Elder Braxton Shoemaker

Week #46: ¡Dios te preparará!

Yoooo everybody!! Hows it going?! Twas a very memorable week here in Uruguay! We had a great zone conference with President and Hermana Olsen. We had to say our goodbyes to them as well. They leave here June 28th, and the new Mission President, President Dunford, gets here the same day! Its really sad to tell Pres. Olsen goodbye, but I'm also really excited to get to know Pres. Dunford! President Olsen is a man that I respect more than I thought possible. He's honestly changed my life with the little time Ive had with him over this past year.

I wanted to share a cool story with you all. Starting in November of last year, missionaries started teaching the Nuñez family. The mother is a member of the church, but not currently participating in the church, and the dad isn't a member at all. Well, one by one, the children have been getting baptized and joining the church. It started with Marcos, the oldest son, then Caesar (9yr old) followed, then Karen (11yr old). Over all this time, we've been working on the last daughter, Nayeli (16 yr old). She was always nice, but never had any desire to listen to us or participate in the lessons. Well, God prepares people at His own speed. About 2 weeks ago, Nayeli out of nowhere started chatting with us and being good buddies. Then she started coming to church...and then she wanted to hear the lessons about the church...and now next week, she wants to be baptized!! Nayeli completely changed. Just out of no where really, she just wanted to be apart of this church. She hasn't told us what changed in her, but I know what ever happened, came from God. That God honestly prepared her to be baptized right now, rather than before.

We never understand all of Gods ways and purposes, but we know His ways are higher than our ways. As a missionary, you see first hand the way God prepares people. Its honestly such a cool experience and process to witness. Ive learned how crucial it is for us, to put our trust in God. To rely on His timing, rather than desire whatever it is that we want at that moment.

I love the saying, "work as if it all depends on you, and pray as if it all depends on God" Because at the end of the day, thats really all we can do. I know that if we just trust in the Lords process of things, everything will work out just fine. God will prepare us when we are ready to do His will, and He will prepare the people around us as well. All we gotta do is trust in Him, and do what He wants us to do! And...just like Nayeli, God will bless us with all we need, so that we can do what He wants done.