Hello!
I don't really know what to and what not to say
this week. It's been tough. I don't think I have ever been so drained
mentally, physically, and emotionally in my life. Before a mission you
know you are going to have tough times, but until you get on a mission
and experience it you have no idea. There is emotions you feel on a
mission that you can't feel anywhere else. The refiners fire is real!
I'm not going to get into all the crap that is going on, because 1.I
don't want to and 2. You don't want to hear it. But I will tell you what
has been on my mind and what I am learning.
1. As Elder
Neilsen in the zone put it, "A mission is a package deal. For a mission
to change us, it has to be hard". I have never been more aware of my
flaws and my weaknesses. But, as we learn our weaknesses we are able to
change them through the help of our Savior. As Elder Biggs said " God
has changed me so much, I don't even recognize myself anymore." I am so
thankful for trials, for hard times, and for the opportunity to grow and
change.
2. God gives us famines to humble us. This week I
have been reading the Book of Mormon, like crazy, trying to finish it
before transfers. I was reading this week in Helaman 11 where the Lord
puts Nephi and is followers into a famine. Nephi says in verse 4, "O
Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword;
but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in
remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and
turn unto thee." We see a cycle that happens. 1.We are righteous
& Prosperous. -> 2. We become prideful and wicked. -> 3. There
is destruction and suffering. -> 4. We become humble and repent.
Sure enough this famine happens and the people suffer. "For
the earth was smitten that it was dry, and did not yield forth grain in
the season of grain; and the whole earth was smitten, even among the
Lamanites as well as among the Nephites, so that they were smitten that
they did perish by thousands in the more wicked parts of the
land."(Helaman 11:6)
Then the people start becoming humbled. "And
it came to pass that the people saw that they were about to perish by
famine, and they began to remember the Lord their God; and they began to
remember the words of Nephi."
President Ezra Taft
Benson taught about what we can do to avoid getting caught up in the
pride cycle:“God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be
humble or we can be compelled to be humble. Alma said, ‘Blessed are they
who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.’ (Alma
32:16.) “Let us choose to be humble. “We can choose to humble ourselves
by conquering enmity [hatred] toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming
them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are. …
“We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and
chastisement. …“We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who
have offended us. …“We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering
selfless service. …“We can choose to humble ourselves by going on
missions and preaching the word that can humble others. …“We can choose
to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently. “We can
choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and
being born of God. …“We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God,
submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives. …
“Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can” (“Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 6–7).
Why
do I bring this up? Why do I like it so much? First off, we are in a
drought, a famine of water. Just a thought, maybe God is giving us this
drought to humble us, to turn our hearts towards Him, and to put our
trust and faith in Him. Maybe He is trying to get us to attend the
temple more, maybe is trying to get us to humble ourselves and forgive
others, maybe He wants us to be thankful for what we have. Second, when
we loose something we are learn to be more thankful for it. I've learned
to absolutely love missionary work the past few weeks as I haven't been
able to do much of it. It's been hard, it's brought me to my knees
multiple times in tears, and I have never wanted to go out and share the
gospel more than now.
3. God has perfect timing. God puts
people in our lives when we need them, when we need their personality. I
am in the best zone for this time in my life. I have two zone leaders
that have became best friends, that text me scriptures, that know when
things are hard, and encourage me. They are awesome and an answer to my
prayers. I have an amazing mission president that is just the one I
need. I have the best mission leader that is just the one I need. God is
good! He not only prompts others to answer our prayers but he prompts
us as well. Last night I was prompted to go visit a family. This family
is less active and kind of struggling. When we got to their home they
were outside crying. I asked what was wrong and they said that they had
lost their cat. We were able to talk with them and bring a smile to
their face. It was the greatest feeling. They asked how church was and
asked us if they could come next week. They thanked us over and over for
coming. It was awesome.
I am so thankful for
this life, this time on earth we have to grow, to learn, to prepare to
meet our loving Heavenly Father and live with Him again. I am thankful
for this gospel and the opportunity to share it. I am thankful for
prayer and know it is real and that it works, that God answers them and
he wants to hear from us. This church is true, it's the Restored Gospel,
the same church that Jesus Christ set up when He was here on the
earth.
️Sister Reber
PICTURES:
Meet the Antelope Dream Team
Front row:Sister Rawlins, Sister Grosland, Elder Nielsen, Elder Dresden, Sister Heil, and Me.
Back Row: Elder Mosley, Elder Biggs, Elder Zaugg, Elder Dunn, Elder Jensen, Elder Beazer
It Rained this week!!! Yah! Miracles.
