Hey yall! This week was pretty awesome. The Clarks (senior couple) went out of town for a few days, so I had the opportunity to test my abilities as the financial secretary. I feel that my abilties were definitely pushed. I learned a lot. I had to use deductive reasoning to figure stuff out for myself instead of having someone there to give me the answers. It felt a lot like it did when I finished my training with Elder Peck.
This week I was talking with one of the guys and we got to talking about girls left at home. The conversation came to the reasons why we did it. Eventually, that escalated into talking about why exactly it is that as missionaries we set everything aside for two years to come serve the Lord in another land. It was really enjoyable to me to learn better why it is that other missionaries are here. This conversation made me reflect on several things. What I´ve left behind to be here,why I did it, and what I´ve gained from making these sacrifices.
- What we leave behind as missionaries- As missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we leave behind a wide variety of things to allow us to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many leave behind girlfriends, boyfriends, fiancés, friends, jobs, studies, and even family. I feel like these are the many things that we generally associate with LDS missionaries. As a missionary, I have learned of a few things that we sacrifice that are a little bit deeper than surface level. Some of the which are sleep, freetime, emotional stability, a sence of secureness physically, freeness from anxiety, and just overall normal commodities. As you can see, there are many things that are sacrificed when one is "called to serve" of the Lord.
- Why are we here- It has been prophesied and planned since before the formation of the earth that in the latter-days, the House of Israel, or the people of God, would be reunited once more. As missionaries, we are a part of this prophesy! How awesome is it to be able to say with serene surity that you have been called of God to a work of great importance! Another promise we have is missionaries is that our families will be blessed for our service. It doesn´t matter if you come from an all LDS family or if you´re the only member, your family will ALWAYS receive blessings from your efforts. It doesn´t matter if you think your are a "successful missionary" or not, even when we don´t see them, blessings both big and small overflow from the heavens upon our families when we serve the Lord. The last reason that I´d like to share is because we know that we will develop exponentially as individuals and as disciples of Christ in this time period. We attain a better understanding of the gospel, a closer and more personal relationship with Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, and we develop character traits that will help us in our futures as leaders, families, and figures in the community.
- What blessings have been received-I personally am so grateful for the opportunity that I have and that I´ve had to serve a full time mission for the Lord. When I came out to Chile, I wasn´t exactly sure what I believed. I wasn´t sure if I had been completely convinced that I really do have a conviction of the things that I professed to believe. I thought to myself, "I will know for sure what I believe if I do this." With the help of many others, I was able to come out here. I not only have recieved that conviction that I searched and desired, but I´ve had the blessing of the opportunity to share this conviction with others to help them attain the same. I have seen the gospel positively change the lives of individuals and families. I have seen the hands of God guiding me and them in their decisions in their entirety. I have felt the joy that many of the prophets felt when the House of Israel was living righteously. Although I am the only member of the church in my family, I have seen the Lord abundandtly bless my family. I have witnessed them undergo a change of heart. I have seen them seek to understand me and the church more. I have seen them scrutinize the scriptures. Most of all, from what I can see, I have seen their desires to better their quality of life augment. Some may see this as a normal occurance in human life, but I see it as answered prayers. I see it as Heavenly Father listening to my prayers and giving my family the opportunity to make them a reality. I have total confidence in my family because they are doing exactly that. I know that Heavenly Father has many more blessings in store for my family and anyone that I ask Him to bless, but that all depends on me.
- In the last year and a half, I have seen myself change. I am nowwhere close to the same man that I was when I arrived in Chile. Many people say that serving a mission turns a boy into a man. I concur with this statement. Although I thought that I was already a man before my mission, I have learned not only how to be a better man, but how to be the man that Heavenly Father wants and needs me to be. I have learned how to set personal goals and to work towards them. A few of these are as follows: 1)To be more trusting in others. 2)To love unconditionally no matter how somebody treats me. 3)To be patient not only with others, but with myself. 4) To have more integrity. 5)To be more sensitive to the enticings of the Holy Ghost. 6) The most important, to turn to Heavenly Father in all that I do...in my successes and in my failures. To trust in His promise that he will "make my weaknesses strengths."
As you can see, this is something that I have thought about a great deal. I pray that this message would ease the burdens of someone else out there, whether they be a member of the church, missionary, or any other person that needs it. I pray that Heavenly Father would open your hearts to make His greatness known unto you. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. They are ressurected beings that love us. They desire the best for us. They want to guide us so that we make good decisions that one day allow us to return to their presence. Serving a full time mission is the best decision that I have ever made. It is something that every young man and woman should do. I challenge any young man or woman reading this to take the step to accept the calling of the Lord to serve a full time mission. It will be the greatest blessing of your entire life. As my beloved sister Rachel told me just before I left, "You´ll find that the blessings aren´t just yours to behold."
Of these things I testify in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Con Amor,
Elder Jackson
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