To Understand God’s Heart

My long-held dream of going on a long-term mission finally came true when I was given the opportunity to go to Kenya. I was excited, but I also worried about whether I would be able to carry out my mission well. Until the day I left, I kept offering the same prayer: that my time serving the gospel in Kenya would help me fully understand the heart of our Heavenly Father and Mother and bring joy to God.

Most Kenyans are Christians and have a strong interest in the Bible. Many readily listened to the truth we shared, and some even came to Zion to study the word further. However, all too often, we would lose contact with them soon afterward. Whenever that happened, I felt disappointed and discouraged. But when I thought of the heart of our Heavenly Father and Mother, who must be shedding tears for the souls wandering in search of the water of life, I could not lose heart.

As I gradually came to understand more of Their boundless love, I continued diligently preaching the gospel as I usually did. Then one day, I greeted a woman passing by with her two children. When I told her about Heavenly Mother, she was surprised and showed great interest. That was how I first met the sister.

Starting the next day, the sister came to Zion almost every day to study the Bible. Whenever she came across something she did not understand, she would ask questions until she understood it, gradually becoming more convinced of the truth. At one point, she even texted me, “I want to find happiness in God. Pleases pray for me so that I can be happy.”

Seeing how she received the word with the pure heart of a child, I sincerely told her that I hoped she would receive the blessing of becoming a child of God. Yet for some reason, she hesitated. She had received the word as sweet as honey and had been filled with joy as she learned the truth, so I could not understand why she was hesitating. I felt both puzzled and concerned.

For an entire month after that, I did not see her. Whenever I contacted her, she would simply say that she was busy. Was there something weighing on her mind that she could not share with me? Was she having doubts about the truth? Night after night, I worried about her. All I could do was pray. I earnestly prayed that she would return to Zion and receive the promise of salvation.

At last, I was able to meet the sister again and hear the full story. She explained that several things had come up at once, leaving her so overwhelmed with daily life that she had not been able to come to Zion and study the Bible with peace of mind. Hearing how difficult and exhausting things must have been for her brought tears to my eyes. I was sorry that I had not fully understood what she was going through, and I hoped that she could now find peace in God’s embrace.

After that, she began visiting Zion regularly again to study the word, just as she had before. Each time she came, I tried to warmly ask how she was doing, listen attentively even to the little things she shared, and treat her with love and care. I was not doing anything particularly special, but with God’s help, I could sense that her heart was gradually filling with warm love.

With the Passover drawing near, I gathered my courage and once again encouraged her to receive the blessing of new life. Her answer was “Yes.” Tears came to my eyes again—this time, tears of relief and joy. Born again as a child of God Elohim, the sister was blessed to keep the Passover. She now continues to attend worship services with her two children and steadily grow in faith.

The anxious days I spent worrying and shedding tears as I guided the sister gave me a glimpse of the sacrifice Father and Mother had made and the patience They had shown in seeking Their children. As I followed in Their footsteps and devoted myself wholeheartedly to saving one soul, I finally began to understand, even if only a little, how deeply Father and Mother yearn for Their lost children. Just as I had prayed before coming to Kenya, I am truly grateful that I was able to understand God’s love, as vast and deep as the sea. Father and Mother will continue to wait in tears until the last of Their children is found. Bearing Their heart in mind, I will tirelessly seek our lost brothers and sisters. Following the example of our Heavenly Parents, I hope to live a life that brings joy to God.