when reading a parable this morning I couldnt hel but apply it to my
mission, hola that is what i have been called to do, learn apply it and
rock it. anways the parable of the house holder goes a little like
this. the house keeper goes out to hire workers. he brings the first
group in at six in the morning, throughout the day he continually brings
in more until the last group works for an hour and they all finish at five oclock.
when they all gather for their days work and to receive their pay,
surprisingly they all received the same. inmediateyl those hired first
were angry ¨these last have wrought but one hour and thou hast made them
equal to us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.¨ 
when
applying this to mjissionaries, I think its very common that we find
ourselves in a similar situation, for example we aere missionaries for
twenty four hours but of that time how much of us are really giving a
hard, dedicated, obedient work. there has been days after giving it
all, I wonder why I havent received the satisfaction or blessing of
other days where I have worked less or recieved more. Or looded at
other companions who dont seem as focuesed as me but are having way more
success. or maybe compare myeslef with other missionaries, those who
are young in the imission and ahve become leaders. I while back I
thought ot myself of a bit of a faitler. I didnt understand why I had
never become an hermana leader or why I had never trained. Whad did I
lack? I compared my wage to my sisters mission where she did both from
and early stage, so I found myself feeling a bit low. however what I
have learned from this parable and my personal experience is taht the
housekeeper or God doesnt treat us unfairly. the promise is that if we
go out and preach his word he wil be with us ad give us succes, he
doesnt give us a detailed contract with what type of success it will
be. I received the biggest blessing or wage by spending almost 11
months of the 15 I had here in argentina in campo in the same zone.
When we recently had a zone conference with the members of the district,
it was the biggest family lreunion for me and I knew almost every
single person there. I have learned taht comparing missiony and success
is imposible as your cant measuere someones conversion or blessings.
SO many are soaked up in who we are and I believe one hundred prect that
the lord has given us all the same in one way or anoterh. I love
getting together as a mision because we cant help but become big old
chatter boxes. I givvle endlessly a we share common related storeis and
memories. When we left to serve missions we all agreed on the same
wage and circumstances. we were very happy to put in the work, and we
have been paid in full. now the key for me is to take my pay and enjoy
the blessings.
In this life we are not in a
race against eachother to see who comes out wealthiest or most talented
or the preettiest or in this case the most blessed. As elder holland
states ¨we are really in a race against sin, and surely envy is one of
the most universal of those.¨ we need to be happy with what we have been
given and rejoice with that of what others have recieved. My biggetest
joy here has been to see the acceptance of teh gospel in the lifes of
others, to see them make the click and realize the love of the saviro
that exists for them. and I believe it to be a giant joy because it s
unselfish, because I am not looking for personal regonition, and because
it forcues me to be humble because I know I cannot do it alone. I am
greateful that God is kind, that when I am serving with all types of
peoploe that they too have the privelege of experiencing the atonement,
that it is not limited to the way I have behaved over the week. that
the debt has already been paid for us, and that our constant effort is
not trying to overcome the impossible so we can gain happiness. ¨we
have not traveled beyond the reach of devine love. It is not possible
to sinik lower than the infinite light of where christs atonement
shines.¨ I love that the worst of sinners can too recieve the greatest
of blessings. ¨Surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the
thrill of being merciful, especially to those who dont expect it or
often dont deserve it.¨
I have recieved more
blessing that I ever expected or desrved. I have been blessed by the
gospel for many years because I was fortuante enough to have it early on
and I wont be jealous of those receiving the same wayge who are new
members or soon to become one. Gods love is available and his grace is
sifficient. His concern is for the faith in each indiviiaul to show up
and to do the work, doesnt matter the hour of the day of the arrival
because the payment is the same. I wouldnt change one day of my 18
months if I had the opportunity. I have learned huge lessons from my
misatakes and my memories are cherished. I am not feeled with regret
but overflowing gratitude. I am not the best missionary, but I ahve
given my best. and my adventures and experiences are sacred. there is
no problem I cannot overcome with the gospel by my side. No dream that
with time and thankfully eternity cannot be realized and reality. I have
made convenants and I am determined to keep them. The living apostle
elder christofferson promised us, sthe buenos aires oeste mission, that
we will be able to feel and know that the Lord has accepted us for woh
we are and that he recieves and aproves our worthy offer.
I am who I am today because the way I lived yesterday, the way I live today will determine who I become tomorrow. (I dont know if thats somes quote... I just wrote it. if its not I have copy write.hhaha)
The
weeks are flying by as you all know, and I have way to much to write
down. The biggest things this week was the homecoming of noelia from
her mission in misouri, usa. can you believe it. She came back and we
had a huge celebration for her. She is a sweet heart and speaks
PERFECTLY. I love being around her but it freaks me out a little bit.
the switch to real life is just like that, one day she was wearing a
skirt the next no. crazy. the second hilghlight of my week was singing
the to abuelos in the ¨¨rest home¨ I have wanted to do it forever, and
to cross it off my bucketlist we went caroling for them. It was way to
fun to sit down and chat with them and brighten their days. and out of
all the people that sing to them, the mormonas are the only ones that
sat down and chatted and gave out Jesus Cards. I LOVE MY MISSION.
the
rest of the details I will soon be telling you in person. you will just
have to anxiously wait... mwahahahahaa Love you all and see you soon.
YIKES!
Hermana Alley
p.s. who likes my shoes? haha
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| "p.s. who likes my shoes? haha" |
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