3-9-25 MAHAL KA NIYA

Huuuiii! Aloha mai kākou! This past week was another great week as a missionary! Somehow are always caught in a situation where we don't have enough time, and everything just goes way too quickly, yet with our best, the Lord amplifies in which I am grateful. With all these experiences written in my journal, Ill share one:) The experience I want to share happened as we worked in Aduas Centro this past week, for me, this was one of my miracles. Walking, one of the older men we were teaching, walked out on the road in front of us. Seeing us, his quick change of countenance, holding in his breath, we smiled, and as he tried, little whisps of smoke began leaking out of his mouth. We talked to tatay, mentally making the note that we'd be moving his baptismal date out of March. We asked about his day, his family, and said wed give him a visit later on that day, and continued on our day. Maybe it's not a huge deal, but for me, the miracle lied in an answer to a prayer earlier that day. Specifically asking the Lord, to allow me to see people, in the way he sees them. It would have been so easy, to be disappointed and sad, at a pushed back baptismal date, at a friend giving in to addictions, or even self doubting thoughts that come to everyone. But the moment, we saw tatay, I couldn't help but smile. I felt an increase of empathy, and could see his effort. I could see his struggle, and his hope to not disappoint us, with something he's been trying to get rid of. I couldn't help but feel an unexplainable sense of love and care, to want to help him with these struggles. I imagine, that it is in this way, the Lord views each and everyone of us. I was simply given the opportunity to experience it for myself. The Lord looks at us, with such love, with such compassion, and care. He sees our mistakes, but chooses to focus on our efforts, and I truly believe, that when in those situations he cant help but smile. 2 Nephi 19:12 "...For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." The Lord, always has compassion, and an immeasurable love towards the each of us. When we feel imperfect, or sometimes purposefully misguided to feel too far from God's reach, the Lords hands are always and forever stretched out still. I am grateful to be a missionary! Elder Ishibashi