HOLLA cuz 3 Months down in the mission!! 15 More to go (not counting down or anything) haha just kidding I love my mission. It's hard, but it is so so so so good and so so so worth it. I love missionary work. Also thank you everyone for the Christmas cards! I got a ton this past week and wow I felt so much love even though its in the end of January I still felt the Christmas spirit and love and it was so good, SO THANK YOU!! This week has been a hard/crazy/messed up week, but you live and learn from every experience right...? haha well I have really had a great time experiencing this week..
A lot of this week I have studied about Adversity. Because the mission is so hard and sometimes I just wonder why things have to be so much harder than they really need to be... but I was reading True to the Faith and it said, "As part of Heavenly Father's plan of redemption, you experience adversity during mortality. Trials, disappointments, sadness, sickness, and heartache are a difficult part of life, but they can lead to spiritual growth, refinement, and progress as you turn to the Lord." Ahhhhh I love that. We teach people so much about the Plan of Salvation and why we have life here on Earth, to experience trials, joy, pain, sadness, happiness, every emotion. But I never really applied it to myself. We learn so much from the trials and challenges we have. This week was especially was hard because my companion Sister Tiongco has had a really hard time with being stressed out of her mind and It is affecting her physically. Her back aches everyday to the point where sometimes she can't even walk (definitely a trial).. so this week we actually stayed inside a lot for her to just rest and feel like she can regain herself to get back to work.
It is really really really hard for me to sit in the house. This week especially I found myself getting a lot of anxiety. It's hard sitting inside a house instead of going out to work. I came here to be a missionary and help others and yet we just sat inside of a house all day everyday and it was really hard. I definitely feel like if I am learning one thing, it is patience. I'm learning patience in every form possible. It is so good for me though because I know that once I get home I will be a very patient person and you guys will like me even more than you already do ;) haha
Another trial we have had this week is our area is so messed. I ended up going on exchanges for some of the days because I wanted to work so the STL's came to help with our area and lets just say Sister Vaka and I experienced weird things... I can't even explain what happened and what we felt, but it was weird... (that'll be a story for in 15 months) but anyway having all this adversity come our way this week was just hard, but I know that in the long run it will be a blessing. I really really love Mosiah 24:13-14. I'm not gonna quote it cuz it's kind of long, but it's really good so look it up.
I know we have trials for a reason. I know we go through things we wouldn't necessarily choose to go through whether it is Missionary Work, School, Work, or just life in general. I know that if we look unto the Lord always and do what he would have us do in times of need he will "lift us up." All we need to do is trust in him with our whole hearts and our whole souls. In True to the Faith it talks about have Faith in your trials, Finding the Joy and Peace in trials, and Trusting in God and His son Jesus Christ during your trials and afflictions. I've really strived to understand what it means to "Trust in God" I've come up that trusting in God simply means giving him everything and knowing everything that happens to you, everything that comes your way is for a reason. He knows you better than you know yourself and He knows what you need at every time in your life. I love love love that I have someone to turn to at all times. It used to be my Mom, every time something would go wrong or bad in my life I would call my Mom and talk to her. Now, that isn't an option, I can't just call my Mom and express all my feelings to her. Instead I have to turn to the Lord. That is why I love praying. Missionaries pray SO MUCH. haha I love it though, especially my night prayers. I just get to unwind and tell the Lord everything that happened that day and He comforts me.
I love this gospel and I know the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true church established on Earth today. I love knowing the truth and I love teaching the truth everyday. This Mission is stretching me and tossing and turning me in ways I never thought I could, but it is so good. Being on a Mission is the best thing in the world. I love you guys so much. I'm so grateful to have you all in my life. Thank you for being the best example to me.
Love you all so much,
Sister Barton
I had a companion who is anemic and she got very weak and tired all the time she had to take naps and rest everyday. I served with her for FIVE long months and it was so hard to hang around in the apartment. I tried to make the most of my time by studying while she slept, but it was still super hard. Who knew so many of the things we experience on a mission have nothing to do with the missionary work. Haha!
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