Gunna switch it up: Here's some fun things I learned this week:
Walls...There's
all kinds of them. Big ones, small ones, made of brick, made of
clouds, or metal, or thoughts... And usually walls are associated with
problems. Christ has us written upon his palms and our 'walls' are
continually before Him. This statement has been stuck in my mind for
quite sometime and I reflect on it then and again... And it's just
amazing to me that we are so well known to the Savior of Mankind.
Sometimes I hit walls. Don't go thinking that I don't! This missionary
work in Poland is not easy. Sometimes I wonder... and have to stop
myself... this wondering stuff, it's no good. I've got to have faith
and not wonder... 'what if's are icky... Basically, Christ knows me.
He knows how to succor me. I've just got to let Him in and remember it
wasn't easy for him either.
Instruments in His Hands
Brat
Onken in church yesterday painted me a really awesome picture of how we
are Instruments in the Lord's hands. He got up to bear his testimony
in Sacrament Meeting and talked about how we should really just be
instruments and life wouldn't seem so hard. If we just turn our lives
over to God and stop fighting against His will and if we just were
teachable and not stuck up... Brat Onken graduated in music at BYU and
he plays the piano like a pro. So his idea was about the Piano and how
pianos don't boast in themselves, they have no pride when you play their
keys, instead they are just showing off what the player knows how to
do. Really all we have and are we owe to God and we should have less
pride. Something I need to definitely work on! Having a 'Not
My Will but Thine' attitude is really what this life is all about.
Sometimes I get all worried that Poland isn't progressing, that we're
seeing nothing... ok not nothing but very, very little, that maybe I'm
doing something wrong. But then I think about how hard we work and I
think that perhaps if God wanted the work to move forward it would...
maybe it's just not his time yet. So why am I so impatient!?
Called to be You
This
one has been especially on my mind lately. And Because of that, when
President Edgren talked about it in our Missionary Leadership Council
Meeting, I knew that the 'mantle has been passed' as they sometimes say,
or that he for sure is in tune with the Spirit. I know I wasn't called
to be someone else. But sometimes I feel as though I ought to be.
Sometimes I feel like I should be just as good as one of my previous
companions, or be baptizing as many people as Gregg is, or have as much
faith as Sister Hemming, or be as funny and spiritual as Sister Young...
but then I must remember we're all a part of this big puzzle, and we're
all different for a reason. So what ere thou art act well thy part!
And I'm trying, promise I'm really trying!
Heavenly Father Approved
I
read a talk this morning from this last April General Conference, by
Elder Kopischka and it was about how we should be seeking the lord's
acceptance and approval and not anyone elses. This is also hard for
me. I know that people expect you to help people get baptized here in
Poland, I'm trying, promise I'm really trying... But what does GOD want
me to do? Doesn't he want me to help people get baptized too? And so
I'm praying hard to figure this one out. I know that I'm working hard,
but I definitely could use His approval. So this week I will be praying
to feel it, to feel that my strength and my energy is enough.
Do not avoid things that are hard
Yeah, okay so that's pretty self explanitory... What doesn't kill you makes you stronger... it just hurts.
The Youth are Ready and Rising
Sounds
like there's some crazy things happening with this influx of
missionaries. I'm so excited for the world to just get blown away by
these missionaries. The rising generation is so much better than me.
These new missionaries are blowing ME away. I am comparing myself, and
need to stop, but seriously - - their polish is better, they are
figuring things out faster than I ever did... and the bar is ever
rising... I feel as though I'm getting a bit left behind or old or...
ugh! No! I don't want to slow down, I don't want to. I
don't want to be the one just training the ones with energy, I want to
give my energy too...Sometimes I just wonder where is it? ENERGY the pace is quickening!
Live Like you Mean it: Plan with Revelation: The Natural Man Wastes Time
President
Edgren really emphasized planning. I love planning. It's hard
sometimes because we mostly do our planning at night or on fridays when
it takes forEVER, but in the end, if you plan well, you get results.
Please be planning your days and weeks! And plan for the WHO! When you
think 'oh I'm going to bear lake, I'm going to luke's baseball game,
and james' football game and...and...and' instead of thinking of just
the places you are going, think of WHO you will see there. What do they
need? What are their problems? What can you study in personal
scripture study TODAY that will HELP that person? Plan ahead and the
Lord will richly bless you, it's a promise.
"Inspired plans: Make no small plans, small plans have no power to ignite the hearts of man"
Arms WideR Open
Not just arms wide open, but WIDER. President Edgren also talked about this. We've just got to love, and love, and MORE LOVE!
Also, to say 'have fun' in polish you can say
this, 'bawcie się dobrze' and I've been saying that every once and a
while and apparently both of my companions thought I'd been saying
'Babcia dobrze' which means 'grandma well' um... HAHA! They thought I'd
been wishing everyone a good grandma... so that's fun...
Also,
when I was in Warsaw I got some updates on some of my investegators
there. The one is 16 years old and her mom won't give her permission to
get baptized but she's got a TESTIMONY of the BOOK OF MORMON! That's
great news! I just pray and hope she can hold on until she's 18, when
she can make her own decision. Another sister is having a hard time
gaining a testimony of living prophets and didn't pass her interview, so
pray for her. Ciesława is still sick and I guess isn't close to
baptism either... arg...but we keep a chuggin'! :)
More one sentence awesomeness:
Get up in the morning and say 'i fear no man.'
They don't know what they don't have time for, we do - Be agressive
No plateauing and no excuses
Attitude is EVERYTHING
Yeah,
one more thing, President said that this country is really amazing.
That it's history is tragic, heroic, and amazing. That God loves these
people. I got a bit teary eyed as he spoke when I again realized how
much I love Poland. I love this country. Sometimes I forget how much I
love it, but then there's the times I remember and those are really
sweet. President says he can see the day coming when the membership in
Poland will reach 'Critical Mass, and
quantum leaps' - it 'may not be on our watch' but I think it'll get
there, he said. So I'm just hoping for that. I pray really hard, and
try not to doubt! It's all going to be okay!
Yes,
so I love you all, and I can't believe nathan is leaving us and there
will be an even smaller band of the Ben 10 left in Provo. Well, all the
more blessings, I guess! I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints is TRUE! God lives and loves us! Keep up the good
work and thanks for all the prayers!
Love,
Siostra Amber Allen
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