Do You Want To Be the Very Best?

Like no one ever was?

Goooooooooooooood morning, lovely people! It's nice and sunny with some impending clouds on the gulf coast today. Sister Jones and I have a fun-filled P-Day planned, with lots of nerd shopping and plenty of joy-having. Are you excited for today? Because I certainly am!

This week was rather eventful. We learned that there's this new Pokemon game out. What's it called -- Pokemon Go? We play a new game where we try to spot people who are hunting for Pokemon, and they're actually very easy to find down by the beach. It's crazy how things advance when you're on a mission -- I'm already being told by the Youth that the songs that I still know are way too old now. (Whoops. I guess I'm a geezer.) So, Sister Jones and I are trying to update our finding methods. We've decided to go up to these Pokemon trainers and say, "Do you want to be the very best? Like no one ever was?" And then talk to them about the Book of Mormon.

Do you think it'll work?

We aren't sure yet.

In other news, Elder Ah Ching has flown home to his family in Utah. Thank you for your two years of dedicated service to the Lord, Elder Ah Ching! It was awesome to spend eight weeks with you. I don't know what you'll be doing for the rest of your life, but good luck with it!

Because of Elder Ah Ching's departure, the Biloxi district has shifted. Elder Hughes has now been absorbed into the Spanish Elders' companionship. They will now be a trio. This means that us and the Woolmarket Elders will get to keep our cars! :D Exciting, right?! Especially after all the walking Sister Jones and I did this week. I suppose this is what happens when someone's bike breaks and you get to feel like a pioneer for a few days. (There is a reason why Heavenly Father plopped me into the twenty-first century and not into the nineteenth.)

Heavenly Father always paves a way for miracles. I did a brief blurb on miracles last week, but miracles are always continuing, aren't they? I used to think God could teach me a lesson in only a week, but He is now instructing me on the virtue of patience, which is a lifetime lesson, especially when I'm constantly learning all kinds of lessons.

He always seems to wait until I'm at the brink of my frustration to plop an obvious miracle in front of my face. But, in reflection of the sentence I just typed, I think we become more aware of miracles when we're at the edge of our cliffs. When our toes are about to slide off, or even when our fingers can't hold us up any longer, that is when we're able to look down and see the ledge very close below us, or the hand that's been reaching out to pull us up the whole time. It is when we need the miracles that we start looking for them, and I, frankly, find that ridiculous.

The real test of this life is noticing and appreciating the good things when things are going well. In the Book of Mormon, there is a consistent cycle of people prospering, getting rich, forgetting that God gave that to them, and then all of it being taken away from them. We call that the Pride Cycle. We are all personally going through the Pride Cycle, although we don't necessarily have to. Heavenly Father wants us to rejoice when things are going well, but He also wants us to remember who helped us get there in the first place -- Him.

Last week, I was wrapped up in my own darkness; my own fears and worries ate at my "brightness of hope" as Nephi would put it. I was deeply seeded in my own problems, and as I tried to ignore it while doing my missionary work, I felt that every aspect of my work was fruitless; every effort I put in was pointless. I did what I thought was right, but I for a while, I did not feel that I was doing it the right way, or that I was making a difference.

But, I was wrong. Like I often am.

I am reminded yet again of Nephi's Psalm in 2 Nephi chapter 4, where he says, "My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep...And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted."

You must put your trust in Heavenly Father when the wrinkles aren't coming out, when the rain won't stop, when you still can't see the ledge below you. Leaps of faith are sometimes steps around a corner. Trusting Heavenly Father is doing your part and knowing that He will bring to pass the righteous desires of your heart in His time.

He cares about those things, you know; those things that you know would please Him, and yet they still haven't happened. Maybe you want to serve a mission, or get married? Maybe you want to have children or read your scriptures more? Maybe things just aren't working out when you've asked for His help, and you're still wondering, "What am I doing wrong? This is a good thing -- why hasn't it happened yet?"

Don't doubt your faith, brothers and sisters. Don't doubt yourself or your Heavenly Father. While I am a proponent of consistent improvement, sometimes we really are doing our best and we just have to continue doing that best. Heavenly Father is guiding us; we just can't see the bigger picture yet.

I am slowly beginning to see the world unravel as miracles that I thought could never happen actually have. I have seen people change; I have watched a light enter into someone's eyes. I have seen true happiness and I can say confidently that it is found in the full gospel of Jesus Christ. God answers your prayers, and I know that because He has answered mine. I am no better than you; we are all children of God. He listens to every word you whisper to Him, every wish you have. He knows you. He knows what's best for you.

Watch for His answers, okay? They're there. Don't brush off an answer because you can't believe it would happen to you. I know it can.

Anyone can receive these answers. Anyone can come closer to God. I have been able to meet amazing Christians who you wouldn't necessarily look like Christians, but they emulate the light of Christ so brightly; all the world could see it if they would just look.

One of those lovely people said something great the other day. He talked about how he'd bought food for a homeless man, and the man told him, "You don't look like a Christian."

Now, this guy has rather large gauges in his ears, wears lots of rings and black; he adorns Legend of Zelda merchandise and enjoys stylish hats. He is quiet and caring, and in response to this man, he said, "It doesn't matter what you look like; it's what you do."

What do you do, brothers and sisters? How do you emulate your Savior? Are you steadfast, holding onto the hope for a brighter future? Are you patient? Do you serve others? Do you share your light with those who are slowly burning away?

What do you do?

Have a good week!

Godspeed!

Sincerely,

Sister Rose

P.S. Hello, Sister Jones's mom! I see you there. Reading my weekly e-mails. We're onto you.

Our district before Elder Ah Ching went home! From left to right we have: Sister Jones, ME!, Elder Ahanonu, Elder Paxton, Elder Hughes, Elder Ah Ching, Elder Tenifa, and Elder Roberts!

Sister Jones and I enjoying some Smoothie King :)