"Prove Me Now Herewith" (Malachi 3:10) - January 23, 2023
Spiritual Thought
At the close of the Old Testament Jehovah gave instructions to ancient Israel concerning the law of tithing. After explaining his expectations concerning this divine principle and asking "will a man Rob God" the Savior extends a promise and invitation as he always does when we are asked to sacrifice on his behalf. "Prove me now herewith" he said "if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." What a promise. What a profound statement by our caring and all-powerful Redeemer.
This statement and promise certainly can be applied to the law of tithing, as they are in this context. However, the Savior makes the same statement in regard to each and every commandment, law or instruction he has ever given. This characteristic, this desire to bless and exalt us through his sacred power, is simply who always has been, is today and always will be. One would be right to assume that we are asked to sacrifice or labor in the Master's vineyard not so much that we may learn of our own capacity but that we may learn of His capacity. Often those sacrifices require us to wade into desperate and perilous circumstances, but miracles require desperate circumstances in order to truly be miracles. Without such conditions the power of Godliness could not fully be realized. The miracle of blind man who's sight was restored is that doctors, physicians and medicine could never have opened this man's dimmed and unfeeling eyes. The cleansing of the leper is miraculous because such people were seen not only as physically filthy but spiritually unclean and unworthy of even having fellow human company. The miracle of forgiveness is that the Master forgave a harlot, taken in he very act and moments away from a public execution. If the Savior only said "thy sins be forgiven thee" to those taken in petty indiscretions the miracle would be greatly minimized. No, he gave such a gift to those whose transgressions were so vile ancient Israel deemed them worthy of death. Such compassion would result in his death on behalf of millions of sinners who, even if not deserving of a physical death, certainly warranted and were doomed to a spiritual death. When desperation has taken hold and darkness nearly destroys us that is when the Light of the World may break forth and truly be deemed miraculous.
I testify of the Savior’s eagerness to bless those who follow him in faith and of his infinite capacity to do so. We are the only obstacle to the blessings which could be ours. While it is true those blessings will be given in the way and at the time the Lord sees fit, for those who "are valiant in the testimony of Jesus" they will come and they will be more spectacular than we ever could have imagined. Our Savior is the God of happy endings. His plan was created in order that we may receive all he has prepared for us and that we may witness his "power and great glory" in the process of receiving those blessings. To you and me the Savior and Redeemer of the World declares "Prove me now herewith…if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." That each of us may have greater faith in the promises of our Savior and increased hope in all he has prepared is my prayer.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Weekly Update
Hello everyone,
It seems like every transfer, or couple of transfers, there is a week when you start feeling like all your work might actually have been worth something. That was this past week. Many of our investigators accepted baptismal dates and we are now preparing for eight baptisms on February 4th with more to come after that. Prayers that all of those actually happen would be appreciated.
As I've said before, we are trying very hard to find and baptize self-reliant priesthood holders to help strengthen the church. To be perfectly honest I've felt like I've been failing because we've had very minimal and limited success with that. Those moments are when the Savior loves to step in and take control. He did that this week two different times. Both happened on Sunday after church. As we were leaving the chapel a man at the animal feed store across the street started waving for us to come over. We did and he introduced himself as Nantenaina. He said he has worked at that store his entire adult life and had never thought very much of the church building accross the street. Recently, however, he said he felt like he needed to talk to someone that went to church there and we seemed like a good option. We told him a brief summary of who we are and what we believe. Then he invited us to come back on Wednesday, not only to teach him but all of his employees. We did and it was without a doubt the best large-group lesson I've had. I'm not usually a fan of teaching in large settings like that because it is harder to bring the Spirit and for people to open up about more personal questions or concerns. This lesson was very good however. The Spirit was strong and we were able to teach well. When we couldn’t find potential priesthood holders on our own the Savior blessed us with 13 potential priesthood holders willing to learn.
