It's been a very long time since I have written a blog post. It seems now that all of my blog posts from here on out will be updates for my mission; where I am with my paperwork, preparatory experiences, and whatever else seems to come out of my mind.
As far as paper work goes, Bishop and I have been meeting at least once a month since March. Every bit of paperwork that I've had the opportunity to fill out has been filled out and I've been attending weekly mission prep classes. To see how close I am to my mission now than I was 8 months ago, not just time wise but in preparation is scary. I've been thinking a lot about my progression since then and though I am not quite to where I could be, I have made great strides towards my goal. My parents during this process have been ridiculously amazing. Though I will not receive their support financially, to know that I have their spiritual and emotional support is more than enough. There was a time when I didn't receive any support from them. Heavenly Father has since worked with them, has used me as His example, and has shown them that there is nothing to worry about. This reminds me of the story in 1 Nephi when Laman, Lemuel, and Nephi are sent to get the plates of brass from Laban. Laban was a ruler in Jerusalem and would have killed them with no problem. The three boys left from the wilderness where their family was staying and journeyed to obtain the plates. Laban was angry and, at first, the boys were unable to get the plates. After praying, Nephi obtains the plates from Laban and kills him. Laban's servant Ishmael is brought back with the boys. In the meantime, Sariah, the boys' mother, is worried about her boys and cries to Lehi, the boys' father, that they are dead and they never should have gone. Lehi speaks to her, telling her that he has received this vision from God and that their boys are going to be okay. Sariah takes comfort in this and soon after the boys return safely causing much joy. This story in a way is similar to how my parents may feel. It's scary to send your child into a place you don't know of, going through trials you cannot be there for, unaware of what is going on in your child's life and it's perfectly okay for my parents to feel this way. What they don't know is that I am going to slay the people of Laban, I will bring back the righteous to the army of God. I will make it home safe, in the arms of my Heavenly Father. I don't know what I am going to encounter wherever I am but I know I will be led by the Spirit to do the things which are right and which are pertinent to brings others unto Christ. That's my purpose as a missionary and that's what I will do with the guidance of my Heavenly Father and the Spirit.
I still have a far way to go but every day that I have to progress and grow with my Heavenly Father is a day that I cherish and look forward to. I hope that I will recieve the necessary support that I need to make this progression and I hope to make my Heavenly Father and my family proud.
"And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."
1 Nephi 4:6
Don't forget to check out my mission prep facebook group for updates!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/404892552893232/
If you feel so inclined to financially support my efforts check out my GoFundMe account:
http://www.gofundme.com/12jhhk
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Day 103.
A little video I made today.
God is so important in my life today.
I can never cease to praise Him.
I hope you never will either.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Day 64-69.
Hey Everybody,
Just an update for today. In the recent week I've been spending time home with family and friends while being on winter break from college. I've had so much fun playing sports, eating ice cream (so much for my 40 day abstinent project), hanging out with family, going out with friends, and Harry Potter marathons. To be completely honest, I've almost completely forgot about getting back into the Word. There are times when I would look at my Scriptures and feel that it would be too much work to actually read a chapter or two. Blogging has seemed like a huge inconvenience and almost a hassle because I "never had anything spiritual to write about". I'm close to my first temple trip and I feel as unworthy as ever. There's no use in beating myself up because when I do that I only hurt myself and let the devil take over. I've decided to beat up satan. Starting tomorrow I am going to read at least one verse a day. I am going to study my preach my gospel and I'm going to pray more than I think. I want each and every one of you to hold me accountable!
I know I'm not alone in these feelings of laziness. There are times that we can all feel dragged down by needing to read the scriptures and pray but I want you to remember that these feelings are not your own. These are the feelings we have felt because of Satan. I encourage you to do what I'm about to. Find one verse from any of the scriptures and memorize it. On the days that you feel dragged down, quote that verse in your mind or out loud. I've heard that a verse a day keeps satan away. We don't have to read 5,000 pages a day to keep him away, we just need to read one verse and pray about it. Continue to ask the Spirit into your life and always keep your head up. There may be darkness now but darkness can never prevail over the light.
