Trials are Tough!

Good Morning Everybody!!!

Well what to say? Trials come and they are pretty tough. I have had a really crazy 2 weeks. Probably now after the fact I am grateful for what happened to me while i am serving in Jamaica. Well all of those good things that happened last week really did happen and they are really what helped me out the most.

Well my story is this. Last week Sunday my world collapsed. Elder Lacey and I were driving to an appointment. It was raining and I was driving. We were approaching a light. I didn't see it turn red and when i did I slammed on the brakes. Due to wet roads nothing happened and we had a car accident. Pretty bad too. The people in the other car was injured but we are Ok. We gave them priesthood blessings and now everybody is fine and out of the hospital. For me though is was feeling horrible. I was worried about a lot of things. I was worried about myself and my reputation and what was going to happen. I prayed and prayed and prayed and then realized that i need to stop thinking about myself. I was able to apologize to the people in the other car. They were good about it. I read the scriptures and prayed and read the scriptures and prayed. The only time I felt relief was when i was teaching or studying or when i was focused on helping others. I found that i felt better and better as i went. Then two days later on Tuesday this week i get a call from the Assistants telling me that i am getting transferred the next day to Yallahs and that i would be finishing an Elders training and Elder Prete would be coming to replace me. I knew that this was the consequence. I thought to myself "If i was comforting someone else in this situation what would i tell them?" So i read the scriptures again. I was reading in Alma 24 about the people of Ammon refusing to fight their brethren and laying down their lives in because they new that it was wrong to kill. VERSE 26 and 27 gave me great comfort "And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but that they were saved.  And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the Salvation of his people."

After I had read that I realized that this is not about me at all. I am supposed to be in Yallahs for the salvation of Gods children. I was supposed to be in Montego Bay for that short time and now i am where God wants me to be. President Brown interviewed me about it yesterday. He told me that this is a consequence of events that have occurred. But not only by me. The house and area of Yallahs needs a lift. I am in yallahs to strengthen my companion who has only been out for three months. And to help the other two Elders in the house to have the desire to be more obedient. Also to change the Culture of Yallahs. President Brown confirmed my revelation and helped me understand that the lord really does work in many ways.

Yesterday and church a miracle occurred. President Brown was here for Branch Conference and Heavenly Father blessed us with three investigators at church, one who we had never met after church he said he is ready to make changes in his life, one we only met once and shared a thought with him at a church activity and he said he loved it and read the whole restoration pamphlet and came to church and loved it.  And the other was an investigator Elder Prete and Elder Adams (my new comp) were teaching. I suddenly realized how hard the past month i had been praying for miracles and then i looked in John 15:2 and realized the purposes of God. Everything that had occurred was in answer to my prayers.

I love Yallahs. I love my new companion. I love my Heavenly Father and I am Eternally Grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ whom through I can be forgiven of my simple mistakes that lead to big consequences. I really pondered hard on whether or not i wanted to share all this with you all. I do not want any of you to worry about me, neither give me sympathy. I just want you to know how much Heavenly Father loves us and how everything that happens to us in this life no matter what it is will be for our good if we remain faithful through it all. "When all is said and done our greatest duty is to Preach the Gospel", but first God has to trust us. Thanks again i love you all.

Love Elder Stuart