Man, missions are not easy. That is something that I have heard for the
past 18 years, but I have never really understood why. I am here living in
Europe with an amazing culture, a beautiful country, and the best people, yet it
is not easy. This week we were running around from dinners with members to
contacting referrals to talking to people on the street. Then we would head off
in the other direction to visit some less active members, call the ward council,
and go to our regular investigator lessons. It has been crazy and we are doing well. We are finding new investigators
all the time, and we are teaching two right now that are really positive that we
plan to get a baptismal date with this week, Asbjørn and Vegard. Appointments with members are going really well, we are getting to the point
where we are going to start following up with them about referrals now, and it
is cool because one family gave us 5 and another member told us he has some friends
for us and another has promised 10 by the end of the year, and the sisters here
got 5 last night, so that is really cool. This is hard,
but I am learning so much and growing as I try to serve my Savior as best as I
can.We are so busy and I am so
imperfect, that there are times when I just realize how much of a gamble it must
have been for the Savior to send me here to serve in Norway. Sometimes I feel so
incapable and there are times when all I can do is look ahead and walk to the
next street corner and cry out to my Father in Heaven for help, and all of the
sudden I feel myself being carried as I do the will of the Father.
All the distress is gone. Fear turns to faith, and hope replaces
doubt.
God is good, so why do we need to worry about anything else in our lives? I
think that it should be enough to do the Lord's will and be happy with that. But
obviously it is not that easy and words come easier than actions.
One thing that I have been guilty of my whole life is looking forward to
the next thing in life, and almost skipping everything that happens around me
now. When I was in school I would count down the days until summer, and in my
job I would anxiously await the time when I could go home. Now, here in Norway,
there are times when I find myself looking at the time and willing it to move
faster. This has always worked for me, and things have turned out alright in my
life, but then I think about how much I could be losing here in the now. God has
given us every single experience because He knows that we will learn something
and grow a little more because we make it to the other side. I wonder, then,
what right I have to be ungrateful and live my whole life looking to the future.
I am afraid that if I am not careful, I am going to blink twice and two years
will be gone. I will be home and be left to wonder where my mission went. It is
my goal to see the good in every day, and to make an effort to find the lessons
God wants me to learn as I go throughout life, touching others lives for good. I
want to make the most of every opportunity God has given me, and never give
myself a reason to have regrets. I am here in Norway and we are living our
lives. There is nothing that is going to change that. So let's all change our
attitudes and enjoy the journey.
I love you all, and I am sending you my prayes here from Norway! MVH Eldste
Childs
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