I'm doing well and feeling great! I love the mission so much!
A quick thing I just wanna mention about the emailing, I'm going to have to cut my personal emails with some of you a bit shorter! I'm really sorry but I take up too much time when I write so much. I just love talking with all of you! But most of my updates will have to come from my group emails. But don't worry, you can still write as much as you want, I just won't be able to write as much.
This week was another great week! And the week before we had the baptism for Arnulfo, FINALLY! He was one of the two I had asked to be baptized during my first week but they kept missing church so they had to wait. But I got to baptize Arnulfo and I was supposed to baptize Elvia, the other who accepted. But she wants to wait a little longer so we might just have Arnulfo do it! But we also have a new baptism date coming up for Carolina who accepted this week!
I've learned a lot while being out here. So here are some things I've had the pleasure of learning about. First, I was able to read the president Thomas S. Monson memoriam (here) on the way back from the Temple one day. I really enjoyed it and it gave me a better understanding of his love he had for all of us and the people he served. It reminded me of a very dear person to me who I respect and admire very much, my mom's dad. My grandpa is a very caring and loving person. He is also a great leader and has had the opportunities to serve in many callings including Stake President (presiding/serving over a large area of church members) and Temple President. He now also serves as a Patriarch (Ordained Melchizedek Priesthood holder who gives special blessings to worthy members of the Church) and I had the blessing and privilege of receiving my Patriarchal blessing from him! As I was reading the Thomas S. Monson memoriam, a certain story came to my mind where my grandpa had exhibited his love and care for others. (My mom can correct this or better tell it if it's not as accurate haha). So, one Christmas season, my grandpa was driving somewhere, probably back home from work. On the way, he noticed a small family on the side of the road selling bundles of wood to make money for Christmas. Well, the weather wasn't all that great and it was raining a lot. And the wood was not that great of quality (green) and it was very damp. Because of that, the family was not able to sell any of it. With compassion and care in his heart, my grandpa pulled over and bought the family's entire pile of wood. They were of course very thankful and it warmed the parents' hearts during this cold and muggy season. (Mom's addition: when the family arrived to deliver the wood, they were invited inside to enjoy homemade hot cocoa from my Grandma). What I learned from this story and from reading the loving acts of President Monson, is simply how to love better and be able to show it as well. Thomas S. Monson has said, "What is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should just let them know." This is what brings my mission more meaning and more purpose. Everything out here has to do with those around me. It's the difficult things in life that make it worth it for me. Joy comes with in, and happiness is a consequence from it. Charity has always been and always will be the pure love of Christ. For Him, it was always about never shrinking from the opportunity to help someone. This is why Jesus Christ is our perfect example. When we turn outward, we open up ourselves to receiving more blessings, even though the blessings we receive aren't the reason we turn outward. Elder David A. Bednar describes it well when he spoke about the love and service of Christ in an MTC devotional at the Provo MTC. He talked about Christ's final acts in mortality. The way He turned outward. He also mentioned one of His first acts when Jesus had sent angels to minister to John the Baptist when he was in prison. This was AFTER Jesus had suffered from fasting forty days and forty nights and then being directly tempted by Satan. Instead of keeping the angels to minister to Him, Christ sent them to minister to John. Another example of Christ's love is when he was on the cross. When He said to the Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. While He was nailed to the cross in agony, in pain, in sorrow, He thought of the people who had done this to Him in a very tender way. He thought of those Jews that yelled for Him to be crucified, He thought of those Pharisees who mocked Him and spat upon Him and smote Him, He thought of the guards who whipped Him, who nailed Him to the cross, who cast lots for His garments in mockery of fulfilling the prophecy, He thought just how excruciating this will be for them when the day comes that they stand before Him and realize the pain they caused Him and how they will realize, they crucified our beloved Savior. And finally, He thought of His very dear sweet mother, Mary. He asked John to take care of her. I believe that as Jesus was carrying His cross to the hill in Calvary, He was not thinking, "Wow this is miserable." I would think that He thought of all of us, all of us who He suffered for. I think that if anything, He felt relief. Relief to finally have completed the Atonement. That we can finally access this every time we repent. So, it's very important to know that when you feel alone, when you feel forgotten, lost, weak, frustrated, helpless, insignificant, sad, upset, depressed, or pointless, remember that there is one who felt the pains, sicknesses, and afflictions of every person who has lived, is living, and will yet live upon the face of the whole earth. Even all of them combined. This was not just some agony that Jesus felt where it was a single pain that is greater than them all. This was agony filled with different pains and afflictions, agony that allowed Him to understand each and every one of us. Beyond than how we even understand ourselves. The Atonement is something we cannot comprehend because of how great the pain was. But we can at least understand that when we feel the pain of emotion or physical affliction, we can know that our Savior is watching us, trying to comfort us and just thinking how miserable this is for us. He would be thinking this because He knows and is also thinking, "I'm very sorry. I felt that and I understand. I know exactly what it is you are going through and I'm sorry." I believe it still brings Him to tears, every time. Even though death isn't the same to God and Christ as it is for us, He still mourns with us and Christ still feels sorrow for our losses. For those of us that have the blessing of knowing what is after death, it is still difficult to let go of our loved ones that leave mortality, sometimes what seems like too soon. It's not about the idea that we won't ever see them again, we have that blessing to know that we will see them again. It's the idea that we miss them. That we know we will continue to miss them for the rest of our mortal lives until we get to see them again in the next life. So, brothers and sisters, never forget why we are here and where we are going. We are here to serve and grow. We don't get a second chance at mortality, so make careful choices. This mission has taught me love beyond compare to what I had before I left. I love and miss my family so very much and I deeply appreciate every little bit of contribution from all of you, my friends and family. I miss you all and I wish each and every single one of you well! Keep living your best lives and I hope to meet all of you at some point in two years time!
Love you all!
Love Elder Markham
No comments:
Post a Comment