Monday, June 4, 2012

Semana 65: Enjoying It While I Still Got It


Semana 65: Enjoying It While I Still Got It

Que pasa familia? I hope everything is going well. I can't believe it is already June! Price is starting to heat up. We have had a few days that have been in the low 90's and we were out of miles for most of last week so we were on foot. I actually didn't mind it too much. Overall the week was a pretty good one. We didn't have a ton of success but it seemed like every day the Lord had a little miracle for us to experience and some lesson He needed to teach me.

The week started off really well. Usually preparation days are the worst because I’m struggling to refocus into Elder Bennion mode and for some reason our lessons always fall through but they didn't on Monday. We had a really good lesson with this guy named Andres. It has been awhile since anyone would actually hear us out and let us explain our message. We ended up meeting with him three times and then we found out he was moving to Huntington. :/ It is hard when there is potential and then someone moves but the other missionaries are already meeting with him so I know it is all apart of the plan de Dios.

Tuesday I had the opportunity to give a brother a blessing of comfort. He works in Colorado but his family lives here in Price. He was studying for his driver’s test and was overly stressed that he wouldn't be able to pass. I don't remember everything I said but I know I was able to relay what our father in Heaven wanted him to hear. That in itself was a blessing to me. We found out several days later he passed his test. I was pretty happy for him.

Wednesday Roy came over from Ephraim. Roy is the guy I met last year that is from Hawaii and teaches Hawaiian culture at his own halau (or school) on Hilo and lives in Ephraim during the summer. It has been almost a year since I've seen Roy so it was great to catch up. He said if I want to go out to Hilo and do Hawaiian studies between summer classes at BYU and BYUH I would be more than welcome to do it. I think it would be a blast to learn Hawaiian! If there are two cultures I love it is the Hispanics and Hawaiians. :) It is something we will have to talk about later. It was scary talking about life after the mission. Lately (especially in this area) I've been looking forward to the end of my mission and all the good things I have in store. But after talking with Roy I just felt sick to my stomach. lol Thinking about school and everything like that made me realize I'm not ready for this show to be over. I have so many more people to find before it is my time. It put into perspective how I need to enjoy this time even in the hard areas. There is beauty all around, when you find the love at home. ;)

Friday night (and Saturday afternoon) we went to the hospital to give a woman from the branch a blessing. She has been really sick and having epileptic seizures lately. She had brain cancer last year and has not been the same since then. We walked into the hospital and Elder Ayala didn't want to be there. ti is interesting how I don't mind hospitals, in fact, I kind of like them. I think Elder Ayala thinks I'm crazy for that but I love helping sick patients. For example with Anna, she just isn't the same person she was. Her face just is different than the pictures I've seen of her, her hair is really thin now and I just know it is not her. I can't help but think of what it will be like after the resurrection and I get to see people like Anna and Jared in their resurrected forms. I can't imagine how great my joy will be when we are perfect and we are reunited as friends and family in Heaven. Working in the medical field is a lot like missionary work, we are doing what Christ would do. There is so much joy in this work. "Remember the aworth of bsouls is great in the sight of God; And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one asoul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the akingdom of my Father, how great will be your bjoy if you should bring many csouls unto me!" (DyC 18:10,15,16) If there is a career that can make me feel half the joy I've felt as a missionary that is the career that is for me!

It is an amazingly short time we have as missionaries to be full-time witnesses of the the Savior Jesus Christ. There will never EVER be another two years as gratifying as these two years I have to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There will never be another two years in which I will feel the spirit this strong as I have day in and day out. These two years really are a sacred time to serve the Lord. I'm enjoying it while I still have it- that's for sure! :) Every day is just another day in paradise out here. I'm livin' the dream. Vaya con Dios.

Dios es amor,

Elder Bennion

P.S. Tell Kodi not to think about pulling an "Uncle Jim" at his graduation. It would be funny but it would have lasting consequences. Times are different. I love you bug. Finish out strong- the finish line is almost here.
 This picture was taken (probably a year ago)  by a visitor at the St. George Temple by Vicki Pincock. She and some family members were down in St George and happened to meet Elder Bennion. Although, we had never met them before, I am so grateful for her friendship. She got my email from Elder Bennion and sent me the sweetest note with this picture. She said she was just paying it forward. A lady had done that for her where her son is serving his mission. All you mom's out there know how nice it is to hear about your missionary! Brought tears to my eyes! Happy tears!!!



This picture I just got from Elder Bennion today. I couldn't help but notice the awesome tie! When I asked Elder Bennion about it he said someone by the name of Sister Wood had sent it to him. She is so good to ALL the missionaries!!!! 



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