Enduring to the End

“Bottom line is, even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready for the big moments. No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it does. So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are gonna come. You can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that counts. That's when you find out who you are.” 

I´m freaking out. The homeopathic anxiety pills that Markelle gave us have been saving my life.. I´m like a super mess. I can´t sleep. And I have stopped stuffing my face with bread because I have no apetite. I guess that´s a plus. :)

I´m so not ready for my life to change. These 18 months went by waaay too fast and I really can not believe that It´s already almost gone. But I can´t do anything to turn back the clocks and go back in time. So now is my chance to see what happens after this big change........

I have NO idea how I am going to get all of my crap home.. this should be interesting...

This week, a rich man from Africa invited us to eat ice cream. And as he was fumbling through his pocket change, out dropped a few 5 fresh new $50 dollar bills. I almost had a heart attack. If I had $50 dollar bills, I promise you they would not be chilling in my pockets. He also offered to fly us around the world. Um... Okay. He said that he spoke English, Spanish, Portuguese, French and like 4 African Dialects. But he didn´t understand our mission standards in English or Spanish.. He just didn´t understand why he couldn´t fly us to Buenos Aires to hang out. 

BUT I loved how open he was to listen to us talk about God. I guess the rich part of Africa likes to just chill in Prom dresses and go to parties. I don´t know if all Muslims are like that, but this guy was. However, even in his planned hour of prayer, he let us teach him about the prophets and was super excited to learn more about the church. I just so hope he understood. :)

I just don´t understand what is happening here in San Vicente. It´s a constant STRUGGLE. With capital letters. Ever since everyone got back from the Temple, they are like-- welp. That was fun. Now we have nothing new to look forward to, so there is no point in going to church or activities. I´m just going to stay home.

WRONG.

Nephi taught:

“After ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. …

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.”

Ay how I wish that we all just understood this principle a little more clearly. The Lord expects us to KEEP progressing. He teaches about ETERNAL PROGRESSION. And as we make covenants with him, we progress. We can´t just stay home because we´re not preparing in this MOMENT for some grand covenant with the Lord. We should be looking toward the temple ALWAYS.We should be looking toward eternal life in every moment and striving to do everything within our power to endure to the end.

“As we stand in the waters of baptism, we look to the temple. As we partake of the sacrament, we look to the temple. We pledge to always remember the Savior and to keep His commandments as preparation to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple.” 

--Elder Bednar

It has taken every ounce of strength and self consiousness that I have to stay calm and to recognize that the Lord is proud of me. I know that I have done everything in my power to strengthen every area in which I have served. And maybe I haven´t seen every plant grow, but I have planted every seed possible.

I love prayer. I know KNOW KNOW that the Lord answers prayers.

The only investigators that we have progressing are Samantha and Juan Pablo. Juan Pablo is a chef but he had to close down his restaurant.. Which opened up his Sunday mornings so that he could bring his family to church. We have been seeing miracles with this family. They are so happy and so excited to learn. Every time we call them, they tell us how much they miss us. Even if it´s only been a day or two since we´ve seen them. Yesterday, we told them that we would visit them tomorrow and Juan Pablo was like, "not til tuesday!?!" jaja.

Well Pablo got a new job and we didn´t know if he would have to work on Sunday or not. We were praying for a no. But when we called on Saturday night, he told us that he was going to have to work from 7-11 yesterday morning. UGH. Church gets over at 11. So there I was feeling totally bummed that he wouldn´t be able to come to church. But he told us that he was going to do everything possible to leave early. 

So I got to thinking. I could go about this situation in one of 2 ways. I could be all upset that he had to work or I could practice my faith as well and do everything in MY power so that he could leave work early. So I prayed. I prayed so hard that if it was the Lords will that Juan Pablo could come to the Sacrament meeting.

Samantha got there on time and she sat with us and told us that she didn´t know where Pablo was. Ah crap... but I thought, no no no have faith. And as I was leading the Sacrament hymn, guess who comes in.. Basically running to make it on time?? 

Juan Pablo. :)

"I pray that you will know how to approach God in prayer. It is not such a difficult thing to learn how to pray. It is not the words we use particularly that constitute prayer. Prayer does not consist of words, altogether. True, faithful, earnest prayer consists more in the feeling that rises from the heart and from the inward desire of our spirits to supplicate the Lord in humility and in faith, that we may receive his blessings. It matters not how simple the words may be, if our desires are genuine and we come before the Lord with a broken heart and contrite spirit to ask him for that which we need."

-- Joseph F. Smith

And if we ask with a sincere heart, He will give it to us. IF it be for our good.

-----------------

I took my love, I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
'Til the landslide brought it down
Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love?
Can the child within my heart rise above?
Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides?
Can I handle the seasons of my life?

Well, I've been afraid of changin'
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too

The test is coming. It´s what happens after the big moments that matter... Thats when we find who we really are. I got a letter from my dearest friend here in the mission this week that reminded me of just this. As I remember the changes that I´ve made here, the Lord will help me to really become who he wants me to be. Even after the mission.

The Lord doesn´t expect us to be perfect in the mission. Just as He doesn´t expect us to be in life. But He does expect us to keep our eyes toward him and to endure to the end... :)

Hermana Rupe

Keeping Coventants Protects Us