Reach the top!

Waterton National Park in the day!

So today I was thinking about how sometimes life just isn't what we expect it to be. At the start of my mission I was so overwhelmed, confused and unsure of what to do and how to be a powerful missionary. I got this amazing letter from a friend of mine that had this great encouraging analogy!

When I first came to Tennessee I didn't think I was making a difference and my experience wasn't living up to the picture I'd had in my mind.  I just wanted to throw in the towel and return to the wonderful easy fun filled life I had left behind, but little did I know the joy I could feel out here in good old Tennessee! 

So on one of those particularly hard days I got this epic letter from my friend and he reminded me of this great night in Waterton National Park in Alberta (that's in the beautiful country north of this one...CANADA!).  We had set out to climb a mountain called 'Bear's Hump' in the dark!  I remember starting off the adventure with a big group of us all together ascending the mountain by the light of the moon.  It started off fun and exciting and then it got hard.  It was a steep incline and even though I thought I was in shape I soon found myself at the back of the group struggling to catch my breath.

That's how it was at the start of my mission, I had a strong testimony of the things that I was going to teach to people but then all of a sudden when I had to actually do it, I felt like a fish out of water. I didn't know what I was doing and didn't think I would ever figure it out. 

Happy Hikers!!

But just as I did when I climbed 'Bear's hump' I continued on.  I had this great friend who stayed with me all of the way up!  He waited with me when I needed to take a break and he offered just the right amount of encouraging words as we climbed together. 

As I found myself struggling on my mission one day I got this great letter from this same friend, in it he said
"It won't be easy, but it is more than worth it.  Remember when we were in Waterton climbing Bears Hump?  It was hard and there were times when you wanted to turn back but when you reached the top and saw the moon reflected on the lake and felt the wind on your face, I know that made it all worthwhile!"

He was so right! In that moment I was struggling but I just needed to keep on going and now as I'm getting close to the end of my mission I can look back and see all these amazing moments where I grew stronger in my testimony of Jesus Christ and his restored gospel.  There have been some hard times on my mission but they are outnumbered by the amazing moments where I was able to be an instrument in the hands of God to help others grow in their faith.  Nothing beats that feeling of knowing that you were in the right place at the right time and God was able to use you move his work forward. I have reached the top of many mountains on my mission and seen the beautiful view and felt the peace and love of my Father in Heaven!

As we came to the top of the mountain and I saw the beautiful view with the mountains surrounding the  lights of the town below I felt so much peace and accomplishment! I remember going off by myself and sitting there marveling in the beauty and the peace. Just remember that the trial will one day be over and you will find the peace and the comfort and you will know that God loves you.  Be patient!


Ill end with another quote from the letter..."Not everyday is going to be super fun or full of joy, but a lot of them will be! And the blessings you get are beyond compare! Just remember that I am rooting for you and praying for you, so when you get discourages, put that finger in the air and say "Shove it Satan!" I know you can do it!"

The view from the top of Bear's Hump, the picture doesn't do it justice!

The Atonement Covers Sins as well as AFFLICTIONS

A mission is an amazing thing! As missionaries we have 2 hours set aside to study from the scriptures daily and that has helped my testimony of the Savior grow more than I ever expected.  As missionaries we get to testify of the Savior and his atoning sacrifice and every time that I have the chance to testify my testimony grows.  The other day I was reading in The Book of Mormon and I came across this scripture. 

"But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your AFFLICTIONS, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction." Jacob 1:3

I LOVE this scripture.  We often think about how Jesus Christ suffered in the Garden of Gethsemane for our sins but I think that we forget that he also suffered our AFFLICTIONS as well.  Afflictions are trials, pains and suffering that we feel and expereince in our lives. Jesus Christ suffered for ALL of the sorrows and the pains that we feel.  He knows our loneliness our desperation our sorrow our pain and we can find comfort in turning to him and knowing that he has felt how we are feeling. He is the only one who truly understands how we feel and he is the only one who can bring true and lasting comfort to our lives.  

I myself have had moments where I've felt sorrow and loneliness and desperation and as I have prayed for comfort I have felt the love of our Father in Heaven and of his Son Jesus Christ.  I know that God loves me and knows me personally and have felt him comfort me when I need it.  I have felt the love of my Saviour and know that he knows the pains and the afflictions that I go through.  He has comforted me and He will comfort you if you turn to him for support.  So keep on keepin' on my friends and have faith.  Turn to your Heavenly Father in prayer and seek that comfort.  Use that gift of the Atonement that our elder brother Jesus Christ so freely offers us.  Pray, have faith and lose yourself in the service of others!  I'll end on that thought and with one more amazing scripture!

 "11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and AFFLICTIONS and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ^ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

 12 And he will take upon him ^adeath, that he may ^bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

 13 Now the Spirit ^aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the ^bflesh that he might ^ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." - Alma 7:11-13