CAUTION: EXTREME REALNESS AHEAD

January 25, 2017 dreainbrazil Comments 0 Comment

[FYI- Aundrea said last week lightening hit the internet company tower so that’s why no letter. Also, her feet are doing so much better- thank you for your prayers]

This week I realized why the mission is the most difficult and yet most rewarding years of one´s life like everyone says it is.

Let me explain.

You go into the mission knowing it´s going to be difficult, because everyone tells you that. They say it will be the most difficult, yet happiest and most rewarding years of your life, and you think you know why, but not really. In reality, you have absolutely no idea what to expect. Maybe you will be in a third world country speaking a foreign language. Maybe you´ll be in another state speaking the same language. Either way, all you know is that it will be the most difficult, yet most rewarding years of your life. And you walk in without any idea of what´s to come.

You´ve prepared for this for a long time. Seminary, Sunday school, mission prep; all this you´ve got behind you, but you still don´t feel ready. What even is the gospel about?

You enter the MTC, and you find it is nothing like mission prep, except for maybe having to memorize D&C 4.

Everything feels like a dream.

Are you really going to do this? Move away from your family and friends for 18-24 months, to a completely foreign territory, to convince strangers to join this church?

Are you CRAZY?

And yet here you are, beginning this journey into the unknown.

Your time at the MTC is up, and you are thrown out of your comfort zone into the missionary field.

The first week is so hard, and seems to last 6 months. You really wonder if you can actually do this.

You have no idea what you´re doing.

Why are you here?

You walk and walk and walk and try to talk, but you´re afraid you´ll mess it all up.

What are you doing here?

You´re walking and panting and sweating and breaking, trying to find someone to accept the message you´re bringing.

What is the message?

What are you doing?

Can you do this?

Will you do this?

Are you worthy enough?

Are you strong enough?

Why are you here?

WHY ARE YOU HERE?

Wait.

You know why you are here.

You´ve known all along.

You are a servant of God, and you have been called to do His work.

You have been called to bring eternal life to the children of God.

You are here, in the name of Christ, to bring them closer to Christ.

You will introduce God´s plan unto His children, so they can have the purpose and the joy in their lives that you have in yours.

THIS is why you are here.

`Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord, thy God is with thee, withersoever thou goest.´

This is His work, and He will see it done.

And you finally realize why this is the most difficult, yet most rewarding years of your life.

You are putting everything you have into this work; mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually. You´ve never exerted yourself this much all at the same time.

And it´s hard.

But it starts to feel real.

In fact, it starts to feel like it is the only real thing left.

And you know why you are here.

You don´t know how you make it through each day, but you do, and you LOVE it.

You love it so much.

Everything aches; your body, your heart, your mind, and your soul,

But there´s nothing else you would rather be doing.

What am I doing here?

I´m preparing the world for the coming of our Savior.

I am preparing the way of the Lord.

Love, Sister Evans