September 15, 2014 — “Make a Wish . . . .”

To whom it may or may not concern,Can I share some of my wishes, hopes, and dreams with y’all? Thanks.

1) The Lord has said, “all things are created and made to bear record of me” (Moses 6:63) Well isn’t that the truth?! My wish is for each of us to live up to the purpose of our creation and bear record of our Savior Jesus Christ.

2) “There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide
Where I may labor through life’s short day
For Jesus, the Crucified.”

As I’ve said before, mission life is short, but I am so grateful for this chance that I’ve had to labor for my Savior, and I have hope that I will stay determined to continue to labor for Him for the rest of my life.

3) “True Christianity is love in action. There is no better way to manifest love for God than to show an unselfish love for your fellow men. This is the spirit of missionary work.” David O McKay

I don’t know how many of you are aware of this, but the whole missionary thing still terrifies me. I still get scared when I go to talk to strangers, when I knock on doors, and when I head into set appointments. I still get scared when I bear my testimony and when I sing in front of people. You’d think 18 months would cure me of these fears- that’s what I thought at least. Luckily, I know I have the rest of my life to continue working at it and overcoming my fears and when I think of President McKay’s words I am comforted. Though I may be awfully scared of a lot of things, I can love the people around me. Even though I am scared that I may get injured, heart broken, or rejected I still have this undeniable desire to love all of God’s children and show them the love that He has for them. I think we are all made up of that desire to love and be loved, sometimes we just need to discover it. 🙂

4) “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless–it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” -C.S. Lewis

Missionary work can hurt. I have loved so many people on my mission who haven’t chosen to follow the example of Jesus Christ. I still love them and my heart aches as I think of the joy they could experience in accepting and living His gospel. I know that it is worth it to continue to love. No matter how shattered your heart is. No matter how broken you feel. No matter how scared you are- keep on loving. Keep submitting to your Heavenly Father’s will. First and foremost- be vulnerable to him. Follow the example of Jesus Christ and have the attitude of “Nevertheless, thy will be done.”

Christ’s heart was certainly wrung and broken- but he showed us the perfect example of giving his heart anyway. As we allow ourselves to be humble, meek, and vulnerable we may be broken down. We may feel that our hearts are penetrated. But we will come to know with all certainty that we are redeemable.

As Lehi of old testified to his son Jacob, We can be “Reedemed because of the righteousness of [our] Redeemer.” So trust Him. My dream is that we can all trust our Heavenly Father enough to allow ourselves to be vulnerable to him and vulnerable to others. To allow ourselves to love. Allow ourselves to Trust.

I’m learning a huge lesson of Trust right now as I end my mission. I cry a lot because of what I am going to miss and what I am leaving behind- but I know that there is a bright future ahead of me, and I am just grateful for the chance I’ve had to meet so many amazing people. I have been so blessed on my mission.

This week we were at Bozhi’s home for dinner and held up some pine needles to make a wish with Bozhi. Turns out we made the same wish. . . .

Bozhi and I both wished that I would be here for her baptism. 🙂

Well guess what?! Bozhi is getting baptized this SATURDAY! So I will be! 🙂  What a miracle. What a blessing.

I LOVE THIS WORK!

Adios my friends!

I will continue to do a weekly blog if y’all want to follow me after I get home. 🙂

LOVE,
Sister Meservy!