My Experiment

Three weeks ago we had a leader of the Church come talk with us missionaries. As part of his talk, he talked about how we can become great missionaries. He shared a few things but said the most important thing is to love everyone around you more than yourself. I really want to be a great missionary so I have been thinking a lot about that. How do I love those around me? I know I need to, but how? That is the real question. And for a while I couldn't come up with anything. I thought about emailing my parents and asking them. I thought about talking with my mission president and asking him. But that just didn't feel right. This was something that I wanted to figure out on my own. I didn't want to have the answer given to me by someone else but I wanted to experience loving others more and receive the answer from God. The only problem was that I still couldn't figure it out.

Look Up!

About a month ago my mom sent me a letter and in the letter she included a talk entitled "Look Up" from this January's Ensign. I read the talk and a lot of things really resonated with me. In his talk, Elder Cook talks about how in our lives it is easy to compare ourselves and our lives to those around us--to look to the side. But all the brings is either boastfulness or hurt pride, both of which are harmful. But he proposes a far better alternative and that is to look up and see how our lives compare with what God wants from us and how we are doing in the eyes of God. He then goes on to say "I think the challenge for all of us is to try not to look sideways to see how others are viewing our lives but to look up to see how Heavenly Father sees us."

Sarah's Baptism

When I first came into this mission, I was introduced to the idea of passing out sheets to other missionaries here asking them to give us a name of a friend from home who could use the gospel in their life. So I would go around with my companions seeking referrals from missionaries. I realized that a great source would be to go to my old teachers, chat with their class for a bit and then get a few referrals at once. And besides, it would be nice to chat with my teachers again. One day I went to one of the classes and received a few referrals from different missionaries. Many of the missionaries would include information about their friend to help us understand them a little better and help us know what we could teach them. Most of the referrals I got that day were the same way. But one of the ones I got just had a name and the city that she was from. For some reason I was very skeptical of this referral and didn't think anything would happen with it. But I sent her a message on Facebook just like all of the others and waited for a response.

And the surprising thing is that it actually came! She was the first one to actually respond to one of the emails that I sent out. At first she didn't want to meet with us online, but after a little coaxing and persuading I was somehow able to get her to agree to try it out once. Then once turned into twice. And twice into thrice. Then before any of us realized it, we were having lessons twice a week and she was meeting with her local missionaries!

Now for her part of the story!

Since I got contacted by Elder Tucker, my life has been changed forever. He and his companions and the sister missionaries started teaching me of the gospel of Jesus Christ 5 months ago, which I had already had an understanding of somewhat. But, after being taught in the way I did. Things had come out in a different light. And I gained a new understanding of the Book of Mormon and the Gospel.

Easter

I just had this thought this morning and I know I am a little late on everything, but I wanted to make a little post about Easter. Growing up, I always knew that the true meaning for the season was on Christ and His resurrection, but I usually focused on the worldly, commercial aspect of it all. I mean seriously, who doesn't love Cadbury eggs? :) But as I have been on my mission and as I have devoted my time and attention to learning more and teaching others more about Jesus Christ, I am more excited than ever for this Easter season. I am excited for the opportunity to this year focus my attention on the One who made so many things possible. Because of Him, we can be forgiven for our sins; because of Him, we can live with our Father in Heaven again; and at this Easter season, we focus on the truth that because of Jesus Christ, we can all live again in perfected, whole, complete, resurrected bodies. As someone who has such physical limitations, it is an exciting and comforting thought to know that my struggles are only for a little while and that because of Jesus Christ, I will one day have a perfect body. What peace it is to know that!

There are so many things I wish to say on this matter of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, but I don't think anybody would read such a long post! :) So I will do my best to condense all of my thoughts. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I know that He lived a perfect life and was treated in a manner that He didn't even somewhat deserve. I know that He was crucified and, just as He Himself prophesied, rose from the tomb. He is my Savior and He is your Savior. The words of a familiar church hymn come to mind, "Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!"