In the car, next to your bed, on the front porch, on your bike, during a morning run, at the dinner table, at church, before a test, on a hike, in the morning, at night, etc...What do all of these have in common you might ask?
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013, I found myself sitting in the back seat of a red Toyota Corolla driving to Salem, OR...where I would begin my mission. I was not only tired and hungry but I was also in a new state with 2 random girls I had just barely met.
My heart was pounding. Where was I going? What were these 2 girls like and why weren't they talking? When am I going to eat? In order to satisfy my hunger I opened the package that I had received and began eating some granola... This granola wasn't just any granola. It was homemade, by my mother.
I started thinking about her. I began to feel alone, wishing I could call her but knowing that I would have to wait for at least 5 months. Gathering the strength to hold back the tears I said a silent prayer. All of a sudden this overwhelming peace filled my heart.
Wednesday, January 23rd, 2013, I found myself sitting in the back seat of a red Toyota Corolla driving to Salem, OR...where I would begin my mission. I was not only tired and hungry but I was also in a new state with 2 random girls I had just barely met.
My heart was pounding. Where was I going? What were these 2 girls like and why weren't they talking? When am I going to eat? In order to satisfy my hunger I opened the package that I had received and began eating some granola... This granola wasn't just any granola. It was homemade, by my mother.
President Thomas S. Monson counseled, "We were not placed on this earth to walk alone. What an amazing source of power, of strength, and of comfort is available to each of us. He who knows us better than we know ourselves, He who sees the larger picture and who knows the end from the beginning, has assured us that He will be there for us to provide help if we but ask."
I have a strong testimony that our Father in Heaven loves us. That love will never end. We are each his sons and daughters and he wants to hear from us. He is always listening!!
3 weeks ago... I was transferred from Corvallis, OR to Etna, CA. Talk about major culture shock. New people, new home, new car, new companion. The only constant on a mission and in the world for that matter, is change. Since we live in the country, everything is so spread out. We spend a lot of time in the car. The first few days scared me a little.. Could I really spend this much time in silence? Then...I began to pray. Faith replaced fear and my testimony was strengthened.
One of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon is in Mosiah. The people of Alma were being persecuted for their beliefs and were commanded to stop praying. Verse 12-13 of chapter 24 says, "And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him, and he did know the thought of their hearts. And it came to pass, that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage."
Heavenly Father knows our hearts. His Son, Jesus Christ suffered for us so that we might find peace through our afflictions and one day return to live in His presence.
So whether your driving in the car or lying down to sleep at night, I invite you to go to your Heavenly Father in prayer. He will not always take away our trials but he will give us the strength to endure and become stronger as a result.
