Hey y’all!
[Summary at the very bottom cuz I know not everyone has time or the attention span to read this.]
I leave the mtc tomorrow. There's been so much. So much growth. So much joy. So much learning. So many tears. So many cups of the famous chocolate milk. I don't know how else to describe it. I have so much love for my district. There's been so many invitations extended and there's so much we are supposed to fit into our preplanned schedules.
I want to talk about that. The so much that we're supposed to do each day.
I've been so worried that I'm like, failing as a missionary and not following the mission standards because companion study hasn't happened everyday. Or because I've only had an actual work out twice in my two weeks here. Sometimes I feel bad because my companion and I are late to a devotional. There's a lot of things I can't control and I'm learning to let that be okay.
The first week here we were invited to choose a Christlike attribute to work on and the one that stuck out the most to me was diligence. Diligence is, “Consistent, valiant effort, especially in serving the Lord and obeying His word.” That's what it says in the guide to the scriptures but Preach my Gospel provides the insight that diligence is using our energy on the most productive things. Knowing what is and what isn't a priority.
I think of Mary and Martha. Martha is worried and stressed, “troubled” about many things. Mary takes time to sit and listen to and be with Christ.
I think I've been more like Martha rather than Mary. It's hard to receive personal revelation when you're worried about what you're doing and what you're doing next. I've noticed that in the moments I slow down, the Holy Ghost has an easier time getting messages to me.
Luke 10
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Before bed we have what's called miracle time. I thought it was… stupid at first, a brand thing, a way to make it so we actually go to bed at bed time. But as I take time to slow down and as I have consecrated miracle time I become more like Mary. I feel like I'm sitting right there at Jesus’ feet. I know what to say to Heavenly Father in my prayers. I'm able to think of what went right that day, all of the miracles. The best part about miracle time is that my prayers feel more like a conversation, I pause and open my book of Mormon and the verse I read is a confirmation that my prayers are heard.
I want to be like Mary and choose that good part all the time, I want miracle time all the time.
Life is so much. So much hard. So much beautiful. So much so much. But Christ's Atonement is infinite, more than so much. He covered all of that so much so we get to cast away the worry and take time to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen.
Still holding to the rod,
Sister Owens
Summary: No matter how busy life gets there is time for Jesus. There's time to read one verse of The Book of Mormon. There's time to say a prayer. If you don't think you have time it's because you won't make time.
Here's the link to my mission pictures album:
