WOW!!! Can’t even believe how fast these last
18 months have gone....... too fast.
A couple of weeks
ago, as sister Cardenas and i were working in one of the many sections in our
area, and after many spiritual lessons, we decided to stop by some recent converts
in the area. As we knocked on the door, the wife answered and warmly welcomed
us into her home, and we noted that she looked really sad and tired, and after
asking them how they had been, we sung a hymn and opened with a prayer.
Then we ask "hermana, why are
you so upset?" a little taken back by the question, she hesitated, and
replied a little flustered, "I've just been a little sick, that’s
all." As we talked to her about Christ’s
love for her and her family, we testified that we were there to help her and
her family. Again this sister said that she had just been feeling a little
sick, and insisted that that was all.
Sister Cardenas said, "hermana, we’re missionaries. ´We have
superpowers´, and we know there's something wrong, so just let us know and we
can help you!" as she heard these words, she started to cry, and told us
that they had been struggling with family and financial problems, and that she
had been feeling really stressed, and didn’t know what she could do, and her
being sick throughout the week had prevented her from going to work, and they
had been really struggling! As she said this, the question immediately came to
my mind word for word "have you been paying your tithing!?" and as we
asked this, we were able to testify of Gods love for us, of his power, and the
blessings that come through being obedient! wow!
Obedience is the first law of heaven,
and it is a lesson that God will be teaching his children throughout their
whole lives!
Something that sister Cardenas shared with me
is that there is a lesson to learn in every trial. the faster we learn it, the
faster the blessings come! wow! it is soo true!! This was something we were
able to teach this humble family, who live in a house no bigger than three
rooms and a bathroom, with worn out clothes, and barely enough money for food,
we testified of Gods divine power, and the blessings that were being withheld
from them, as long as they weren´t paying their tithing! God wants to bless us!
a happy peaceful life is exactly what he wants for his children!! and as we
obey him, we are not only going to receive blessings for this life, but in the
life to come! Our lider de zona told us, "Gods commandments are a means by
which we prepare to someday become Gods and Goddesses!" if we can’t learn
to be obedient in this life, we will never receive the opportunity to create
and guide new worlds! It all starts here and now!
WOW! the mission has been life
changing!!! Literally! It is sooo incredible to be able to see the changes in
people’s lives as they accept the Gospel, and make changes necessary to help
them become more like him. There are literally no downs to missionary work!!
now.. that doesn’t mean it’s always been easy,.... but being a missionary has
shown me more than ever before that God is in the details of our lives. He
knows us sooo perfectly!! He loves us with a PERFECT love, and because he is so
familiar with us, he is able to plan trials and tests designed specifically for
us, with one purpose. to help us become like Him! I could really see that in
the start of my mission. before then, everything had always come easy for me.
Sports, school, and church, and i didn’t have any major trials. But coming to
Guatemala, and not being able to understand a word that people said to me, was
a really humbling experience for me. All the sudden, it wasn´t so easy, and
there were literally days where i asked myself if i could go on! i was soooo
sad.. and i felt sooo alone... but it was in these moments that i realized i
wasn’t really alone. that I never have been.
Something I have been taught since as long as i could even remember was
true! God is always there! And He
listens with love!
I soon came to the
realization that he was the only one that could understand me. He knew perfectly what i was going through,
and who had promised long ago to always be their for each one of us, He wanted
to help me! just been waiting patiently, just wanting and pleading for me to
only ask. and as soon as i did, i felt of his redeeming love for me as a
daughter of God! i know he loves me!!! i know he loves all of his children!! i
know he wants us to be happy!! In that
moment of frustration, and confusion as i didn’t understand sooooo much, i
finally understood the most important thing ever! I understood and
felt Gods love for me, and that he would never leave me alone. I finally came to know my savior after the
countless prayers i had offered, the numerous sacrament meetings i had
attended, and the infinite seminary classes, church devotionals, and summers
spent at EFY’s. I finally got the picture. I came to know my
savior.
That is probably
one of the greatest experiences a missionary can have! It is when they finally
come to know and understand, not only the gospel, and how to apply it in their
lives, but they come to know God. Perfectly. They understand his merciful plan
for us as HIS children.
I can now say, WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A
DOUBT, THAT I KNOW GOD. I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND OF HIS LOVE FOR US,
AND I KNOW THIS IS HIS GREAT PLAN OF
HAPPINESS FOR HIS CHILDREN.
He never stops; he never sleeps, and
never has time to rest. He is praying for us, and loving us 24/7… since the
world began! What a tireless job!! So why does he do it!? It’s simple-because
he loves us.. and it is for that love that i will be forever grateful... i will
forever praise his name, and forever follow him. The Reynas asked us a simple
question. if you could go back and do it all over again, would you do it? YES!
There is no doubt in my mind -YES. I love the Savior, and know him more than
ever before. The ultimate investigator is you! It’s every missionary that has
ever served. It is a privilege to come to know our Savior and his matchless
love for us. It doesn’t matter where you serve, in what country or language. The
ultimate purpose is to help us as his children come to know HIM- and I HAVE. I
would never trade these experiences for the world. Every companion that i have
had, every spiritual or trying experience has made me who I am today. NOTHING
even compares. It’s worth more than all the gold in the world, it’s worth more
than anything money can buy. Because it is limitless and endless. Without end.
HIS LOVE FOR US IS INCREDIBLE! AND NOW I UNDERSTAND! I LOVE HIM
MORE THAN WORDS CAN EVEN EXPRESS. And will be FOREVER grateful for the privilege
i have had to be a Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
saints. To represent His name. To be His disciple. To follow him.
I am sooo grateful for all of the
love and support of my friends, companions, and members, and can’t even begin
to describe the immense gratitude i feel for my Father in Heaven for sending MY
FAMILY to ME. WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS my love for them and their support, their
numerous letters and emails of encouragement and support
I love this work..
and even though my time is soooo short to be able to put on my name tag, and to
be able to serve him full time, i know this work does not end!! We members are
the key!! We need to do the Lords work for forever!! That is why we were saved
for these last days!! I know this is Gods Church. I KNOW IT IS TRUE! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Hermana Morris
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| my companions |
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| pictures sent from my mission president... |
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