary work this week! Let me know how it goes :) 

love,

Sister Sperry :)