Just Small but Very Beautiful Miracles

Just small but very beautiful miracles. This last week we had our Zone Conference, my very first, in Bilbou. I sat in awe with the number of missionaries that are out among the same people in the same country with the same gospel. Goodness it was a powerful message from our President and His wife. They both shared on improving our Character and facing the common rejection phrases/excuses we will face street contacting. I walked away spiritually fed. I loved it. A small and simple miracle.

The morning following we did what missionaries do best and missed our bus! Ha,ha yes, and the next would not come for a couple of unproductive hours with our cute luggage in tow. We went to a mercadona to locate some sort of food and a restroom. While within the restroom we ran into a man that started speaking to me, and stated that he was a member. Ha,ha what!? He then went on to tell me that he had been baptized 15 years ago in his home country and then moved here. He said he hadn't been to church since he moved to Bilbao because there weren't any nearby. We were able to give him the direction of the Capilla, and he seemed happy to see us. A miracle. Small, and simple. Maybe that's why we missed the bus.

We had a wonderful lesson with a investigator, and she took it all pretty well. She had a thousand great questions for us.

My companion and I ran into one of our investigator and his family while were were tr acting, and it came only because my companion followed the spirit.

A very nice old man approached us and taught us number tricks.

I was able to give my very first blessing to a family in our ward, in English. Out of all the lessons we've taught here in Spain, only two have been in Spanish.

Just small but very beautiful miracles.

My companion has been hurting pretty bad, we're not sure what it's from, but his diligence to persevere through the pain to continue working in the work of the Lord has inspired me. He also does it without complaining, and even makes me laugh. What a time for growing and learning. I am growing my testimony and character by his side through his example. Miracle, small and simple.

I'm playing Savior Redeemer of my Soul in an up coming Sacrament meeting.

We had enough money and food to survive another week here in Burgos.

The weather has been actually quite warm, and Jose (in the picture cutting my companions hair) does haircuts for free:) Jose is amazing, he got called just recently to Mexico to serve a mission, which means he will leave his calling of being the Secretary, Mission Leader, and Elders Quorum President behind. His testimony and intense love for the gospel will make him a powerful missionary. Just small but beautiful miracles.

Now, this, this view, is how I wish to see my mission. This is how we should see our life. Everyday little tiny "Tender mercies" occur and we at times don't recognize them as such. We sometimes, I know I do, focus on the negative. In 1 Nefi 1: 20 Nephi gives the secrets to his wonderful successful family, life, and posterity. He states that the Tender Mercies of the Lord "are all over"

Now, we know that Laman and Lemuel went into the exact same wilderness, and ate the same raw meat, ran from the same Laban guards and so on, as Nephi but we know that one follows the word of God to the Tree of life, and the others fall away to be swallowed up into the river of filth... So what is the difference?

Nephi is just blatantly almost annoyingly optimistic. That is it.

You can see this comparison all over the Book of Mormon, but a great place to see the drastic contrast between the Two mindsets is in

1 Nephi 17: 2 -20.

I can promise you. Attitude is everything. If we choose to recognize God's hand in your life, we will see how truly blessed we are, and thus we will have power, faith, and peace to continue.

I invite you to choose.. CHOOSE to be Blatantly, Frustratingly Optimistic like Nephi. When you're wondering through your own wilderness, remember that attitude is all the difference. I love you all. I know that God lives. He works miracles everyday in our lives. Small when seen alone, but undeniable when we choose to recognize them. I love you, until next week:)

Love Elder Gardner