What happens after 15 months of walking in the same shoes.
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I´ve been doing a lot of thinking this past week. I
always think a lot... but this week my mind has been focused on a certain
topic, The Deadline. Or in other words, the eminant, and quickly
aproching day in which my mission ends. Don´t call me trunky, o frita, o
muerta. It´s not my falt that has been on my mind considering that
everyone who asks me how much time I have in the mission responds with, "Oh ya
esta en su casa!", as soon as they hear 15 meses. Es el contrario mis
amigos. For that same reason I´m working even harder than before.
The only difference is that I´m buying souvenirs as I contact.
Back to the point. As we´ve been walking to our
lessons, I´ve found myself contemplating, not only on the newly developed hole
in my shoe, but mostly in the purpose of missionary work. It´s rather a
strange thing when you think about it. The prophet sending off snot nosed kids
fresh out of high school to go to a foreign land, to spend two years (or 18
months) talking to as many people as they can about the church... in a language
that they don´t even know. From a worldly point of view, it doesn´t make much
sense. Why not people who know a bit more? Those who have studied
the Bible and know the history of the world?
Easy answer, the testimonies. "And the mouths of babes
shall teach them", said Jesus. But what has been puzzling me for the past
week is, why do they have to put a deadline on it? They call you,
set you apart, give you the authority to call all to repentance, and expect you
to do it sin error. But when your time is up they kick you to the
curb. The badge is gone, they thank you for your service, and you´re back
in jeans eating ice cream on the living room couch. Why?
Ensenada Cruises |
I think I´ve figured it out. Something that I heard
Elder Holland say in a MTC talk long ago. Lowering the age of
missionaries, opening up new missiones, most think that it is part of For the
Strength of Youth. HA! No, Elder Holland said, that it is to HASTEN
THE LORDS WORK. Okay, numbers speaking that´s easy to understand.
Now there are more missionaries out in the field than there ever were
before.... but then I began to think about what I´ve learned in the
mission. I´ve learned how to talk openly about the gospel, how ward
counsel should work, how we can effectively work with the members, how to help
new converts progress, how members should participate in lessons, and this list
goes on and on....
I´ve noticed a few things as I´ve seen older and wiser
missionaries finish their missions and go home. ALL OF THEM talk about how
they are going to work in la obra de salvacion when they get back to their home
wards. How they are going to be the member that they always wished they
had to help them during their mission. How they plan on spreading the
gospel and being a member missionary ALL THEIR LIFE LONG. I hope I´m not
to proud to say that I consider myself as one of them.
and chowin down on some sweet sugar cane... mexican style
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That´s when it hit me. So many people say that the
mission is the MTC for life. It helps you become a leader, know how to
manage money, buy food, live on your own, and work hard. I´d rather call
it the MMTC. The Member Missionary Training Center. La obra del
Senor no es una obra para los misioneros. It´s what the Lord expects
everyone of us to do. He knows that the best way to do missionary work is
though the tiny things that we can do everyday as regular people. As
members, there is so much that we can do to make the work move forward.
The RMs know that, and they know how to do it. I am quite certain that
THAT is why the Lord has called for such a great boost in missionaries.
He´s not expecting that we change the world because we have a name tag on.
He´s just preparing another great army of member missionaries to work in their
wards, stakes, neighborhoods, work offices, schools, and everywhere they
go. THAT is how he is hastening the work.
As a future RM I now realize that is my calling. Going
home still scares me. I still would love an extension of my call, but as a good friend of mine recently told me... even if I get home, hit 40 and I´m still unmarried,... my wards will double in size. They have to split every stake that I work in. haha
They might take my badge, but they wont take my glory.
Ensenada |
Hermana Lance, Your comments are very inspirational. I love when you say "They might take my badge, but they wont take my glory." What an example you will be to those around you when you get home. Was it scary to approach people when you first went on a mission? That is how the general population feels. We can use some of your enthusiasm! We love and pray for you and your companion!! Sister Beem
ReplyDeleteDarling Hermana Lance, you have such great insight and testimony. Your deep thinking and pondering produces wonderful lessons and incidentally, memorable quotes, and for that I am grateful. As you so wisely observed....mortality is a mission which will either return you to your Heavenly Father if done correctly, or leave you outside the Heavenly Family if ignored. Your future lies before you filled with huge potential of goodness and glory enhancing work. I am thrilled to be one of your witnesses. Love you with all my heart.
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