So four weeks already! This week is anniversary week - the 26th. It's hard to believe that a month has already passed - 11 to go, but I'm not counting! I'm grateful for the flexibility that they give to senior missionaries. I'm sure they've learned by experience that the best way to get old folks to go is to let them see their grandkids and talk to their family and friends whenever it's necessary, or not necessary. I enjoyed going down to Highland yesterday to do my laundry (a necessity!) and go to Sarah's soccer game - they won! Yay Sarah! Wish I could just swing up to Idaho to see Tyler's or Washington to see the Wengreens. But for now I'm just grateful to be near Coray & Family!
As I go through my journal for the week, I realize that my days are going to be so similar. I did get two new projects added to my list of responsibilities that the previous sister didn't do. I love that actually. I'm grateful that they can trust me to do it. I even got a handshake from the mission president this week. He usually walks past my cubicle without glancing my way - he's busy, I get it. But apparently the executive secretary talked about me in their presidency meeting and said I was catching on fast and doing a good job. So President said, I hear you're doing a great job, or something like that. So, yay me. 😊
I may have mentioned that every morning we have a zone devotional. This week there were a couple of messages about Joseph Smith. One talked about a comment from Lorenzo Snow, who knew the prophet well. He had seen the imperfections in Joseph, but marveled at how the Lord was still able to use him for His purposes. In a BYU fireside given by Neal A. Maxwell, he said, "One of the great messages that flows from the Lord's use of Joseph Smith as a 'choice seer' in the latter days is that there is indeed hope for each of us! The Lord can call us in our weaknesses and yet magnify us for His purposes." That is such a sweet thought to me. We don't have to be perfect in our callings or responsibilities, but the Lord will overlook our weaknesses even when the world may not; and He will allow us and help us to do what is required to build His kingdom.
Here's the full talk. It's so good!
A couple of days later we sang "Praise to the Man" in devotional - just 10-15 senior missionaries in a small room. But the power of singing that there as a missionary was so profound to me. I've sung that hymn in some pretty amazing settings - at the Nauvoo Temple dedication, in the Conference Center and Tabernacle - and yet the emotion of it overwhelmed me with gratitude for being able to serve here and sing in a building dedicated to Joseph's memory.
I'm grateful for my testimony of the Prophet Joseph's divine calling as the prophet of this dispensation. I don't need to know or worry about his imperfections. All I need to know is that the Lord called him to be His servant in restoring the gospel for us in our day. I'm grateful for our pioneer ancestors who gained this testimony and remained faithful so that we could enjoy these blessings.
So grateful for the flexibility they now give to Senior Missionaries, and that you are able to see and visit with your family! Loved the quote you shared about not having to be perfect in our callings and responsibilities, and that the Lord will overlook our weaknesses (as I am pretty fraught with them). Way to be catching on quickly and for being given some new projects as well!
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