Hope everyone had a wonderful week. This week has been humbling and
rejuvenating at the same time. So I have been out on my mission for
almost 10 months and I hate to say it but I am getting tired. I feel
like my return home should be right around the corner, but I still
have about the time I have been out. That being said, I was getting a
bit worried. I know what I get like when I feel like a break is just
around the corner, especially during high school. I get lazy and
cranky and I don't really put much effort into whatever it is I am
doing.
Now this isn't just going to school. As a missionary, you are on the
Lords time and there is no room for lazy missionaries. So ..... Uh oh.
I was thinking, "flip! What do I do?" I was talking to my companion
about it and she has been six weeks out longer than me, and she said
this is when we have to go take the phrase "Make every last day count"
seriously. That is really good, but how do you do that?
So I was studying one morning and I found this amazing talk by, guess
who? Ding ding ding! You are correct, Elder Holland! And it is all
about what comes from a mission. It is called "The Miracle of a
Mission" and it was just what I needed. And the sacrament. Elder
Holland talked about how he doesn't want us to serve a 10 month
mission, or 12 or 14, but the full thing. To give it all. That every
minute of it is what God intends for the rest is your life. And the
things you learn while out here will affect the decisions and outcome
of the rest of your life.
And I know I am already eternally grateful for what this experience
has already taught me. There is no way I am going to forgo any of the
other things God has in store for me. So that is what I am going to
do. Make every last flippin' day count.
I am so thankful for this experience also because it helps me to
realize what we have that no one else has. The peace and comfort that
comes from the Plan of Salvation. Earlier this we were knocking on a
few doors, ( we don't no manly but we had time and we wanted to work)
and this one woman woke up on the wrong side of the bed... for her
whole life. In all honesty, it sounded like her life sucked. She has
suffered so much! Honestly, she made me want to cry just listening to
her. But she was adamantly against hearing anything we had to say. And
my heart just about broke. I had never felt so much for a stranger
than I did on her door step. And I had what she needed! It wouldn't
fix her life but it would give her the strength to get through
anything! Anything! The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only thing on
this planet that can make that claim, and I had it! But she wouldn't
let me give it to her. You think that this would make me question what
I believe, but no. It only strengthens my testimony.
I now understand a tiny bit of what our father in heaven feels when
his children turn away from him when they should be turning towards
him for that peace that this world obviously cannot offer.
And that is why I am going to make every flippin day count. By trying
to give this gift to everyone who doesn't have it. To those who are
wandering in this dark world with no hope or happiness. I cannot keep
it to myself.
I would strongly urge anyone considering a mission, please serve.
There is something about forgetting yourself and turning outward. It
changes you into that person our father in heaven sees and that will
be that strength to friends and family whose hands hang down now and
in the future. You will never regret it!
I love my Heavenly Father and my saviour Jesus Christ! And I know that
The Church of Jesus Christ, Christ's true church that so many gave
their life in service so that others could benefit from with no
earthly reward, is so true! It is that thing that can allow you to
overcome the trials that are bound to come.
On a lighter note, I am so excited to talk to the fam! Happy Mother's
Day mum! I miss and love you all! Have the best week ever!!
Love you all!
Sister Lisa Haynie
Ps. Sorry for the novel.
This what I see on every corner. Very different from the desert of Arizona.
That is our flat complex. On the river. Yep, pretty posh.
Sent from my iPad
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