I remember when I opened my call- the happiness I felt.
That evening when we were sitting around talking, I expressed how content I felt. Mom
told me to figuratively bottle up some of that joy and open that jar when times
were hard. I didn’t really understand at the time. I said something along the
lines of "I know it will be hard but I'm going to love my mission."
Time and time again I have had to open my jar.
In so many ways the mission is a metaphor of life. In the
book of Job it says we shouted for joy when we knew the plan of God would go
forth and we would have the opportunity to come to earth. God had warned us of
the risks, pain, heartache that were awaiting us. However, we chose to follow
him and accept his plan because the opportunity outweighed the risk. Now that
we are here in our mortal state, we often feels overwhelmed and heavy laden.
Our perhaps it is underwhelmed and without meaning and purpose. Regardless, one
has to be patient, look for daily meaning, and continually learning to love.
I don't regret one bit my decision to serve a mission. It
has been such an adventure to be on this little island; to talk to anyone and
everyone about their relationship with God; to buy fresh fruit of the streets
everyday; to sweat from every pore; to strengthen my faith; to be bold and to
be brave; to find my way around the country, crammed into buses and taxis; to
shout "saludos" in thousands of doors; to anxiously read your emails
every Monday; to walk until there were holes in my shoes; to learn to trust in
my God.
I will never forget the past 18 months or the people I have
met. Thank you for the support you have given me- financially, emotionally, and
spiritually. I am so excited to see you all next Tuesday. I don't think I will
let you out of my sight. (I am going to make a bed on mom and dad's floor next
to Owen's).
"You are the books you read, the films you watch, the
music you listen to, the people you meet, the dreams you have, the
conversations you engage in. you are what you take from these. you are a
collective of every experience you have had in your life. You are every single
second of every single day. So drown yourself in a sea of knowledge and
existence. Let the words run through your veins and let the colors fill your
mind." - Jac Vanek
"Blood, toil, tears, and sweat. The best things are
always worth finishing; as long and laborious as the effort may seem. Please
keep shaping and setting the stones that will make your accomplishment a grand
and imposing spectacle. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow.
Dream dreams and see visions. Work towards their realization. Wait patiently
when you have no other choice. Lean on your sword and rest a while, but get up
and fight again. Perhaps you will not see the full meaning of your effort in
your lifetime. But your children will, or your children's children
will."
- Jeffrey R Holland
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| Meg & Her Trainer |
hasta martes
xoxoxoxoxo
Hermana Christensen
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