Friends
and family! 💛 I hope you're all doing well.
You have been on my mind lots recently.
As
for me, I'm trying to stay hopeful, and optimistic. As most of you probably
expected, I have been asked to return home because of the virus. Getting this
news was not easy I'm not gonna lie. I've been on my knees praying more than I
think I ever have before, and because of that I have received the comfort and
assurance that it is all for my good. God works in mysterious ways and I KNOW
there is a wise purpose behind all of this, because our LOVING Heavenly Father
has all wisdom and all power.
I
just wanted to share a few thoughts from a talk given by Elder Holland called
"Lessons from Liberty Jail" because it is powerful, and it helped me
a lot this week. I would invite you to really read it, especially since I know
most of you have extra time right now!
In
Doctrine and Covenants 123:17 Joseph while stuck in this cold, dark liberty
jail says, "let us CHEERFULLY do all things that lie in our power; and
then may we stand with utmost assurance to see the Salvation of God and for His
arm to be revealed." This is having complete trust in the Lord. This is
having true faith. This is the attitude we should always strive to have in good
times, or bad. Elder Holland goes on to say, "both Joseph and some of the
greatest prophets, including the Savior, in the midst of distress and
difficulty could remain calm and patient, charitable, and forgiving. They lived
this way. They remembered their covenants, they disciplined themselves and knew
they MUST live the gospel at all times! Not just when things were going well.
The real test of our faith and our Christian discipleship is when things are
not going smoothly. That is when we get to see what we're made of and how
strong our commitment to the gospel really is."
I
know that as we move forward CHEERFULLY, then we can justifiably turn to the
Lord, and wait upon His mercy and see His arm revealed on our behalf. I'm extremely grateful for Australia, the people, the cultures, the
growth I've experienced and my mission president and his wife. They are such
examples of faith for me. I'm grateful for prophets and apostles who
are so inspired. I'm grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who has a perfect
plan for each one of us. I'm grateful for a Savior, someone who knows exactly
what I am feeling and knows exactly what I'm going through right now. His
Atonement really does have the power to heal us and carry us and I can testify
of that. He lives and that message is the same, no matter where I serve and so
I will press forward cheerfully and go wherever He wants me to go. 💛
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| Gonna miss walking by these beautiful flowers every morning. |
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| Our ward mission leader and his wife. Some of my very favorite people! |
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| Samoan pancakes with milo :,) |
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| Sister Tematuanui wanted KFC for the last time. Classic. |
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| We have been painting and drawing all week, haha. Just trying to expand my artistic skills. |
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