God Given Opportunities

Hello friends!

Just like all weeks, they are full of many opportunities and growth. This week one specific moment truly stuck out to me and taught me a large lesson about listening to the Holy Ghost.

Monday: This day was amazing! Obviously, things are great with preparation day, but it is also so good because of the miracles within it! So with transfers being this last week, we got our calls saying where we are going (I don't remember if I mentioned this in my email last week, but I'm staying in Southport with Elder Carroll!). Our district was changed very little. One of the Isle of Man Sisters left and Elder Halstead left from Crosby. We had a really good relationship with those elders, and we wanted to say our farewells. We were running out of time and weren't sure if we would make it down. We decided that we would, even though we would only be in Crosby for ten minutes. We went on this journey and said our goodbyes. 

Afterward, on our way back, I was writing the weekly email, when I saw a man get on the bus... (backstory: This man I met on the bus three weeks ago. He was very interested in our message and wanted the Book of Mormon. He was going to school in Colorado, although originally from here. He said he was waiting for his passport, but that he'd be gone in a few days. He ended up getting off the bus, and I completely spaced getting some way to contact him! We never saw him again, so I assumed he was in Colorado.) I saw this man, and it was Connor! (I came to find out that his name is NOT Connor.... whoops 🤤) 

I didn't have much time, and I really wanted to finish my email. Then I had a thought so strong it was almost like a spoken voice. It said to me,

"Talk to him"

"No, I'm writing my email. I can only do that today. And I don't have much time."

"No, Talk to that Man"

"I really don't have time. If it wasn't prep-day I would, but really need to write this email."

"Go talk to him. Right now. God gave you this opportunity and every moment it's passing."

"Fine. I'll finish this paragraph and then I'll talk to him."

"NO! Go talk to him right now. Don't pass this by."

After hearing this authoritative thought, I turned around and told Elder Carroll, "my friends and family are going to hate me if I don't send an email, but I need to talk to this man." I changed seats and started talking to him. He had been reading the Book of Mormon and keeping other commitments. He said he wanted to learn more and meet with us. We were in the process of exchanging numbers when we arrived at his stop. He said, "I'll hop off at the next one." That never happens. Normally they look for the fastest excuse to get away.

I learned a powerful lesson from this experience. 1) Always listen to the spirit the first time you receive an impression. Had that been any other man, he would not have waited an extra stop to exchange numbers. Because I fought that prompting, I could have lost that opportunity, and he again would have disappeared. The time that I spent fighting that prompting, I could have been talking to that man, and in the long run, had more time to write my email. 2) The Lord provides us with so many opportunities. It is up to us, however, as to if we will accept what God has given us, or throw it away. I know the feelings of guilt that would have come if I completely ignored that prompting. God gives us these opportunities. Let's take them. God will bless all of us if we put His will before ours.

I feel that because I followed that prompting, God gave me just enough time to finish my email. (I was able to send it right when I stepped off the bus) 

We also had a great experience at church this week! A young woman who we had arranged a ride for to come to church canceled on the ride as with the week before, we were disappointed that she wasn't coming to church but a few minutes before sacrament meeting started, she walked in! She had found her own ride to church! Our district leader had suggested to show an investigator the baptismal font with a member and have them talk about baptism and we remembered this and did that with the young woman, it was the second time we had ever seen her, but she accepted the invitation to be baptized on the 3rd of March! This was a miracle! We're so excited at her faith! 

Invitation of the week

If you find a time when God has given you an opportunity, take it! 

Love you all so much!

Elder Burns

England Manchester Mission

Springwood, Suite G5

Booths Park

Chelford Road

Knutsford

England WA16 8GS

United Kingdom

---