Just an update for today. In the recent week I've been spending time home with family and friends while being on winter break from college. I've had so much fun playing sports, eating ice cream (so much for my 40 day abstinent project), hanging out with family, going out with friends, and Harry Potter marathons. To be completely honest, I've almost completely forgot about getting back into the Word. There are times when I would look at my Scriptures and feel that it would be too much work to actually read a chapter or two. Blogging has seemed like a huge inconvenience and almost a hassle because I "never had anything spiritual to write about". I'm close to my first temple trip and I feel as unworthy as ever. There's no use in beating myself up because when I do that I only hurt myself and let the devil take over. I've decided to beat up satan. Starting tomorrow I am going to read at least one verse a day. I am going to study my preach my gospel and I'm going to pray more than I think. I want each and every one of you to hold me accountable!
I know I'm not alone in these feelings of laziness. There are times that we can all feel dragged down by needing to read the scriptures and pray but I want you to remember that these feelings are not your own. These are the feelings we have felt because of Satan. I encourage you to do what I'm about to. Find one verse from any of the scriptures and memorize it. On the days that you feel dragged down, quote that verse in your mind or out loud. I've heard that a verse a day keeps satan away. We don't have to read 5,000 pages a day to keep him away, we just need to read one verse and pray about it. Continue to ask the Spirit into your life and always keep your head up. There may be darkness now but darkness can never prevail over the light.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Day 51-63.
It's been a long while since I've written my last blog. It's not always ideal for me to write my blog but when I decided to begin it became an every day challenge for me as I prepared for my mission. It has been a rough couple of weeks to say the least. I've learned different lessons from my obstacles.
1) Pray, A LOT.
Never let your praying knees get tired. Prayer is one of the closest ways we can be to God, other than going to the temple. When we take the time and to pray and LISTEN, we recieve the answers we search for. Helaman 5:30 says, "And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—". The Lord does not speak in thunderous voices or through marvelous images, He speaks to us most through that still, small voice. We cannot hear His voice amidst crying, our own work, our busyness of our every day; we hear His voice when we quiet down and listen. Be faithful. We can recieve all things through prayer. I have a testimony of prayer. I know that our prayers are continually answered and I know that every prayer we raise to God WILL be answered.
2) Follow your "gut feeling".
That gut feeling you have is the Holy Ghost guiding you. I heard from a wise person once that our hearts and our minds may tell us different things but it's the feeling in your stomach that we need to pay attention to; this may just be the feeling of the Spirit. Personally, it is hard for me to describe what the Spirit feels like. President Boyd K. Packer explained: “The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. … While we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …’” He continued: “This voice of the Spirit speaks gently, prompting you what to do or what to say, or it may caution or warn you” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 77; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 60). Alma tells us that these feelings “will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.” (Alma 32:28.)
3) Never stop forgiving.
It can be hard at times to keep forgiving those that do you wrong. James E. Frost said, "If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being." “Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves.” As Jesus forgave, so must we. When we keep remembering our failures and mistakes, continue to harbor bad feelings against others, and refuse to forgive ourselves or others, we waste both time and energy. We accomplish nothing. We inhibit spiritual progress.
4) Don't give up on yourself.
These past couple of weeks, I've found myself in and out of discouragement. I was ready to give up and in some areas of my life I have. While speaking to some of my missionary friends, one reminded me that we learn from these experiences and that going through these feelings is normal. "You shouldn't be disappointed in yourself but I'm glad you hold yourself to such high standards." I heard one of them say. It's important to hold ourself to high standards but when we don't quite meet our standards, we shouldn't be disappointed in ourselves and give up, we need to see it as a time to press forward and correct ourselves. God never gave up on us, why should we?
I could go on forever with the things I've learned but the entire internet wouldn't be large enough for what I learn every day. It's important that we find something to learn every day. What is life but a learning experience? I am grateful for the time I have on earth. I am grateful for a loving God and the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I encourage all of you to seek to learn at least one thing every day.
1) Pray, A LOT.
