I think it's kind of weird trying to get spiritual in general emails, but idk, I'm just in one of those moods, ya know?
So, my Mom in my last package, sent me the CD of Rob Gardner´s "Lamb Of God," and wow is it incredible. I love listening to it when I'm studying, or having to do things on the computer. The title of this email is "I cannot watch them/Is this not enough?,¨ which are 2 of my favorite songs, and the cause of deep reflection this last week.
I have come to love the mission for so many reasons, but above them all would be the very personal and complex way that I have come to a personal knowledge of my Savior, Jesus Christ. If you were to ask me, which parts of the mission help you do that? I don't think I could give you an answer. It's a long, slow, and glorious process of developing these feelings for someone who has given so much to me. Through this process, I have learned the true definition of love, I have learned how to pray, how to sacrifice, how to focus on others. I have learned how incredibly weak and incapable I am...without Him. With Him, I have seen the miracles that happen.
Hearing these two songs, which are from the point of view of Peter, the chief apostle, and show the hurt that he must have passed through to know the things he knew, and even with all that knowledge couldn't do anything to stop a mob from making a mocking, bleeding display of his own Master. The pinnacle of the hurt being his own denial of the Master to protect himself from the scourging that Jesus Christ received for Peter and for every other child of a loving and merciful Father in Heaven. It makes me hungry to read the words of these men who really KNEW Him so well. Men of ancient or modern times, with a prayer and trust in the last words of Moroni in chapter 12 of Ether and the words of Mormon in chapter 7 of Moroni. One day, if we want to, if we work for it, we will see Him as He is, for we really shall be like Him.
There are so many emotions that pass through that beautiful music and often make me think of my own life and example and way that I declare to all that yes, I know, and I believe that this is HE. The very son of the Most High. The Lamb of God.
I am so grateful to live and be raised in a gospel that helps me and urges me to not just speak of a testimony of Christ, but to live as a testimony.
Time is going by fast, faster than I would like, I think at this point. I feel like what I might have just written is a jumbled mess, but just some of my thoughts this last week.
In terms of my life, we finished up the zone conferences this last week, which was a hot mess of FUN! We have basically been making some real and big changes to the mission and the way that missionaries have been used to working. It was a little hard to get the change through some of the missionaries' minds, but a fun weekend, all in all. And I have actually heard from a lot of missionaries how excited and grateful they are for the changes. "Felicidades Elder, han hecho el cambio en la misión que el señor ha esperado." (according to Google translate it means: "Congratulations Elder, they have made the change in the mission that the Lord has waited for.") I think that was the best comment that I was able to hear this weekend. Elder C and I sure love what we do. It's hard, as president says, It's a full-time job, but it has a lot of benefits too.
We are in gear for just a TON of divisions this next week, so things will fly by and will be a lot of fun. IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE A MISSIONARY.
I'm excited for skype this next week! I can't believe it will be my last one and also marks the last 3 months in Paraguay! It will be so fun to see those faces that I miss and I look forward to it.
I love the letters and support that I'm getting from so many people. I know I still have a goooood amount of time left, but it's good to hear from so many old friends who are also excited for when I get back.
¨Don't buckle¨--Elder C
So, my Mom in my last package, sent me the CD of Rob Gardner´s "Lamb Of God," and wow is it incredible. I love listening to it when I'm studying, or having to do things on the computer. The title of this email is "I cannot watch them/Is this not enough?,¨ which are 2 of my favorite songs, and the cause of deep reflection this last week.
I have come to love the mission for so many reasons, but above them all would be the very personal and complex way that I have come to a personal knowledge of my Savior, Jesus Christ. If you were to ask me, which parts of the mission help you do that? I don't think I could give you an answer. It's a long, slow, and glorious process of developing these feelings for someone who has given so much to me. Through this process, I have learned the true definition of love, I have learned how to pray, how to sacrifice, how to focus on others. I have learned how incredibly weak and incapable I am...without Him. With Him, I have seen the miracles that happen.
Hearing these two songs, which are from the point of view of Peter, the chief apostle, and show the hurt that he must have passed through to know the things he knew, and even with all that knowledge couldn't do anything to stop a mob from making a mocking, bleeding display of his own Master. The pinnacle of the hurt being his own denial of the Master to protect himself from the scourging that Jesus Christ received for Peter and for every other child of a loving and merciful Father in Heaven. It makes me hungry to read the words of these men who really KNEW Him so well. Men of ancient or modern times, with a prayer and trust in the last words of Moroni in chapter 12 of Ether and the words of Mormon in chapter 7 of Moroni. One day, if we want to, if we work for it, we will see Him as He is, for we really shall be like Him.
There are so many emotions that pass through that beautiful music and often make me think of my own life and example and way that I declare to all that yes, I know, and I believe that this is HE. The very son of the Most High. The Lamb of God.
I am so grateful to live and be raised in a gospel that helps me and urges me to not just speak of a testimony of Christ, but to live as a testimony.
Time is going by fast, faster than I would like, I think at this point. I feel like what I might have just written is a jumbled mess, but just some of my thoughts this last week.
In terms of my life, we finished up the zone conferences this last week, which was a hot mess of FUN! We have basically been making some real and big changes to the mission and the way that missionaries have been used to working. It was a little hard to get the change through some of the missionaries' minds, but a fun weekend, all in all. And I have actually heard from a lot of missionaries how excited and grateful they are for the changes. "Felicidades Elder, han hecho el cambio en la misión que el señor ha esperado." (according to Google translate it means: "Congratulations Elder, they have made the change in the mission that the Lord has waited for.") I think that was the best comment that I was able to hear this weekend. Elder C and I sure love what we do. It's hard, as president says, It's a full-time job, but it has a lot of benefits too.
We are in gear for just a TON of divisions this next week, so things will fly by and will be a lot of fun. IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE A MISSIONARY.
I'm excited for skype this next week! I can't believe it will be my last one and also marks the last 3 months in Paraguay! It will be so fun to see those faces that I miss and I look forward to it.
I love the letters and support that I'm getting from so many people. I know I still have a goooood amount of time left, but it's good to hear from so many old friends who are also excited for when I get back.
¨Don't buckle¨--Elder C
Elder Yocum
If anyone is interested in listening to the songs he refers to in this letter, check it out. The entire album is amazing!! :)
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