This
week went well. We moved from our old apartment to the apartment of the elders
of Belgrano, a ward right next to ours. We've had lots of great moments with
members, and they're very excited to share the Gospel. A young couple invited a
bunch of members and non members to a family home evening, and only one non
member friend showed up, but he's very interested in receiving the
missionaries. Felipe, a friend of Lucas, a recent convert showed up because of
an invitation he extended.
This week, I've come to understand more of why priesthood
holders are given the responsibility to exhort members to "pray vocally
and in secret". As a missionary, I have never felt more guided by the
Spirit during the day and in my personal preparation then when I can pray vocally
in secret. It is a simple, but outstandingly powerful practice. It places a
seriousness on the act of prayer that is not always felt when we pray only in
our minds and hearts. I feel as though at least twice a day we should set apart
time to close ourselves off from the world and pray vocally. "But thou,
when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door,
pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall
reward thee openly." (Matt 6:6, 3 Ne. 13:6) "But this is not all; ye
must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your
wilderness." (Alma 34:26)
