Dearly beloved family, friends, and the wonderful people I have been blessed to associate with in my life, we are gathered here today to witness one of the greatest events that any person can partake of: The reading of a Missionary letter.
This week certainly had its ups and downs, the latter being, unfortunately, a bit more common, but we were not about to let that get to us. As we have labored to build the Kingdom of God here in Chiguayante, we have seen incredible miracles, and we know that this work is the Lord's. Every day, it seems I am reminded of that more and more, that while we may provide the effort, it is Him that really makes the difference.The title of today's email reflects the theme of much of what I learned and experienced this week in Chiguayante. Much of the events, personal studies, and revelations I received surrounded this grand subject of change, and how much we need it in our lives. Change. Just the word itself is packed with all kinds of connotations. We love it and we hate it. We welcome it and we stay as far away from it as physically possible. We wish for it in other people, and tell ourselves that we will have it one day in the future. But a mission really brings it into perspective, at least it did and does for me.
I can tell you, the thing I least wanted to do was that emergency cambio almost nine weeks ago. Elder Grammer and I were on the way to setting records and changing the world, having a fantastic time the whole way. But for whatever reason, the Lord saw fit for me to be sent off to far away Chiguayante, and I am just now beginning to see why. The challenges of this place in this time have wrought great changes in who I was just two and a half months ago. While I was (I hope) a good person before now, this grand change that started with a short phone call Tuesday morning in Chillan has led to me discovering parts of myself that needed to go and parts that I needed to build up.
I have had to step up in ways that I hadn't imagined before. The slow crawl of careful and casual progression has ramped up out of necessity where the language is concerned. I have conversations, tell stories, teach lessons, and understand what the people are saying in ways that I couldn't imagine in my first sector, and while I am far from perfect, I am certainly greatly improved. I have a deeper appreciation of the example that we can set, by watching how inspirations good and bad have changed lives for generations here. I've seen that the person that I was simply wouldn't cut it here, for as good as he was, Heavenly Father needs a powerful missionary here now.
To be of any use as good, quality metal, iron ore must first be cut out of the mountain where it had relaxed for so much time. This process is a quick, painful form where the ore is separated from the home, and its value is beginning to be realized. Then, with continued fire and the pressure of hammer blows, the iron is cleansed of impurities and forged into a tool that can benefit the lives of others. What started as some dirty iron, comfortable in the lack of pressure in the mountain, has become pure and powerful, something desirable.
I don't really think I am the same person I was when I started my mission almost five months ago. Conversations with other Elders, especially Elder Hancock, have really opened up my eyes to how we can change. He has almost twice the time in the mission that I do, and he tells me that he is completely different then who he was before. His priorities have changed, and he feels like it is a major step up. He tells me that he simply can't imagine coming home from his mission and listening to the same music, or doing all the same things. He knows that there is a higher purpose, higher goals he can aspire to.
I think that that is one of the central purposes of missions, and of life in general. We should always be striving to become better, and we will see so much more of ourselves than we had thought possible before. There is so much more that we can always be doing. That's not to say that we should get down on ourselves because we aren't perfect, far from it! No missionary is perfect, least of all me. But I am seeing guys as young as 18 becoming manly men with a little spit shine, elbow grease, and spiritual fire. It all starts with their commitment to make little changes every day. By small and simple things do great things come to pass, right?
The Savior set the perfect example for all of us in how He lived. His timeless efforts to help others, bless their lives, and ease the situations of others can become a clarion call for all of us to follow. There is true and incredible happiness to be found in a lfie of service to others. His way and His life and His example set the bar that we can strive for, and with His help, can bless countless lives along the way.
The Book of Mormon has a particularly lengthy story of change embedded in its very core. The pampered young priest named Alma in the court of the wicked King Noah had a pretty wonderful life. He had all the things he wanted, or thought were best for him. One day, a prophet bore powerful testimony of a more excellent way, and Alma made the decision to change and follow the higher path. He would eventually become prophet of the church himself, blessing countless lives on the way. His own son, a wicked, horrible youth also named Alma, received a visit from an Angel that shook him out of his path to self destruction. He too committed to change, abandoning the false principles that he thought were making him happy, and he too would eventually become a prophet as well. His son and grandson and great grandson would also be prophets, and his great great grandson an apostle of Jesus Christ. How many millions of people were changed in that time (And now, as people read of their stories?) because of the decision to change one wicked priest made? Our decisions now have eternal consequences. Let us change to make them the best, and change our lives to bless others. We will be so much happier in the end if we do so now.
Elder Layton: I loved your letter so much. We too went to the Zoo last week, and had a great time as well. Was the Jesus Christ Pass A Long still in the Shrine of San Francis? I didn't really touch any of the animals, but I still had a pretty great time watching them do animal things. And American Eagles are so much cooler than Aguilas Chilenas.
I enjoyed your thoughts on having that fire of inspiration burning every day. That is something that I have really been missing lately, and it is such a blessing to have when you've got it. That is one of the great challenges of mission life, but once we catch that everlasting flame, than our lives truly become something to write home about. I love it. Keep going and being as awesome as you are! As Henry Ford said, ''If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.''
Steven: Hey buddy! Congratulations on how awesome your life is right now! I'm happy that you made BYU and that you're still enjoying singing and the unmarried scene. I have heard about Thor 2 in three different emails. I wonder how the mission president feels about superhero movies? What does hornitorrinco mean? I have never heard it before, but it sounds great when I say it. My favorite is Sacapfet. Keep doing great and not being a hypocrite in Choir, okay? Little hug, little kiss, big hug, little kiss.
Zach: Hey man, I am not in the least disappointed. For missionaries, even the smallest letter is something to be treasured. Someday I'll share with you the First Epistle of The Elders To The Dead Letter Writers. It is super bakan. I'm glad that you enjoy the little thoughts I put into these letters. They're not a lot, and they're not very organized, but I enjoy writing them out. It is a lot of fun for me to send off these letters. I can't wait to read the powerful letters you start sending out once your own mission starts. And thanks buddy, I'll add it to the movie list jaja. Keep rocking it out there!
Elder Enright: Congratulations buddy! Baptisms are always good news, and you already have a second well on the way. I can't wait to hear more stories of success from you. I didn't know you could cook! After the missions, I fully expect a plate full of brownies! Thanks for the letter!
Mom: Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I bought a new flash drive, and I recently found out that all my pictures got saved. Happy day! Keep sending my love to everyone and I really appreciate all that you do for me. I love you too.
That about wraps it up! I am happy to say that life continues and that change is a welcome part of it. Thank you all for everything that you do for me, and know that you are all in my prayers. Have a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful start to the Christmas season!
With Love,
Elder Richardson
P.S. Hey everybody, I'm in a video on Youtube! Its called ''El Llamamiento Misional Mas Cerca'' and features an awesome guy in the Chiguayante Ward. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TY-EIppU0rE
P.P.S. We have two people almost ready to get baptized! Woohoo Soledad and Juvelino!
No comments:
Post a Comment