These
past 8 months (can you believe it's already been 8 months?!) have been
full of the very best of times and some very trying times. I have
cried, I have laughed, and I have been carried by my Savior through it
all. I am SO thankful to my Heavenly Father for sending me here to the
Ohio Cincinnati Mission before heading south. My testimony has been
tried and tested, but strengthened. I have learned how to be more
patient, more loving, and more Christlike. I have had to learn how to
lead, and learn how to follow the will of Heavenly Father. More than
anything though, I've come to know that the Lord's timing is PERFECT. I
haven't always been able to see how or why I've been "waiting", but I
KNOW that it has been, and will be, for my good! It feels so surreal
that my "American Mission" is barreling to a finish.
Thanks for the countless letters, packages, and prayers that have been coming my way! THAT will be sad to see those stop... haha (I heard it's $50+ to send packages, so... don't worry about sending any!)
This week I've really been able to reflect on my own
life, and on our purpose as missionaries and as children of God here on
Earth. I have been so let down by the vices our investigators face and
succumb to, but I'm filled with hope and happiness knowing that EACH OF
US here on Earth at one time decided to follow Christ. EVERYONE here
exercised their agency to follow His plan, whether they know that or
not. I can have the faith to know that as long as we do our part to
share, uplift, encourage, and love our brothers and sisters, we can
(with confidence) hand it to the Lord and trust in His saving grace.
"Are we not all beggars..?" Do we not ALL sin? Do we not ALL fall
short of the glory of God? We can rejoice to know that we know the end
from the beginning; that goodness and righteousness ALWAYS triumphs
over wickedness and evil. There is HOPE for us all, through our Master
and Redeemer Jesus Christ. I love that. I love Him. I am so grateful
that because He came, we can ALL return to live with our Father in
Heaven; sealed together as eternal families. I can't think of anything
better, than to be with the ones I love and my God forever! This Gospel
is so wonderful!
Things are going pretty swell, here in Angola! We started teaching a sweet 10 year girl named I___
who for some reason hasn't been baptized. She has fetal alcohol
syndrome, but is VERY high functioning and very bright. She is so
sweet! We're still working closely with D____ (the 16 year old boy) and
K____, and things are moving right along! :)
I will miss this branch so much! The people here
are so genuine and loving. They feed us, they pray for us, they LOVE
us, and I will miss them so much! It hit me as I was singing a musical
number yesterday in sacrament that I might not ever see these wonderful
people again. Then I remembered, "HELLOOOOOO! They're your brothers and sisters, too!" Hahaha thank goodness for Heavenly Father's plan!
I love this Gospel so much. There is hope for all
through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. His grace truly is sufficient
for us. I love you all, and will repent and send PICTURES next week.
:)
VIVA BRASIL!
Com MUITO amor,
Elder Jason Allred
No comments:
Post a Comment