The second miracle happened later that evening. We had a lesson scheduled with Jaona (the basketball player I sent the picture of a few weeks ago) but he wasn't home. We decided to try and find new people to teach close to his house. We knocked on a three doors but nobody was interested. Then at the fourth a man named Yvon answered. We explained who we were and, in true African fashion, he responded by saying "In this home we will never turn away an opportunity to hear God's truth. Please, come in and teach us what God wants us to know this day." See why I say Africans are so amazing? We went in and not only was Yvon ready to be taught but also his wife, Perline, and their six children. When we couldn’t find potential priesthood holders Christ gave us a family of eight people prepared to hear the Gospel. Yvon told us that they are prepared to be baptized once they know the church is true. I am very excited about this family. They are exactly what the church needs, especially in a place like this. This family is how the church grows, matures and becomes established in places like Fianarantsoa, Madagascar. Please keep them in your prayers.
The other excitement is that there is a cyclone making its way through Madagascar. It started in Toamasina which always is hit hard by storms at this time of year. Last I heard Elder Lewis hasn't been carried away but his companion was. He will be missed. Rest his soul. The cyclone is projected to make it to Antananarivo today or tomorrow and down to Fianarantsoa by the end of the week. Don't worry though, I'm bigger than the Malagasies so they'll be blown away first. It shouldn't be anything to worry about but we might get locked in our apartment for a couple days until it passes. Hopefully not though. So far we've just had a lot of rain (even more than normal) so we'll see what this week looks like.
Aside from those things this week has mostly been a lot of teaching, finding new people, trying to think of creative new ways to eat the same three things and chasing a bus down the street after I accidentally left my companion. You're probably going to wonder about that so let me tell you more. One day this week we needed to take a bus back from one of our lessons. My companion served in this city before (but in the other branch) so he is actually still better at getting around the confusing labyrinth of our area than me. As we were coming back I thought it would be best to get off at one place but it turns out we actually wanted to go a little further. My companion knew this but didn't think to tell me. I got off at the place I was thinking of, paid our fare then looked around for my companion. He was nowhere to be found. I realized he was still on the bus just as the driver popped the clutch and did a wheely, the way they do when it's time to keep moving. I started waving and shouting for the bus to stop but it didn't so then I had to start running down the street after it. Luckily the driver noticed the crazy white guy running behind him and stopped to see what was going on. I tried to explain mission rules in very incomplete Malagasy which just confused him more but he let me back on the bus and we continued on our little joy ride around town. The best part is my companion was asleep and never even realized it happened.
I hope you all have a great week!
Elder Payne
By a Fianarantsoa sign on p-day.
A Catholic cathedral we went to on p-day. This cathedral is on the 100 ariary, one of the Malagasy bills.
The view of Fianarantsoa.
Me and Fianarantsoa.
I decided I'm not taking advantage of all the different fruits that are here so I bought all of this. This only cost $2.
With the 13 potential priesthood holders we taught.
Remember what I said about trying to find creative ways to eat the same three things? Well, case in point. Rice with mashed bananas. This was actually pretty good.
The kitchen in my apartment come August 2023. Yes, I took a screenshot from Google Maps and look at it when times get tough. And yes, I'm also sending it for all of you to enjoy whether you like it or not. Why? Because I'm committed to giving you the uncensored experience of my mission and I want you to also appreciate what an absolute palace this is! Seriously! Just look at it! Running water! Clean water! Appliances! Air conditioning! All those cabinets! All that counter space! Hardwood floors! Whatever is in those jars! The "Bistro" sign! Not sure what purpose it's serving but it's such a homy touch! I might cry!
Christmas came early (or maybe late)! President Rakotoarivelo came to visit and decided our apartment needed a complete overhaul. He went out and bought all of this himself. It's amazing! New dishes, a shower head, curtain rod and curtains, everything!
Then he took us to dinner at a really nice restaurant I didn't know was here. He ordered ginger juice so I decided to try it, not because I'm especially fond of ginger but because I was curious. It was very "gingery."
With Elder Rasoloarivony at the restaurant.
This says "Have you read the Bible today?"
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