July 7, 2014
The end is coming! It is hard to believe that I have been here for two months already. I only have 16 months of my mission left and I already don't want it to end!
Yesterday we had a famous pianist, Josh Wright, come for our devotional and he said "your mission will be the best two years of your life, but the hardest two years of your life". I have already found that to be true. Because it is so hard (even in the MTC), it is so rewarding. Mastering one more word in Cambodian, reading a verse in script, or teaching an awesome lesson just makes everything worth it. This truly is the Lord's work! This letter won't be too long, but I just want to talk about a few of the highlights from this past week.
On Monday we were able to skype some members in Cambodia again. This last week my companion and I skyped the guard of the Mission Home. Near the end of our lesson, two of Elders that are currently serving there popped up on the screen and started talking to us. They said that they were excited to meet us in a couple weeks (now just one week), and asked us where we were from and our names. (This was all in Cambodian of course). I certainly didn't hear them correctly and told them my name was Sister Lindley and then proudly stated that I was from Cambodia. My companion quickly corrected me and we all got a good laugh. I thought, for some reason, that they asked us where we were going. You all are probably thinking I am not doing too great if I dont even know how to say where I am from, but I promise I do. I don't even know where my brain was. Haha :)
Tuesday night we had a devotional by Lowell M. Snow (a former seventy) and his wife. He gave an incredible talk on being converted to the Lord and the gospel, and not just the church organization. He said "don't just belive in Him, believe Him." He also talked about how we make the decision to choose Christ only once, and then from there on out it is whether or not we are willing to act on that decision. Right then in the devotional he told us to make that choice. He said that every disciple of Christ is an excellent missionary, but not every missionary is an excellent disciple of Christ. He also talked about how being a disciple of Christ, sometimes means that we have to make sacrifices.
During the devotional I thought about my own life and the sacrifices I have made. Honestly, I haven't had to make very many. I decided to make a list in my journal that night of things that I could sacrifice while being on my mission so that I can better rely on the Savior for strength. One of those sacrifices was that I would only allow myself to think about home when I went back to the residence at night. Wow, that has been tough, but I have felt an increase in my focus and love for the work. I don't want to sound "preachy", but I encourage all of you to think of something that you can sacrifice to be a better disciple and devote more of yourself to the Lord!
Another highlight was the progress we made with our (fake) investigators. Bang Ny got baptised on Saturday!!! We taught him on Wednesday about a few commandments and he was so willing and ready to keep them! He also found a new job, so he doesnt have to work on sundays! We were so happy!! He passed his interview on Friday with flying colors. Even though it wasn't real (we practice teaching our teachers to get experience), I really felt true joy that he was able to receive the blessings of the gospel!
On Thursday or Friday (I can't remember which day), we taught our other investigator Look Puu Trii. He is our more challenging investigator, but we had an amazing lesson. We taught him about faith and repentance and were able to share the story of Alma the Younger from the Book of Mormon. Before we taught him about repentance, we asked him how he felt about that word. He said it made him feel like he was a bad person and that we had done something wrong. Then, the spirit was able to work through us to help him understand that repentance is a beautiful thing because it allows us to change. We talked about the Atonement and he was very receptive. After the lesson was finished and we had said the closing prayer, our investigator put on his "teacher tag" (because he is really our teacher) and was emotional as he told us that that was by far the most powerful lesson we had taught (through the spirit). My companion and I went away feeling very grateful that the spirit was present. Also in that lesson, when we shared the story of Alma the Younger, my companion and I each read a verse in the script! WOW, I am a horrible reader, but I felt the gift of tongues guide and direct me to read each word. It was incredible!!!!
Finally, on Sunday I had yet another incredible spiritual experience. We had mission conference because it was fast Sunday, and I enjoyed hearing the MTC presidency speak. It was very centered on faith as well as the new announcement for missionaries that we will be teaching "lesson 5" before baptism, as well as all the lessons again after baptism. We also are now encouraged to "find, teach, baptize, retain, and activate". I think that this change is great because as we strengthen less actives and members, they will become converted and become missionaries themselves! It truly is inspired to help hasten the work of Salvation! For the film, my companion and I went to watch Elder Bednars talk entitled "Doctrine, Principles, and Applications". WOW. I was so tired and didn't really want to watch the film, but right before it started I said a quick prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help me stay awake and focused and learn something new. I learned SOOO much!!!! He really taught us the framework of how we learn. He said we first much teach the Doctrine (answer the why), then the principle (answer the what), and finally the application (that answers the how). So often in the church we focus on applications. When people say they have an issue with addiction, we turn to applications and give them a million ways of how they can quit. However, that will NEVER work. We need to go back to the doctrine and principle and help them understand the why and the what. Help them understand that the Atonement will help them because Christ has overcome everything for us and that if they turn to him, he will heal them.
Anyway, the key was this: THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE DOCTRINE. True doctrine understood, changes attitudes and behaviors. If we have any question or weakness, we need to try and understand the doctrine and then from there our lives will change.
Anyway, sorry this is so long! I just want to share everything I have been learning with you all!!!
Love,
Sister Lindley
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