This week we were visiting a member of our branch. After we
left her house, we decided to tract some of the nearby blocks. At the top floor
of one of these, a young mom answered the door. She told us that she doesn't really believe in God,
but that we were welcome to come back another day. So we went back! When we
walked into her home, I was a little bit overwhelmed by how much love she
obviously had for her family. The entire little home was centered around her
children and her love was so evident.
In our short discussion, we learned that her babica had
recently passed away and that she'd sometimes wondered where grandma is now. We
learned that her kids are the center of her life and mean everything to
her.
God's plan for this woman and for her grandma and her
children is a plan that began before mortal life here on earth and will last
much longer than the end of our mortal lives. It's a plan which developed out
of the pure love of God for his children. I know that her grandma still lives
just like I know that my grandpa still lives! And because of Jesus Christ we
will all live again.
I learned a couple of things this week. First, it's all
about love. Second, sometimes the very best thing to do is just face your fear
head on. Third, Jesus Christ will heal us.
Let's start with love. Shout out to my good friend Spencer,
who told me this at the very beginning of my mission. And also to everyone
everywhere who has learned anything from Jesus Christ. He did everything he did
out of love - love for God, and love for the people around him. Sometimes I
feel completely overwhelmed by the numerous rules, guidelines, suggestions,
goals, reports, etc. that are part of a missionary's life. Often times I feel
like I'm really not measuring up because I can't even REMEMBER all those
things, let alone apply them all in my daily life. But I've realized that if
everything I do is motivated by my love for my Father in Heaven and for my
companion and for my mission president and for my family and for the people
here in Celje, then I'm doing okay. And I just keep on striving for improvement
in all those areas, but first and foremost is love. Because I wear the name of
Jesus Christ on my tametag, and to represent him means to radiate love. Not
very good at it, but working on it.
Facing your fears. Face it head on and charge at it or it
will just follow you all your life. Just face it now and Heavenly Father will
strengthen you through it and bless you for it, no matter how long it takes!
There are two things I really love about the following
scripture:
9 And it came to pass
that when he had thus spoken, all the multitude, with one accord, did go forth
with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind,
and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and
he did heal them every one as they were brought forth unto him.
The first is that our Savior will heal, comfort, strengthen,
bless, and give peace to each of us one by one. The second is that those who
were afflicted were "brought forth unto him." I want to bring people
unto Christ to experience the miracle of his healing and to know the miracle of
his life, atonement, and resurrection!
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