Guilt
I guess I am feeling a little guilty today. I have read some articles over the past few days that just make me realize how blessed I am. There are blessing that I have that I don't even recognize that I have. I am sure that many of us are that way. Why does it require us to see or look at someone else to realize what we have.
I was reading one article about 15 individuals who live in a remote little city of Peru. One day, a man and his son returned from a great adventure in the city. I can only imagine what their idea of a big city is. Anyway, as they shared their experiences with their neighbors, family, and friends, they also started bearing their testimonies. You see they had been introduced to the missionaries while on this adventure. In time, they were baptized. Then they returned to their home.
This small city was so remote that missionaries were not allowed to travel to it for safety reasons. After three years of holding church in his home, the father traveled 6 hours by boat up the Amazon river to find the Stake President. Can you imagine having to travel 6 hours to get your temple recommend renewed? When he arrived, he let him know what he was doing, told him that he had 30 regulars attending his Sunday Services. These people had been going to church for 3 years and now wanted to be baptized.
The president made arrangements for the missionaries to meet them half way, but he did not feel it was safe for all of them to go. Only 15 were allowed to make the journey up the Amazon river. They traveled for 4 hours in the dangerous waters, met with the missionaries, were taught the discussions over a period of two days, interviewed and then baptized. Well, 7 of them were baptized. The other 8 were told they needed to continue working on somethings. If they did, they could be baptized later.
How ignorant I feel. These people are making such sacrifices. I drive to church, when I could probably walk. I meet with my stake president at least 4 times a month. I know and can walk to all the members of my ward within 20 minutes. These people have opened their homes, their lives, and their testimonies for the betterment of others. I need to focus on the gratitude of what I have and not so much on the what I don't have. Maybe we all should.
I was reading one article about 15 individuals who live in a remote little city of Peru. One day, a man and his son returned from a great adventure in the city. I can only imagine what their idea of a big city is. Anyway, as they shared their experiences with their neighbors, family, and friends, they also started bearing their testimonies. You see they had been introduced to the missionaries while on this adventure. In time, they were baptized. Then they returned to their home.
This small city was so remote that missionaries were not allowed to travel to it for safety reasons. After three years of holding church in his home, the father traveled 6 hours by boat up the Amazon river to find the Stake President. Can you imagine having to travel 6 hours to get your temple recommend renewed? When he arrived, he let him know what he was doing, told him that he had 30 regulars attending his Sunday Services. These people had been going to church for 3 years and now wanted to be baptized.
The president made arrangements for the missionaries to meet them half way, but he did not feel it was safe for all of them to go. Only 15 were allowed to make the journey up the Amazon river. They traveled for 4 hours in the dangerous waters, met with the missionaries, were taught the discussions over a period of two days, interviewed and then baptized. Well, 7 of them were baptized. The other 8 were told they needed to continue working on somethings. If they did, they could be baptized later.
How ignorant I feel. These people are making such sacrifices. I drive to church, when I could probably walk. I meet with my stake president at least 4 times a month. I know and can walk to all the members of my ward within 20 minutes. These people have opened their homes, their lives, and their testimonies for the betterment of others. I need to focus on the gratitude of what I have and not so much on the what I don't have. Maybe we all should.
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