The Atonement Covers All Pain (Matei/Qeleni Area, Week 14)

Boy, I'm exhausted this week - not for the same reasons as last week, though. No, this week I spent mostly in bed again! I had a bad virus that took me down from about Wednesday until Sunday. It was way bad - not a fun week.

On Monday and Tuesday, though, we had fantastic lessons with some of our investigators! We saw

Pat and watched the Restoration video with him, and the Spirit was way powerful! I hope he really felt it! Also, after the lesson, his wife, Sister Koroi, gave us this way good chicken chowmein with papaya in it. So double points. Anyway, on Tuesday, Elder Jonutz and I walked in the rain to see Tabale and Polonia, our new investigators. While we were teaching about the Restoration, both of them started asking questions, not out of objection, but out of curiosity and sincerity. Even their kids were attentive. It was amazing. As we left the lesson, I started jumping up and down and saying to Elder Jonutz, "They're gold! They're solid gold!" In missionary-slang, a "golden investigator" is someone who truly and honestly wants to know about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and wants to join the church and come to Christ. Of course, we don't know anything yet, but we felt so good and they showed so much interest, I just can't help but be thankful!

And then I got sick. For days, I got worse, and wondered why it didn't go away, why I didn't get better. I opened up a Church Magazine of General Conference addresses - talks from the leaders of the Church - and I opened up to a talk titled, "The Atonement Covers All Pain". Intrigued, I read more. What was contained in that talk illuminated my understanding as to why I was suffering like this, and what I was to do from there on out. Here is what touched me most:

"Christ chose to experience pains and afflictions in order to understand us. Perhaps we also need to experience the depths of mortality in order to understand Him."

I knew then that the Lord had not left me, but that He had a plan for me and all my experience on this Earth. This was a tough week, but I feel so blessed. I love you all, very much! Thanks for the constant emails and letters to keep me smiling!

Elder Barnaby

P.S. We also went on a little hike today, trying to see Tagimoucia Lake, but we got lost an couldn't find the lake. Next week! Stay tuned!

**Pictures courtesy of Elder and Sister Vermeeren**