labour of love

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you are having a great week! It has been a week of blessings for us. Thank you for your prayers for Hermano Olivares! He came to church on Sunday! As he walked in, he stopped for a minute, smiled and said "this is what I dreamed." He explained that the night we invited him to church, he'd had a dream. The only difference was that in the dream, everyone was dressed in white:) Since that dream, it has taken a couple of weeks, but Hermano Olivares was there this Sunday and loved it:) Please continue to pray for him:) 

​(me and Hno Olivares)

I love what it says in 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

A lot of people say missions are hard. But it can also be really easy. I think of how hard it is to be a mom. I think about all my mom sacrificed for me and it kind of scares me away from all the work. But I know that these mothers also love their children and that the work comes from a place of love. Missions are the same. It is hard sometimes. It is really good sometimes. But the best times are when it is a "labor of love." 

This week as we sat outside in the rain getting eaten by mosquitos, I felt the Saviors love for me and those who we visit. There are few things sweeter than feeling charity for those whom you serve and those whom you serve with.

(us singing hymns)

I am grateful for all those who have been patient with me, especially here in the mission. I am not a perfect missionary. I am not a perfect companion. And yet Heavenly Father lets us labor in the greatest work that exists! 

Anytime we reach out to one of God's children and serve them in love, we are helping them. I think often we don't even know the impact we have on others.

Recently one of the mothers of our investigators told us "he always used to be impatient with me. He would be upset when I would leave the house. But since you have been visiting him, he has been so kind and thoughtful. He stays up to wait for me. The other day I was going to eat late and he said he'd stay up and eat a little bit with me too." 

We never know what the results of our labor of love will be! This week my ponderizing scripture is: 

"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed towards his name ..." Hebrews 6:10

Heavenly Father recognizing all of your efforts. And he is so grateful for every act of kindness. Thank you for all your examples. I know the Savior is with us. I hope we can all reach out in love this week to labor with love.

-Hermana Ries