the center of our lives

Dear Family,

This week was full of ups and downs, but we're doing well. But rather than share a whole bunch about this week, I'd like to just share one special experience with a little more detail.

On Thursday night, we had a teaching appointment planned with Victor and Lourdes, a couple (with a rambunctious little 2-year-old) that we've been teaching since we started working here. We had decided what we wanted to teach them (faith in Jesus Christ), but we didn't have time to study it together and plan exactly how we would teach it. When we showed up at the right time, nobody was home. We went about a few other odds and ends that we needed to take care of, popping back to knock the door every few minutes - but we had no luck. Down the road, we found the husband of an investigator we had been teaching, and we began teaching him in his "locutorio" (basically a room full of phone booths for those who don't have a phone line or cell phone and need to make a call). Understandably, there were people entering and exiting and making all kinds of interruptions, but while we were teaching them, Victor and Lourdes came in, and we set up a time for Friday night to visit them (since it was now too late to have a lesson at their house).

I took some time Friday morning to study up a little more on what we were going to teach, and then with my companion we decided how we would go about it and what scriptures we would share. We didn't coordinate all the details (that being nigh impossible), but we did the necessary preparation. Then when the time to teach came, we were ready. We read 3 Nephi 11 out loud with them and discussed it as we went, touching on baptism and other important doctrines. Then, going off the last two or three verses, we talked about how Jesus Christ is the only sure foundation on which we can build. I shared a few thoughts from my personal study: I felt that to build on the Rock, we need to put Christ at the center of our lives. Only then will we be able to stand against the storms and winds that attempt to shake us. The family is currently without work, so they worry a little bit what they're going to do in order to keep moving forward; we commented that we all want God to work with us - perhaps to find a job, to bless us with health, food, clothing and other necessities, or anything else. A scripture came to mind that I had studied personally, but we hadn't planned (Ether 12:29). God works with the children of men according to their faith, so we need to have faith in order to obtain those blessings that He wants to give us. And we have to be willing to accept His will. Maybe we want the job that pays more but makes us work on Sunday - or maybe the only job offer right now makes us work on Sunday - but we if we're working by faith, it's His will that will lead us to happiness.

My companion subsequently shared a scripture to seal the idea (3 Nephi 13:31-33). The Lord knows our needs and understands that we can't go on living without food, clothing and shelter - but He wants us to search Him out first, and if we seek His kingdom and His righteousness, He promises that we will have what we need. I love the Lord's promises. Are there any promises more sure of fulfillment? If He can divide the Red Sea or stop the earth in its movement, what can't He do? Would it be hard for Him to put food on my table or find me work?

It was with those words that we helped them understand just how important it is to trust in Jesus Christ and put Him at the center of our lives. The effect was powerful, and the Spirit took the words to their hearts. And it built my faith, too. When we understand principles like faith, the commandments are easier to live. They wanted to come to church (and we didn't even talk about church attendance) and read their scriptures and say their prayers.

I learned how the Lord sometimes helps us reschedule an appointment so that we have a chance to study and prepare for it. The scriptures that came to our minds that we had previously studied (but not necessarily planned) made a huge difference in the power of the lesson. I'm coming to realize more and more that being able to teach the scriptures with power isn't necessarily from knowing where to find every famous scripture about faith, repentance, baptism, or all the scripture mastery ones in all the standard works. We teach the scriptures with power when we use those passages that have made impressions and testimony in our hearts: those verses, though maybe obscure and unrecognized, that we have pondered and prayed about and from which we have dug out the sweet and simple doctrine of truth that was hidden between the lines. There are a few passages that maybe aren't so famous but are some of the most special to me - those are the scriptures I can share with spiritual power.

On Friday this week, the assistants called (they're always calling in the early morning hours to wake us up to play soccer) and told us they were going to play volleyball this time. I hadn't played volleyball in 6 or 7 months, so I leapt out of bed when I heard that. I pushed, shoved, turned on the lights, made noise and bribed to get my companion up, and we got there in time to play a little bit before our time ran out. I thought it was special that we should be playing volleyball on Tia's birthday. I figured it was a little tribute to her. Happy Birthday Tia!

And congratulations, Justin and Tori! You're the closest family to me for the present time, since Cancùn is closer to Peru than everybody else. Sounds like everything went well, though, in terms of receptions and things. Thanks for the pictures!

Well, time's running out. Thanks for your letters and prayers and remembering me in your celebrations!

Love,
Elder Withers