To start off, I just want to say how grateful I am for my Savior Jesus Christ. I am so grateful that I have the knowledge that he knows exactly how I feel. In my times of despair, when I feel like no one could understand me, I feel the Holy Ghost telling me that Jesus Christ does. There are times when I feel like I cannot accomplish the task that is in front of me, and he helps me get through it. A mission is the hardest thing I have ever had to do, but I know that it will be the most rewarding experience of my life. I remind myself every day that I am able to be a part of the greatest work that is on the earth. I am very grateful for this opportunity to see the atonement change these people's life.
I am also grateful for experiences that bring me to my knees. The times when I am homesick, or frustrated, I am in constant prayer with my Heavenly Father. I have learned so much about prayer and even personal revelation the two months that I have been here. Heavenly Father knows and loves us. I promise that he answers our prayers and is aware of each and every one of our struggles. He cares more than we could ever imagine.
This week was a lot better! My companion and I are working very hard in our area. There is not a better feeling than coming home after teaching a bunch of different lessons, knowing that you helped someone feel the spirit. Like I said, I am so blessed to be able to see this gospel change people's life.
We had a baptism this week! The girl, Lenna, that I told you about a couple weeks ago was baptized on Saturday. It was kind of a stressful day, because the pump broke at the church, so we barely had any water in the font. The person she wanted to baptize her is SUPER tall. He tried 3 times, but couldn't get her under all the way. Finally, a return missionary who was there in the ward baptized her and got her all the way under! Haha, the poor girl. We went to her house after and explained the whole concept of full immersion. She didn't mind though, she was so excited, and I am so happy for her.
We are now allowed to eat in people's houses!... pray for me. We ate in a member's home last night, and I had real Zimbabwe sadza. Let me just say, it was stinking delicious. The member was teasing me that the meat his wife cooked was cat... I believed him for like five minutes. I thought to myself," How am I going to tell my little brother I ate cat... I can't refuse to eat it." Thank goodness it wasn't cat, and it was pork!!!
I miss you all so much, and am looking forward to being able to skype on Christmas. I am counting down the days! I love you so much!
Elder Holland's Instagram Message: We all need this!!
I hear many who struggle with this issue: 'I am just not good enough.' 'I fall so far short.' 'I will never measure up.' I hear this from teenagers. I hear it from missionaries. I hear it from new converts. I hear it from lifelong members.
"I believe in God’s perfection, and I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divine potential to become as He is. I also know that as children of God we should not demean and vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become in eternity. No! "With a willingness to repent and a desire for increased righteousness in our hearts, I would hope we could pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn’t include getting ulcers or bulimia, feeling depressed, or demolishing our self-esteem. That is not what the Lord wants for children or anyone else who honestly sings, 'I’m trying to be like Jesus.
'"I testify of that very Jesus, who Himself continued 'from grace to grace' until He received in His immortality a perfect fulness of celestial glory. I testify that in this and every hour He is, with nail-scarred hands, extending to us that same grace, holding on to us and encouraging us until we are safely home in the embrace of Heavenly Parents."
"Don’t wait to live. This isn’t a rehearsal; this isn’t a dry run; this isn’t a pre-performance routine. This is it. This is real life. Don’t wait. Savor every minute."Learn from the past, plan for the future, but the only moment you’ve got is right now. Don’t look back and lament, and don’t wait needlessly for the future. Live in the moment and savor it as if it were your last, as if it were your only, as if it were that one moment 'on which the shadow stands.' If you’ll do the best you can with each hour of your life, you’re going to find at the end that you have had a rich and wonderful experience."
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