Missions are fun. But missions are serious. And this letter may be too serious. But right now, in the words of Marty McFly things feel pretty heavy, not stressful or burdensome, but heavy. Knowing your calling, how it truly affects others and how actions and desires in the work effect how much the Spirit can give power and authority and that you are held accountable for those actions. Again, this is heavy, Doc. This isn't something that I just realized and in fact I may have known this all along, perhaps even before I was "born" in Social Circle, but I've never felt I guess, more "grown-up" than I do now. It is fun growing up, but know this. It isn't easy.
Things I've asked and pondered while on the mission:
- Why at times do we as people choose not to progress?
- Why do we as people murmur, whine, and complain?
- Why do we get caught up in the "he said she said" act?
- Why don't we focus on how we can improve instead of wasting the time to point the fingers and object to the case of others?
- Why do we do the things we do?
At the start of this Transfer I set personal goals to build myself and to do so specifically in patience, virtue, and charity. This past week I previously read Lawrence E. Corbridge's, THE FOURTH MISSIONARY. Wow, what an incredible address concerning the types of missionaries there are and what they can really become. It can relate to not only missionaries, but to investigators, the members, and really people in general.
I highly recommend you take the opportunity you have and to read his address, it helped me and I know it can help you whether you be on a mission, off one, about to be on one or not even a member. It helped me see what the potential we have and how loving our God truly is.
I will be blunt first, I'm tired of hearing missionaries complain about little things, how hard it is to work, how it's too hot, how they're too tired, how they aren't seeing success, how they have given up. To me, it honestly hurts my heart, and I pray for these Elders and Sisters day and night. And I wonder, who or what hurt you and turned you to stone? Frozen, cold and unmoving.
And I know I've complained, I'm not perfect. I've been hurt, I'm blamed others, I've thought why me God? Why me? You may have been there to hear my complaint. But know this, from what I've thus experienced in life, studied in the Standard Works, and from what I've seen from human beings is that we can CHANGE. Those who deny themselves that deny the purpose of God and his ultimate Plan of Salvation.
I've come to understand on the mission and in the past week that as you learn more about how Agency works, and if you apply and respect it, then life changes, lots of other things fall into place, and things get better. It's sweet.
Missions are fun, it's fun to be fed crazy African food - Foofoo. It's kinda funny to hear that your companion was lassoed by another missionary during an exchange. It's fun to be the one who knows no Spanish while the other Blanco's know exactly what the person is saying haha. It's fun to work on a college campus and meet such curious and educated scholars and believers. It's not too fun to get bible bashed by them like my companion did this past week, but it can be interesting. It's fun to quote movies, songs of days past, and it may seem fun to call pday a Play Day. But missions are serious. Life is fun, but know that growing up is serious. But know it doesn't have to be done alone. This I know is true. I've come to know that maybe through the hard way, but through prayer and patience and long-suffering we can Change.
We can Change? Yes. We can:)
It's easy! But you can't take my word for it, whoever you are don't just take my word for it, you must ask yourself. And when you do, you'll know it.
The thoughts and writings of Elder Black on email in the 21st century
Again I love you guys!
Sincerely,
Elder Black