A Spicy Forthcoming

I made some salsa today. While eating it, I noticed the first few bites seemed like little bursts of joy in my mouth. I would definitely say I was hungry.  If I would have thought a little bit before hand, I could have taken some pictures throughout the creation process, but here is the final product! Salsa a la gladware.  It is a pretty standard recipe, and takes some effort to mess up. I am sure this salsa will be a tender mercy for me this next week!

*Some blessings are unexpected, some we can plan for. I am grateful for both!

Counting My Blessings: Salsa, Pillars, and More

The building we work in, behind the trees

Sometimes I feel I am giving a discredit to those who read my blog.  I would love to make each post a masterpiece, but I think each usually ends up more of a spattering.  I have been told by a few individuals this past week that they have been reading my blog, and that they have also enjoyed it, so thank you!  I know it is powerful motivation for any writer to find that their words are not only read, but that they are also enjoyed!

It has been a busy week for sure!  The more I look back at what has happened the more I realize just how privileged I am.  Elder Sabin has finished his service here and gone home.  I had another appointment in Salt Lake in which everything was stable, and we were able to move to a new place off the MTC!  The Lord is extending His blessings upon us more than what we really deserve, but I think that is almost how it always is.  As I am feeling so blessed I wanted to share a little more about the blessings I have had this past week.

Blessings From a Bad Experience

Have you ever tried to do something good, and as you do something just totally bad happens?  Well, I had just that happen to me yesterday.  I had just finished in the bathroom, and after washing my hands and looking around, I had noticed there was a lot of trash all over the floor.  I reasoned it would take me about thirty seconds maximum to clean it all up, and I would be able to do a great service for everyone else who used it.  It worked great except for the fact that I like to keep the little white handbook for missionaries in my shirt pocket.  So, as I was trying to reach and grab the trash which was right next to the toilet . . . plop.  A chill shot through my back from hearing a little splash in the water.

I try and do something good, and it almost seems like I get punished.  All of us here on earth have been given the ability to choose.  We can choose good or we can choose evil.  God wants us to use our ability of choice for good.  It almost seems ironic sometimes when I choose to do good things and then bad things seem to come from it.  It made me think about how from God’s perspective it might also seem that many of the things He has chosen to do have worked against Him.  But a closer look helps us to see how He has used those things for good.  We know one of the choices God has made is to give us our agency.

A Rock, a Hard Place, and Moving on

The concept of a halfway rock is something that I learned about in scouting on hikes.  Most of what I remember about scouting hikes is walking up and down hills in the dirt, mostly staring at my shoes as I was too tired to lift my head, getting in trouble every time I tried to go off the path (something about preserving nature, which I never really understood), and all with a backpack which was too heavy and filled mostly with things I wouldn’t need.  Inevitably, as the hike would progress the fun would quickly fade to be replaced with fatigue and exhaustion.  I am sure it must have been equally tiresome for the leaders who had to listen to the “How much further?” every 100 feet after the first half a mile.  A combination of these circumstances is what I assume gave birth to the halfway rock idea.

Sacrament Inspirations - Imagine a World

Following the example of Elder LeeMaster, I have decided to create theme days to post about in my blog.  Starting these themes today are some inspirations and pearls of wisdom I have found from sacrament meeting.

Today we were privileged to hear from Brother and Sister Roundy, as well as a wonderful musical number on the Organ.  I love sacrament and the opportunity we have to renew our covenants with God and make a renewed determination to follow Christ every week.  I feel the more I have been able to understand about Jesus Christ, and the sacrifice He has made for us, the more meaningful the sacrament has become.  I feel it a testimony of the reality of God and how His spirit in our lives as we are able to notice themes in our meetings.  We can see how God is in control, and we can see how the speakers have prepared their remarks with the inspiration of the Holy Ghost.

The Holy Ghost and Wheel Chairs.

The blessings of the Holy Ghost seem innumerable to me.  The more experiences and trials I have had in life, the more I have been able to see how much the Holy Ghost does in my life, and how much He has done in the past.  When we are humble and seek after Jesus Christ, we can feel the Spirit work in our lives.

I remember the feelings of sorrow and despair I have had with the trials in my own life.  After multiple injuries and damages to my joints, I remember being in a wheel chair self-pitying myself and feeling as if the hope of a happy future was gone.  It was at this time I was able to go to a devotional where Elder Bednar spoke to just the young single adults in our stake.  He promised us we could write down a question, and if we listened to the spirit, we could find the answer that evening as he spoke.  The question I wrote down was quite simply “how long?”  It was not until after he finished speaking that I was able to find the answer.  The closing hymn was #85, “How Firm a Foundation.”  As soon as the music started, I remember the overwhelming sense of assurance that came over me.  I was not even able to recognize what the words of the song were.  But I do know the feeling of comfort that I felt.  I knew that everything would be fine.  I did not know how long my trial would continue, but I did know that despite what would happen I would have the support of Christ in everything I did.

That comfort and assurance comes to us because of the Holy Ghost.  One of my favorite verses from the New Testament reads; “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” –Romans 15: 13.  I know as we rely on Jesus Christ and following His will, we can be filled with the hope of the future which comes from the Holy Ghost.

Show and Tell With Half Dead Chickens

I have grown up with animals.  My parents had two dogs when I was born.  When I left a year ago to come on my mission we had two dogs, a cat, a cockatiel, an aquarium with fish, and chickens and ducks.  I understand my parents have also recently gotten another dog.  As I think back on the pets we have had many memories come to my mind, mostly of our dogs.

Dogs are typified as being loyal.  I remember our dogs chewing up the sprinkler system at our house, eating the fruit off of our trees, the accidents in the house training them, but being able to later clean the messes outside.  I remember them jumping on me with muddy paws, chasing them when they chased other random animals, bathing them after they were sprayed by a skunk, and countless other memories.

"Mormon Mingles;" A New Adventure

I have always liked adventures, whether it is from a good book, or a movie, but most especially the adventures I have had in my own life.  I remember as I was little making “forts” with blankets over the furniture inside the house, also the fun we had “exploring” on camping trips I went on with my family.  I feel the enticement lay in the possibility of the unknown—a possibility that the extraordinary might happen.  Here is a picture of some of the other missionaries who serve here having an adventure of their own.  (Left to right, Elders LeeMaster, McMullin, Edmons, Albright and Baird)  Sometimes I feel that the extraordinary we find in our own lives is often disguised as dull, or boring.  I understand that most amazing feats come from countless hours of preparation, working through the mundane with a hope for accomplishment.

I feel I am able to find the same sense of excitement in my life today as I come across the unknown.  When this happens I have found the time for preparation is gone, and we need to rely on the choices we have made through mundane experiences we have had in the past.  Were we committed then, and is that commitment enough to get us through the challenge we now face?  For me, I feel coming on a mission has been an adventure for me.  As I started I did not know what it was I would be doing when I first arrived here.  I was able to soon learn I would be teaching people over chat or the phone, and it was much more challenging then I originally anticipated.  I find I still have a lot of room to grow and learn.  Recently we are again branching out in what I feel is a “new frontier,” and that is with the “Mormon Mingles.”

Thursday service in the Temples

For about two months now we have had the privilege of going to the temple and serving every Thursday morning.  This is a rare privilege for a full time missionary, and I love it!   

 Sometimes I find that talking with people on the chats can become overwhelming and tiring.  I find the temple is a place where I can “recharge” and again find the motivation and Christ-like love to help all of those people I meet and talk with.  I feel there is no substitute for the peace which we can find in the Temple, and every time I go it helps me to know it is where God wants me to be.  I think it is summed up well here in Psalms 65: 4;

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.