Mission – Page 2 – shazzamber

The Cunning Plan

Okay, I need to preface this by saying that I DETEST that expression. For one thing, it sounds totally tacky. Also, we know that it’s completely untrue, and is in fact a considerably irresponsible mindset. You do not only live once. Also, I hope this doesn’t sound preachy or self-righteous. It’s just some thoughts I’ve concocted over the last few days.

Anyway… In Sunday School last week, my teacher mentioned that some people are upset that others who party and mess around and do whatever they want may ultimately achieve the same reward as those who live righteously. She said they “kind of get the best of both worlds” because they “get to do both”.

That really puzzled me, because I can’t think of a single sin that I’d be happy I “got to” commit. The truth is, there is no such thing as a worthwhile sin, there is no such thing as an action without a consequence, and there is no such thing as forgiveness without repentance. No matter what we do, or how small the sin is, we still have to repent, which is indeed a process and must be completed by everyone, no matter who they are or under what circumstances the sin was committed. Alma has plenty to say on this.

The response of one member of our class was that when we get to the other side and are able to see our lives, we will see both the good and bad, and only wish we’d been able to do better. In short, we will never at any time be glad we were able to sin. That’s that. If YOLO, then this would all be different, and nothing would actually matter.

I just want to say that I’m very grateful that we know that YDOLO, and we have the opportunity to repent and be forgiven. 22 days until I take off to share that message!!

7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be bmerry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.

2 Nephi 28:7-9

One of Those Lives

The other day on my bus ride to work, I had the unusual experience of sitting near a man without any legs. When I walked past him, I tried to smile, but he scowled back at me. At the next stop, the driver accidentally opened the wrong door twice, and in her embarrassment, said, “I guess it’s just one of those days.” and to those close to her, “Ever have one of those days?” In response, that man said, “Ever have one of those lives, where every day is one of those days?”

Awkward.

Most people don’t talk on the bus, so nobody responded to him, but what he said stuck with me all that day. One of those lives? Talk about sour attitude! I wanted to walk over to him and share words of encouragement, and discuss the Plan of Happiness or something, but my stop was next, so the opportunity was lost. In hindsight, I guess I don’t know if I would’ve had the courage anyway, because he was pretty darn grouchy.

Although I wasn’t able to talk to him and learn his story and why he’d come to feel about life the way he did, I was able to reflect on my life, and how it’s one of those lives where every day is my best day so far. Why is that? It’s because I know who I am, why I’m here, and where I’m going, and I have a clear understanding of what I need to be doing. What a blessing! Because of that, I’m just about to embark on a journey dedicated to sharing that message with as many people as I possibly can. I can’t wait.

Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God.

Waiting for the call to come

My assignment has been made, and my call’s in the mail. I cannot even express how incredibly excited I am. And nervous. But also very confident and peaceful. Heavenly Father has really blessed me this week to assure me that when I open the envelope and read my assignment, I’ll know that’s where I’m supposed to go.

Everyone asks me if I have a feeling of where I’m going, and I really feel like I’m going stateside. I’ll actually be very surprised if I get called foreign. But we’ll see! Anywhere but Utah and New Mexico… And even then I’d learn to love them.

In the meantime…

I keep waiting(Waiting)Waiting for my call to comeI keep on waiting(Waiting)Waiting for my call to come
It’s hard to beat the mail systemWhen I’m standing by the mailboxSo I keep waiting(Waiting)Waiting for my call to come
Now if I had the powerTo bring the mail any fasterI would have never missed classNo more forgetting about other things
And when I trust the SpiritWhat I get is what I got‘Cause when I put my faith in GodOh, I will know my call is right
That’s why I’m waiting(Waiting)Waiting for my call to comeI’ve been waiting(Waiting)Waiting for this all my life!

One Step Closer

Yes, this is indeed a screen shot of the successful submission of my mission papers. The completion came at no small sacrifice, involving a trip to the Mainland, an obtainment of a drivers license, a passport renewal and frantic search for lost passport, several doctors appointments, a dentist appointment, about 3 hours of phone calls in an attempt to get letters from my surgeon and doctor, Bishop and Stake President interviews, and other unforeseen obstacles involving fleeting moments of second-guessing. Satan has been hard at work.

What a relief to be done with that process! The ball is now officially in the Missionary Board’s court, and I can hardly wait. Updates to come.

It begins

Can you tell what this is? Probably not. So I’ll tell you:

This is a screen shot of the beginnings of my MISSION PAPERS!!! The process has begun.

More to come later.

It’s true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLO0DrlvLX4&feature=colike

I wrote earlier about how I’ve been studying world religions, specifically Buddhism. I just read What the Buddha Taught and Living Buddha, Living Christ, which are excellent, and it’s really got me thinking about our church. I know I already wrote about this, but these are further thoughts.

Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus. No question. It’s been really interesting to learn about when Suddharta Guatama became was visited and became enlightened, or when Guru Nanak had his vision before founding the Jain religion, or when the Holy Spirit appeared to Mahavira, but when Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to the boy Joseph Smith, they brought him the true and living gospel that has the FULLNESS of truth that we need to return to them, and there is life after death.

Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, and He really lived and died for us, and He knows each of us personally, and is the head of our church today. He loves us. He is real.

We have all this knowledge that so many don’t have! We have a prophet that speaks to us directly from Him! We don’t have dozens of break-offs of our religion because of various doctrinal discrepancies, because there is nothing missing. I’ve found many truths in these other religions I’ve studied, and it really has been very educational.

There is truth everywhere, and we can most definitely learn and benefit from those of other faiths, and by seeking truth everywhere, but we have the only complete and full truth. And we need to share it! AND I GET TO DO THAT IN 7 MONTHS!!!!!

Our church is perfect, and it is perfect because Jesus is the head of it. I’ve loved reading about the structures of other churches, and the different ideas they had for proper order and hierarchy, but everything about our church is exactly right. The people are imperfect, but the church is perfect.

There is no doubt in my mind that ours is the true church. I know it with all my heart. I have a lot to learn, and I’ve learned a lot from these other religions, and gained respect for each of them, but I would love to be able to add to their beliefs in the same way they’ve added to mine. Eternal life in the Celestial Kingdom with our Heavenly Father is a lot more exciting that Nirvana, which is essentially a state of simple existence/ nothingness. I’m down with Celestial glory. And we know how to get there!

I’m starting my papers as soon as I get home, which is in 2 weeks. Oh yes. Here I come. I hope I get to interact with some Buddhists, because I owe them a lot. I’d like to talk to some Jains and Sikhs as well. They are really wonderful people.

This is Real

If you can’t tell what this is, I’ll tell you. It’s a missionary name tag that says:

The Church of
JESUS CHRIST
of Latter-Day Saints
Sister Blair
Aukland, New Zealand Mission

In print.

That’s right.

Please hearken back to my 10th year when I bore my testimony in Sacrament meeting, and announced to the ward that I knew that missionary work was important and that the missionaries were declaring the true gospel, and that I’d serve anywhere, but I was going to New Zealand.

Well, there you go.
Oh, I turn 21 in 10 months. Just thought I’d make that announcement.

Now it’s Official!

Can you tell what this is? It’s my academic plan for graduating. And can you tell what is scheduled IN PRINT at the bottom? That’s right. Amber Blair has officially scheduled the mission into her life. Yep.