There were a couple of days this week when I felt a little discouraged because it didn´t seem like I had progressed as much as I should have. One night after a rough day, my companion read me a poem someone copied ofr her before she left.
Highs-N-Lows
"The mission is a strange experience
It's a trial and a test.
The mission throws at you the worst, yet teaches you the best.
The told me this would be the best period of my life
But I guess they didn't explain it all too clear.
I came out looking for a bed of roses
I just wasn't expecting all the thorns out here.
Since I've been out I've never been so happy I've never felt so depressed.
I've never felt so forsaken. I've never felt so blessed
I've never been so confused. My mind has never been so clear.
Ive never felt my Heavenly Father so distant. Ive never felt him so near.
Ive never been so discouraged. Ive never been so full of hope.
I feel like I can go forever. I think Ive come to the end of my cope.
Ive never had it so easy. Ive never had it so tough.
Things have never gone so smoothly, things have never been so rough.
Ive never traveled through more valleys. Ive never ascended so many peaks.
Ive never met so many neat people. Ive never met so many freaks.
Ive never had so many ups. Ive never had so many downs.
Ive never worn so many smiles. Ive never worn so many frowns.
Ive never been so lonely, Ive never had so many friends.
Man, I hope this is all over soon. Gosh I hope it never ends!"
Although I have only been gone for a few weeks, I can't explain how much this little poem helped me in a time of need. Will this experience be difficult? Of course! But I am confident that when I look back in my life, I will be forever grateful for my decision to serve a mission.
Lately we have been role playing and teaching a lot. We have to think on our feet without anything planned or notes. It's a little stressful doing this, but I love it because I can realize how much I truly do know and have learned about the Gospel and language. I am learning to teach by the spirit.
During our lesson this week, we read 2 Nephi: 31 , the doctrine of Christ. The spirit was so strong, and towards the end, I felt prompted to ask our investigator if he would prepare to be baptized on a certain date. He said he would!
While in Ukraine, the Mission President there gave me some of the most valuable advice. Lately I've been thinking about it. He told me to set a standard for myself and never lower that regardless of my companion, district, or mission president. Like I said before, my companion and I are the only girls in our district and it is often hard to focus with most of the Elders messing around, but through a lot of prayer for love and patience, we have been blessed with strength.
Sundays are always SO wonderful! In relief society, we learned about the way we have patterns in our lives and the importance of recognizing those patterns. We read through several chapters in the beginning of first Nephi. Specifically about when Nephi was commanded to build a ship. When he and his family arrived in the promised land, Nephi asked God where he could find ore to make tools to build the ship. The ore was provided by the Lord, but Nephi had to work to create the tools that would help build the ship. This task was something NEphi had never done before, but he knew that whenever the Lord commands, he shall prepare a way.
We have all been given ore in our lives. Things to help us accomplish the tasks we have been asked to do. This pattern has application always throughout our lives. For me right now, the boat I am building is my mission. Later on it will be building my Eternal family.
Another pattern she explained was that when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, everything was perfect, then when they partook of the fruit they were cast in to the lone and dreary world. Before coming on my mission, my home was my Garden of Eden. I was comfortable and familiar with where I was. Once I arrived in the MTC, it was like I was cast out into the lone and dreary world. By the end of my 6 weeks however, after I have progressed, learned, made friends, and become more comfortable, this will be my Garden of Eden, and so the pattern continues each time there is a change in my life.
Today at the devotional I get to lead the music and also sing in the choir. WE are singing Juventud de Israel and it sounds beautiful! Tuesday's are great because it's pizza night, pday and devotional. Sometime soon our district will get to go to the temple and walk through the visiro center. Some girls in our casa went this last week and said it is amazing! Unfortunately the temple is closed right now so we can't do a session, but it will be fun to go our for a little while.
Well that's all for this week! Sorry for the long email! I have soooo many things I want to share... never enough time! I hope you are all doing well. You're in my thoughts and prayers.
Con amor,
Hermana Parkin
p.s. I forgot to mention that Elder Fails, from Beaver, is in my district. He is Brady Eyres nephew. Small world!