Some people have asked me why I have given up all I have given up for 18 months to serve a mission? Well before I left on my mission the reason I decided to serve one was because through the promptings of the Spirit, I knew God wanted me to serve a mission. I will admit I didn't necessarily want to, but since I knew God wanted me to know, I made the decision to because of the love I have for God and Jesus Christ.
After my brother died, so many people asked why I didn't go home to be there for my family and for the funeral. Well the decision wasn't an easy one. I prayed and asked God what He wanted me to do, and received the answer to stay. Even after receiving the answer though it was still really hard to not go home.
Lets just say when it rains it pours!
At the time, I was scheduled to get surgery not even a week after my brother died, why shouldn't I just go home. I was very discouraged, and couldn't understand why I had to go through so many things at once. I wasn't sure why God wanted me to stay. Things didn't seem to get any easier for quite awhile, at points I felt like it was pointless for me to stay on a mission.
Over time I am beginning to understand why to all of what I went through. That it wasn't just to make me miserable but to help me learn and grow so that I might be able to help others.
“And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this,
that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that
our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of
saving some.” -Alma
Since my brothers death, I have been able to help others have the hope of seeing loved ones again. I have been able to help them have the hope that comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I have helped people learn how to have a personal relationship with their Savior. The many afflictions I went through were because God knew they would help me be able to help others. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and my Savior and allowing me to learn and grow so much. I am grateful for the strength they have given me to go through these afflictions and to help others.
3 comments:
It takes a very wise person to realize that even the worst things they will ever go through in life will be for their good, and the good of others. Our trials are so difficult to us at the time but one day we will look back at our time on earth and realize how short it was, and in that day our Father will look at you with very much love and respect for all those that you helped by choosing to continue to serve as a missionary.
Many great blessings will come to serving a mission. I did not and I know that if I had, I would have many more blessings. Hang in there and you know that church members are always there to help. Just keep pressing forward and as always just remember this, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi, Chapter 3)
Absolutely true, Karen. Being grateful for the things we go through as we know it serves as a witness to a lost and dying world of the great deeds of our God and Savior. Often He asks us to do that which forces the hand of our faith in the greatest way. But, truly we're capable of all things for His glory. For "I [we] are instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I [we] can do all things through Christ which strengthens me [us]." Philippians 4:12,13.
Post a Comment