Dobra Strona Weekly
Poland Warsaw mission
"The greatest Blessings are Found in the Extra Mile"
6 April 2010
Dear Elders and Sisters:
We thank Elder & Sister neiman for the following message:
When did we begin to prepare for a mission? My mind goes back to getting the papers in for application and interviews with my bishop. then I think, no, it goes fruther back. there are all the messages and teachings we receive; the llittle things of our youth and childhood. this is the case whether you are serving for the first time as a 19 year old, or as a 60 year old. Then I think that it had tohave begun long before, when we met in the councils in heaven. Our agency was offered to us at that time. We chose to follow our older Brother.
I wonder if we fully comprehended what it all entailed. We were bubbly as we envisioned our new advernture as we departed from the spirit world. Then, 19 years or (as in our case, 60 years) after our birth, we embarked on another exciting mission trail. There was in our preparation a dedication to the Lord's commands, an acceptance of the Lord's wishes where we were to serve, struggles to grow, lessons and languages to learn. Finally, we arrived in a foreign country where by the Spirit, we begin to comprehend the wishes of the Lord. Growth can be painful, but we realize that progression is ultimately satisfying.
What we experience is little compared to our Lord and Savior's preparation to complete our Father's plan. By His Atonement were the preparations for our salvation and exaltation. We strive to ponder on this marvelous thing. In the Conferenc addresses we hear the Lord's prophet and apostles testify ad teach of Him. the Lord commands that we take advantage of our 'Preparatory State' to sustain and learn to use the priesthood in the process of declaring the gospel of peace.
There is great joy as we witness the miracles in people's lives (theirs and our own). there is the look of understanding, the light of testimony, and the tears of joy! Truly the efforts to prepare, find, teach, fast and pray are the sacrifices we give to follow the exmample of our Savior. We share with Him the indescribable joy of their conversion. We also feel the deadening pain of their rejection of the message. We are hopeful that they will someday accept this message. Someone else will add to our witness and will testify concerning their acceptance. Perhaps when we return home we can give the same love to the new convert that we personally had not taught. Every effort to give love is a successful missionary moment; for in the esperience we learn to love like our Redeemer.
We must ask ourselves often, "Am I becoming what Heavenly Father envisions of me?" As we approach the end of this mission, He has the next one already planned. will we approach it with the smae anticipation as the first two? Will we take with us what we have learned? have we learned to love to the same degree as our Savior? We have a wonderful beginning. Go forth with joy expecting to witness more miracles. You will be the immage of Him. His image will be in your countenance.
We share these words, with love, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Amen.
Starszy i Siostra Neiman of Katowice.
