Six Months into Our Mission

This week we celebrated six months since we entered the MTC. As I look back over those months, my feelings are that they have been both far better than I had expected, filled with spiritual experiences all drawing me closer to my Father and Heaven, and far harder than I expected, because I have become so involved in the spiritual struggle for the hearts and minds of our Father’s children. They are months filled with love for the missionaries we have come to know and cherish, of being personally blessed by an apostle, and of memories of my youthful missionary experiences.

Would I recommend a mission for other couples? Absolutely!  My testimony has grown to where many things are no longer based on faith but have come to be a knowledge. I have felt the Spirit’s influence in almost everything I do. And though we have had some failures in reaching some people, who were afraid to make the change, we have also had incredible moments when we could see what we were teaching come alive in the eyes of those we taught.

To be sure, we have missed our children and grandchildren a great deal, but much of what we do here in Mexico is done with the hope of blessing their lives. The memories of what we have done here and the people we have come to know and love so dearly will stay with us for the rest of our lives and beyond the grave.

To those of you that venture to read this I share my testimony. Our Savior awaits you, personally. He knows your name and through the quiet feeling of your heart, he is calling you and guiding you. There is live after death. If you have fears, lean on my knowledge. You will see your loved ones again. Life will go on forever.

Joy of the Sabbath

Two weeks ago while I was studying some conference talks, I felt inspired to do more to keep the Sabbath. I have always tried to keep the Sabbath but more as a duty or responsibility and at times I felt restricted by it. I was touched when a general authority said in his talk that he found so much joy on the Sabbath that he didn’t have to worry about what he could or couldn’t do. It came naturally.

To keep from feeling too restricted on the Sabbath I had always reserved and few hours to do something that I wanted to do like play a game or watch a television program. Last Sunday I decided to just follow the Spirit. As a missionary it’s not too hard to keep the Sabbath most of the day because we are quite actively involved in the Lord’s work. It really boiled down to the those few hours that I had previously reserved for myself.

It was like crossing a barrier when at the end of the day, I searched for a few things to do. Surprisingly it was very easy to find something. I first opened the scriptures and reread a chapter of The Book of Mormon which I had read that morning. The Spirit opened up the words of that chapter and in Alma’s few words to his wayward son, I saw the whole purpose and meaning of life. His words were true, I felt them to the very depths of my soul, so strongly that I used the same chapter later in the week to teach a newly baptized member of the church. Next I opened the Liahona, the Church magazine to the rest of the world, and found an article about marriage. Again the Spirit touched me and opened my eyes. In this wonderful article centered around “The Proclamation” I found new understanding and meaning about my own relationship with my wonderful companion. I was so touched by it that I asked her to read it again with me.

I read other articles, feeling the same spiritual power. At end of the day, I realized that I found the joy in the Sabbath that the general authority had talked about. I looked forward to the next Sabbath day, the feeling of restriction gone, replaced by a greater understanding of this wonderful gift that the Lord has given me.

Putting Our Faith on the Line

Being a missionary is being involved in the lives of people, trying to lift them with our own faith and testimony, bringing the Spirit into their lives. We are on the front lines of a spiritual war being waged. Through it all comes the constant need to honor and respect free agency. We plant seeds and teach the people how to nourish them through their own actions of faith. Stretching our own faith we try to get them to hear what we are saying beyond just the words. This process is repeated and repeated until it starts to take hold or it is clear that they are not ready to continue at this time.

It is a very difficult, at times disappointing, and other times rewarding effort. Most days my wife and I return home physically drained. The work is never done. One victory does not ensure that it will last.

For example last night we had a wonderful and rewarding victory. A young woman who has for weeks been very animated about being baptized finally entered the waters. The joy on her face made all of our efforts and those of the other missionaries well worth it. But even this wonderful victory is only a beginning. This week my wife and I will start new member discussion with her and her husband, helping her to make the transition to being a member of the Lord’s Church. Our goal will be to eventually see this woman and her husband sealed in the temple with many smaller steps along the way.

With all of this comes the realization of the immensity of the task before us. There are so many people with so many needs. That is where faith kicks in. With the Lord, all is possible.