Never let your praying knees get tired. Prayer is one of the closest ways we can be to God, other than going to the temple. When we take the time and to pray and LISTEN, we recieve the answers we search for. Helaman 5:30 says, "And it came to pass when they heard this voice, and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul—". The Lord does not speak in thunderous voices or through marvelous images, He speaks to us most through that still, small voice. We cannot hear His voice amidst crying, our own work, our busyness of our every day; we hear His voice when we quiet down and listen. Be faithful. We can recieve all things through prayer. I have a testimony of prayer. I know that our prayers are continually answered and I know that every prayer we raise to God WILL be answered.
2) Follow your "gut feeling".
That gut feeling you have is the Holy Ghost guiding you. I heard from a wise person once that our hearts and our minds may tell us different things but it's the feeling in your stomach that we need to pay attention to; this may just be the feeling of the Spirit. Personally, it is hard for me to describe what the Spirit feels like. President Boyd K. Packer explained: “The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. … While we speak of ‘listening’ to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, ‘I had a feeling …’” He continued: “This voice of the Spirit speaks gently, prompting you what to do or what to say, or it may caution or warn you” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1994, 77; or Ensign, Nov. 1994, 60). Alma tells us that these feelings “will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.” (Alma 32:28.)
3) Never stop forgiving.
It can be hard at times to keep forgiving those that do you wrong. James E. Frost said, "If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being." “Forgiveness is freeing up and putting to better use the energy once consumed by holding grudges, harboring resentments, and nursing unhealed wounds. It is rediscovering the strengths we always had and relocating our limitless capacity to understand and accept other people and ourselves.” As Jesus forgave, so must we. When we keep remembering our failures and mistakes, continue to harbor bad feelings against others, and refuse to forgive ourselves or others, we waste both time and energy. We accomplish nothing. We inhibit spiritual progress.
4) Don't give up on yourself.
These past couple of weeks, I've found myself in and out of discouragement. I was ready to give up and in some areas of my life I have. While speaking to some of my missionary friends, one reminded me that we learn from these experiences and that going through these feelings is normal. "You shouldn't be disappointed in yourself but I'm glad you hold yourself to such high standards." I heard one of them say. It's important to hold ourself to high standards but when we don't quite meet our standards, we shouldn't be disappointed in ourselves and give up, we need to see it as a time to press forward and correct ourselves. God never gave up on us, why should we?
I could go on forever with the things I've learned but the entire internet wouldn't be large enough for what I learn every day. It's important that we find something to learn every day. What is life but a learning experience? I am grateful for the time I have on earth. I am grateful for a loving God and the blessings He has bestowed upon me. I encourage all of you to seek to learn at least one thing every day.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Day 50.
Only 300 days left until I am 21 and eligable for a mission!!!
I cannot believe that 50 days have already gone by. I haven't gotten so much accomplished, experienced much and have so much more left to do!
I've chosen to go on a mission for many reasons that I cannot explain. The biggest reason I have chosen to go on a mission is because I want to serve my Father in Heaven and bring to Him His children. I love the Book of Mormon very much and I also love my Heavenly Father very much and hope that I may be able to serve Him well. Below is a video from Mormon.org that will explain the importance of missionary work a little better.
I cannot believe that 50 days have already gone by. I haven't gotten so much accomplished, experienced much and have so much more left to do!
I've chosen to go on a mission for many reasons that I cannot explain. The biggest reason I have chosen to go on a mission is because I want to serve my Father in Heaven and bring to Him His children. I love the Book of Mormon very much and I also love my Heavenly Father very much and hope that I may be able to serve Him well. Below is a video from Mormon.org that will explain the importance of missionary work a little better.
AND ALSO
Day 48.
Today, I had the privilege to say goodbye to a good friend of mine who is leaving for his mission on Monday. Saying goodbye to people, especially someone who you consider close to you, is hard to do. We feel heartache for the one who is leaving us but we know that someday we will see them again. I wonder what it must have felt like for God to give us His son. When Jesus left the Heavens to come to earth I wonder what His father felt. It couldn't have been easy but He knew that Jesus was going to return to Him after He had saved all of mankind. Just like we have friends that leave their homes to serve a mission for the church and bring others unto Christ, God must have felt that way too, proud, joyous, happy, anxious. God must have felt just like we do when our missionaries leave us because Jesus was the greatest missionary of them all and He made His Father very proud just like our missionaries make us feel.
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