You might notice that my posts from my mission aren't here anymore. I felt like to preserve privacy of others, and to protect what is precious to my heart, I pulled those posts. So I hope you enjoyed them!
But no worries. I am still going to talk about my mission. :) Being home has been kind of strange, because it was all such a whirlwind, coming home, Christmas, family, school two weeks later, and craziness, and I don't feel I've been able to properly reflect or digest what I've learned.
So in order to help me to continue to reflect, to share, and to express gratitude, I'll be commentating on my experience for the next while. Probably forever.
I think the greatest, strongest, most recurring emotion I felt on my mission was gratitude. I mean, don't get me wrong... you feel a lot of things on a mission. Like every emotion possible, and usually all at once or within a 24-hour period. It puts Six Flags to shame. But yes, gratitude, for so many things...
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
The Christus statue
temples
service
forgiveness
diligence
technology
bikes
sunscreen
100 degree days in October
cars
senior missionaries
Visitors' Centers of the world
selfless members
organization
humility
companions
friends
hymns
talents of others
The Easter Pageant!
Christmas Lights
the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
colors
my senses
mission meetings
the General Authorities
Christlike love
heartache
stake presidents
frybread
the rain
the Spirit
the feeling of satisfaction when you've done all you can
cactus
sunrises and sunsets
scorpions
and it goes without saying, the incredible people I met, served, taught, and am privileged to now know.
But there's a few people that were remarkably key in my mission experience, and what they've done for me is irreplaceable for the rest of eternity. I know that seems a bit extravagant, you might say, but it's the truth, and I know it of myself, so you think whatever you want.
First: My parents.
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| June 1, 2011, Provo, UT |
Second: my Mission President and his wonderful wife.
President and Sister Ellsworth had been serving for a year when I got to the mission, and I remember meeting them at the airport. I remember thinking, "These are my parents for the next year and a half."
What a challenge to spiritually, emotionally, and temporally parent 180-200 young adults at any given time for 3 years! I can't fathom how much stress they've felt, sorrow they've experienced, and rejoicing they've done. What an immense task, and from a worldly perspective, it would be okay to not care about the individuals for sake of efficiency. But the Ellsworths could not be more opposite!
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| December 17, 2012, Mesa, AZ |
Again, I can't put into words the lessons that I have learned from under their tutelage, and most of them I don't need to share with all of you, but I can tell you this. I have learned what true humility looks, acts, and thinks like, I have seen faith exercised to facilitate miracles, and I have felt Christlike love in the most singular and individual way that I've experienced. And I know how I want to be.
I think part of the Plan is that we don't ever know the full extent of our impact on others. We simply continue to serve and do our best to bless the lives of the people around us, and one day, we will know, and what a day of gratitude and humility that will be. I hope they get to see the extent of their influence someday. I know from personal experience, they've left a permanent impression on me.
And in reality, these two really lead to the gratitude I have for God. He is our literal Father in Heaven, and if there are parents like these that are mortal and imperfect, what an overwhelming realization to think of the kindness, mercy, love, devotion, and kinship that God has for His children. He is real, with feelings, thoughts, and desires, and desires only to bring us the greatest happiness. He weeps when I weep, and rejoices when I rejoice. More than once did I feel a sorrow that was not mine for the choice of His children, or a joy that was more powerful than my own heart could produce for the enlightenment of another.
God is real, and I am so incredibly grateful for Him.
Word of the Day: linchpin \ LINCH-pin \ , noun: 1. something that holds the various elements of of a complicated structure together.
