Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
A Missionary's Shoes...
A Missionary’s Shoes
I had a great experience the other day. In the transfer meeting I was
listening to the testimony of one of the new Elders. I looked at his shoes
and then I looked at mine. Tears came to my eyes. His shoes were brand new and shiny, just like the Elder with his enthusiasm—all ready to go to work. Mine were old and beat up but with a world of experience—just like the Elder wearing them.
I started thinking of my shoes. They’ve passed through two sewing jobs,
four sole replacements, and an infinite amount of paint jobs. They’ve
passed through the halls of the MTC, pounded the paved streets of Mexico
City, and kicked up dust in the small villages of Teotihuacan. They’ve
carried Books of Mormon, pamphlets, and sacks of vegetables and corn. They’ve tracked through sun, rain, mud, and smog. They’ve witnessed the visit of an Apostle, the change of mission presidents and, most important, the conversion and baptism of many humble Lamanites.
They love to play basketball with the youth, soccer with the street kids,
walk to discussions, and rest under the bed at night. They’ve been in the
jaws of a dog and within the walls of the Temple. They see miracles
constantly and go through heaven and hell daily. They have passed through many unexpected things and countless beautiful experiences—the most beautiful this world can provide. But most important is that through all this walking, sweating, crying, and laughing, they have followed a path that has led them to eternal happiness.
They have followed the same path two beat-up sandals followed in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. They have followed the path of “The Master.” They have taken up their cross for the love of the Mexican people just as those two sandals took up their cross for the love of all mankind. And, just as those sandals did, these two shoes have found that as they have lost their life in the service of others they have truly found themselves. They have found an eternal joy bigger than this world can provide. They have found that it’s not what’s on the outside that counts but what’s inside the soul.
These shoes aren’t just for two years, but are ready to walk to the ends of the earth and through all eternities to follow that path and help others to find it. I love these shoes and I love my Savior. I know He lives. I love
this work.
I remember a story Brigham Young told. He was visiting a young lady on her death bed. She had given up all her hopes for the future and her schooling at a very young age to go to work to support herself and her brother when her mother died and left them orphans. She had spent her short life working with her hands to feed her brother. She asked President Young how the Lord would know that she is His. President Young said, “Show Him your hands.”
When I return to my Maker, I’m going to show him my shoes.
Author Unknown
I had a great experience the other day. In the transfer meeting I was
listening to the testimony of one of the new Elders. I looked at his shoes
and then I looked at mine. Tears came to my eyes. His shoes were brand new and shiny, just like the Elder with his enthusiasm—all ready to go to work. Mine were old and beat up but with a world of experience—just like the Elder wearing them.
I started thinking of my shoes. They’ve passed through two sewing jobs,
four sole replacements, and an infinite amount of paint jobs. They’ve
passed through the halls of the MTC, pounded the paved streets of Mexico
City, and kicked up dust in the small villages of Teotihuacan. They’ve
carried Books of Mormon, pamphlets, and sacks of vegetables and corn. They’ve tracked through sun, rain, mud, and smog. They’ve witnessed the visit of an Apostle, the change of mission presidents and, most important, the conversion and baptism of many humble Lamanites.
They love to play basketball with the youth, soccer with the street kids,
walk to discussions, and rest under the bed at night. They’ve been in the
jaws of a dog and within the walls of the Temple. They see miracles
constantly and go through heaven and hell daily. They have passed through many unexpected things and countless beautiful experiences—the most beautiful this world can provide. But most important is that through all this walking, sweating, crying, and laughing, they have followed a path that has led them to eternal happiness.
They have followed the same path two beat-up sandals followed in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. They have followed the path of “The Master.” They have taken up their cross for the love of the Mexican people just as those two sandals took up their cross for the love of all mankind. And, just as those sandals did, these two shoes have found that as they have lost their life in the service of others they have truly found themselves. They have found an eternal joy bigger than this world can provide. They have found that it’s not what’s on the outside that counts but what’s inside the soul.
These shoes aren’t just for two years, but are ready to walk to the ends of the earth and through all eternities to follow that path and help others to find it. I love these shoes and I love my Savior. I know He lives. I love
this work.
I remember a story Brigham Young told. He was visiting a young lady on her death bed. She had given up all her hopes for the future and her schooling at a very young age to go to work to support herself and her brother when her mother died and left them orphans. She had spent her short life working with her hands to feed her brother. She asked President Young how the Lord would know that she is His. President Young said, “Show Him your hands.”
When I return to my Maker, I’m going to show him my shoes.
Author Unknown
Monday, October 19, 2009
Words of Wisdom
This is a wallpost from the W4AM FB Group, and these words were not written by me, but by an MG named Emily. All waiter-haters should read it!!!
I don't think they are really concerned with the relationship working out or not I think people are more concerned about the ability of a missionary to focus on the Lord's work. People are negative about it because there ARE those girls who selfishly do things to distract their missionaries. And there ARE girls who find Mr. Right while Mr. Missionary is away (and I'm not saying that's a bad thing) but there ARE missionaries who choose to let those dear john letters make them lose focus on the Lord's work. And also, despite their girlfriends effort to make sure they are only being supportive and not distractive, there ARE missionaries who find it hard to keep their focus on the work when they have a girlfriend that they miss so much back home. Waiting isn't for everyone, but that doesn't mean that it isn't for anyone. There's no way for people to know you and your missionaries relationship, so there's no way for them to know that you don't fall into one of the above categories...and despite the fact that having a supportive girlfriend waiting back home can make a HUGE difference in how motivated and hardworking a missionary is... people tend to dwell on the negative... because it's easier to see. It's a lot easier to look at the negative side of things... it takes work to see the positive. And if people don't know you two well enough to care enough to use the energy to look at the positive... well... they don't. And they'll give you crap for it.
If you know what you're doing is the right choice for you and your missionary, it won't matter what everyone else thinks. Not that it's fun to be judged wrongfully... but nobody is perfect. So when people give you crap... just smile and nod, and say you understand their concern, but this is between you your missionary and the Lord. and leave it at that. And then try and best as you can to brush off what they say... because it will inevitably still bother you. Haha.
I seriously could not have said it better myself.
I don't think they are really concerned with the relationship working out or not I think people are more concerned about the ability of a missionary to focus on the Lord's work. People are negative about it because there ARE those girls who selfishly do things to distract their missionaries. And there ARE girls who find Mr. Right while Mr. Missionary is away (and I'm not saying that's a bad thing) but there ARE missionaries who choose to let those dear john letters make them lose focus on the Lord's work. And also, despite their girlfriends effort to make sure they are only being supportive and not distractive, there ARE missionaries who find it hard to keep their focus on the work when they have a girlfriend that they miss so much back home. Waiting isn't for everyone, but that doesn't mean that it isn't for anyone. There's no way for people to know you and your missionaries relationship, so there's no way for them to know that you don't fall into one of the above categories...and despite the fact that having a supportive girlfriend waiting back home can make a HUGE difference in how motivated and hardworking a missionary is... people tend to dwell on the negative... because it's easier to see. It's a lot easier to look at the negative side of things... it takes work to see the positive. And if people don't know you two well enough to care enough to use the energy to look at the positive... well... they don't. And they'll give you crap for it.
If you know what you're doing is the right choice for you and your missionary, it won't matter what everyone else thinks. Not that it's fun to be judged wrongfully... but nobody is perfect. So when people give you crap... just smile and nod, and say you understand their concern, but this is between you your missionary and the Lord. and leave it at that. And then try and best as you can to brush off what they say... because it will inevitably still bother you. Haha.
I seriously could not have said it better myself.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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