The Journey to Perfection

I have been thinking a lot about hope lately; what it is, how we obtain it, etc. It's a pretty broad topic and one that I think is often overlooked. As a missionary it can be easy to get into a routine and just "go through the motions" of being a missionary but if we don't keep our purpose in mind of bringing our Heavenly Father's precious children back to Him, we can't do as much good. We, as missionaries, have to have a vision of who these people are and what they can become. Heavenly Father has a vision like that for each of us but if we don't catch that vision in ourselves we can't become what He knows we can become.

It's so easy, in the world that we live in, to put ourselves down by comparing ourselves to others. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said  
"Let me cite a hypothetical example of a dear sister in any ward, the one who has perfect children who never cause a disturbance in church. She is the one working on her 20th generation in her family history, keeps an immaculate home, has memorized the book of Mark, and makes wool sweaters for the orphaned children in Romania. No disrespect, of course, intended for any of these worthy goals. Now, when you get tempted to throw your hands in the air and give up because of this dear sister, please remember you’re not competing with her any more than I’m competing with the members of the Quorum of the Twelve in winning a 50-yard dash. The only thing you need to worry about is striving to be the best you can be. And how do you do that? You keep your eye on the goals that matter most in life, and you move towards them step by step."  

Source

Everyone has their own strengths and their own weaknesses and it doesn't make anyone better than anyone else. We are all at different points in our progression but the point of this life is to become better. Perfection doesn't come in this life but we have a responsibility to constantly be stretching and growing. Heavenly Father knows what we can become and He will help us get there as long as we are trying our best. Sometimes we blame ourselves when people (children, siblings, friends, even parents) choose to do things contrary to what they have been taught but it is important to remember that everyone has their agency and all we can control is ourselves. In Preach My Gospel it defines what a successful missionary is but I think it is also the definition of a successful person.
"When you have done your very best, you may still experience disappointments, but you will not be disappointed in yourself. You can feel certain that the Lord is pleased when you feel the Spirit working through you."  

Heavenly Father only looks at our own personal effort. What others do after we have done our best is up to them but we can know that Heavenly Father is pleased with what we have done through prayer and studying the scriptures. Elder Carl B. Cook counseled us "to try not to look sideways to see how others are viewing our lives but to look up to see how Heavenly Father sees us. He doesn’t look on the outward appearance but on the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7). And He knows, better than anyone else, what each one of us needs."
So just keep doing your best. Place your faith and trust in the Lord and He will help you have the hope that you need to make it through.

I'll Go Where??

The beautiful Redwood trees in Eureka!

Well the time has come for me to leave Eureka. I've been anticipating this change for a couple of weeks so I've done a lot of reflecting on my time here. I have loved serving here! I've learned a lot and I honestly wish I could stay. But I didn't expect to feel that way when I came up here in November. When I found out I was coming here I had only been in Santa Rosa for 3 months and I loved it there! We were seeing so many miracles and was sure that I would be there for another 6 weeks. When we got transfer information Sister Luscher and I found out that both of us were getting transferred. To put it simply, I was really upset. I really wanted to "forget" about transfers and just not show up but instead I tried to have a good attitude (emphasis on the word "tried"). I pretended to be excited to come to Eureka. Don't get me wrong I was excited because I had heard wonderful things about the area but I just wasn't ready to leave Santa Rosa. Needless to say, my first couple of weeks up here were really hard. I spent a lot of time praying to love the area and to be happy and content with where I am instead wishing that I was somewhere else. Gradually, as I got know the people in Eureka I started to like it more here so that by the time Sister Hernandez came up here I loved it! And the past 12 weeks with her have been amazing!! We have seen many miracles and continue to see them every day! I don't really want to leave Eureka but I'm at peace with it because I learned my lesson. I've learned that the Lord's way is much better than my way. He always knows better.

Me and my new companions, Sister Uehara and Sister Aoyama 

However, even though I had been expecting to leave Eureka this transfer I still had a test of that new found testimony. Transfer calls came and I was told I would be going to Middletown to serve in a trio. I was really excited because I had been there for a day and I loved it! Then the next morning I got a phone call from our mission president and he told me that he had a change in my assignment. He told me that I would still be in a trio but that I would be going to the Lake Herman ward in Benicia. I really know nothing about Benicia and I didn't really know my companions either. But instead of getting upset or resenting the change I embraced it. And the thing that amazed me is that I didn't have to pretend to be excited! Sure, I was a little disappointed that I wouldn't be going to Middletown but I was/am excited for this new adventure/challenge in my life and in my mission. Sometimes it's hard to accept change in our lives, I'm not a fan of it myself, especially unexpected change. But I have learned that the Lord always knows what is best for me. He knows where I need to be to help the people that need me and also to meet people that will help me. In the words of Elder Clark "I'll go where the Lord wants me to go with a smile on my face" because I know that His way is always better than mine. So the next time you wonder if what you are being asked to do is from the Lord I invite you to get down on your knees and ask. Then when you get up, go to work, and do what the Lord has asked of you. That is where true happiness comes from, doing the will of the Lord.