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No. I'm not going to Panem, thank goodness.
I'm going to Baton Rouge, Louisiana! I
know, everyone thought I was going to go international, but as I opened my call
letter I knew but at that moment that the Lord has been the one who issued my
call, and therefore that I was where I needed to be. As I read the words
"Louisiana Baton Rouge I knew it
was right. The most powerful sense of peace I've ever felt in my life came over
me and I knew that that confirmation was assuring me that the Lord approved of
what I was doing, and that he said he would send me somewhere where I could
touch the lives of others that maybe others couldn't touch. I already love the
people, and haven't even met them yet! I report July 24th, 2013. Pioneer Day!
It hasn't been an easy route to this call.
The week before I got my call was one of the worst weeks my life. It seems to
the adversary was trying to throw everything he could at me to discourage me
from accepting a call that the Lord had extended. Monday, my sister-in-law
miscarried her baby. Is a huge blow to the entire family because we'd been
praying so hard for her to keep it. I know that my pain was nothing compared to
hers, but it was still hurts me as her sister-in-law. Tuesday, I found out one
of my acquaintances up at Utah State has passed away after a series of
illnesses. He was blind and had a wonderful seeing eye dog named Huck, and we
had just really hit off our friendship before we broke at the semester. I
wasn't really super good friends with him, but the blow took me by surprise and
also really hurt.I felt like I was constantly in danger of losing my temper,
and I could never really find any peace. Except for when I was at the Temple. I
was always comfortable there. Finally, I was over hanging out with some friends
at the Sports Academy and jumping on a trampoline when I jumped off and landed
on my hand. I broke my wrist--snapped at the head of the radius. I spent 3
hours in the emergency room. They had to set the bone and now I'm stuck in a
splint until tomorrow when I get it casted. This was the final hardship of a
horrible week.
All of this happened to the week my call
was made. I understood something that week. The Lord does not permit the
righteous to suffer adversity because He enjoys watching us in pain. He permits
us to suffer because he knows we will grow. Rest assured, the pain does not
come from Him.
Sometimes, the pain is because he needs
someone else at home. Sometimes, it's that the timing isn't right. And
sometimes, the pain comes from your own willfulness to do things you're not
prepared to do. But I promise you: any pain you suffer, the Savior has already
suffered. He will be with you every step of the way. He will not flee nor fail
you.
Elder Bednar spoke tonight at a CES
devotional about letting your will be swallowed up in the will of the Father.
We have to have the faith to accept His will, regardless of our desires. I
really encourage you to go watch it on lds.org. it really is a powerful talk
given by an authorized servant of the Lord.
I am
so grateful to have the friends I do. Its hard at this age to be committed to
the gospel, yet the people around me are incredible examples of just that. I
feel like I could go on for hours of what I've learned from them, But I won't.
But I love being around worthy Priesthood holders and righteous Daughters of
God. I love that my friends are in tune with the Spirit or working to be. I
just love my friends :)
Well, that's all for tonight. It's taken me
a while to type this, being one handed. God be with you 'till we meet again.
Love you!
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