"His A Savage"

Pretty cool week!

So, like a week and a half ago, I got transferred, and I thought, maybe we should do some Facebook work. So we went and started messaging people. I went to a Facebook group and messaged the moderator a simple message. It was a pretty cool thing. All I said was this: "Hey Marilu! I hope you're doing okay! I am Elder Tew (I know this message is a little weird, forgive me for that). I am a new missionary here in Dorado, Puerto Rico! I am just messaging you to find out if you know anybody here in Dorado that would need or want more happiness and blessings in their life from God. Or maybe answers to questions like this, for example:

Is there a God?

What does Jesus Christ expect of me?

How can a belief in Jesus Christ help me?

Is there life after death?

What is the purpose of life?

Let me know if you know anyone that came to your mind! Or maybe if you need some help with any of this!! I also do service with some of my friends, cleaning houses, washing cars, cutting grass, painting, or anything. Let us know if you know anyone. Thanks!"

Next thing you know, I'm at this lady's house cutting down a trail in the jungle with machetes. It was absolutely so fun. Then she said this: "I have been recovering, mending, and improving in health. No more 'Rona, but the projects in my life have been attended to slowly. An uncomfortable experience for who I am as a high-performing individual, with a modus operandi of getting it done and making big strides. Some time ago, I was lying in bed with a raging headache, upset that even though I had the 'Rona when the pandemic started, I had it once again during a time when I can no longer afford to get sick or fall behind. I thought my illness would surely put a damper on our avocado harvest season, which requires so much work to get the property ready and up to par for safety to take the food out of the yard and make a dent in ending the fresh produce food desert we have on this side of the island. I felt such pain in my lungs one night... I prayed: 'Hashem, I don't know who would be willing to help me, but if you can send me help to get the farm cleaned out, please do. Help us continue sharing food with people so joy continues growing and no one ever goes hungry. I can't do all this without someone who doesn't need to be asked and cares enough to help.' Three days later, I received a message from a person asking: 'Hey! We are missionaries working on the island, and we, like Jesus did, love serving people and helping them. Do you know anyone who would like our help?' I was stunned. That person was a direct answer to my prayer.

The story goes, early morning yesterday, I thought only two missionaries would show up, but instead, heaven-sent NINE angels who took initiative, helped us remove 3,000 pounds of trash from the farm, and helped us build a walking trail so we can finally access all the food. It seems, after all, the hand of the Creator is never too far from me. Just needed to slow down and trust there was a greater plan. Even better news, this group is coming back to the farm for an Earth Day BBQ celebration next week, and hopefully, we will make an even bigger dent on the walking trail and we can take out even more food!

So if you're having a hard time today, look at what a miracle we had. The first person to show up and do work on the farm, without being asked, without knowing me, without knowing this farm's mission is for a greater purpose. They worked joyfully without expecting anything in return. Their presence and gift of time brought happiness and lifted a giant worry off my heart, and today, I feel so much better.

Thank you to the wonderful missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ who love our island people so much. I admire this group of young people who could be partying their young life away, but instead, they choose to add value to the planet and dedicate two years of their lives to service, emulating their heavenly teacher, working just to gift strangers on this island with time, love, and care. Values they fervently believe in and practice with the actions that flow from their hearts through their hands."

I just want you guys to know I did absolutely nothing but just follow what I thought was a random thought that me and my comp had. I find it crazy how God puts us in people's paths as missionaries just to be here for them. This lady was super cool! She speaks 7 languages. That's amazing. One thing I want to add is that I don't care if this lady gets baptized. She needed God's love, and who did God use to show His love to her and that He is answering prayers for everyone? Everything in life just starts with a prayer, a simple prayer that's sincere. You will see miracles, and who did God use to answer her? His missionaries. Someone He could trust with a prompting. I miss promptings a lot as a missionary. I have many experiences in the mission where I've been like, "Why didn't I just do that?" I have a few pieces of advice for you all right now, and also for myself because I need to get better at spiritual promptings. I've been praying about it and thinking about how I can get better at being an instrument and have promptings, and I keep coming back to the thought of just asking. We just truly have to want it. We just have to ask to be an answer to someone's prayer. Now, how do I be better at that? It's a question I am wondering. There's nothing that happens in missionary work without the Spirit. I have also decided that I need to get better at just loving the people. I don't know anyway; that was my cool experience this week. We're going back for a barbecue with a guy from Texas. This is going to be lit!