I'm not sure eye lids can drop much farther than this right now. Sheesh. Memorial Day hit like a truck BAM Library was closed. Sorry about that :/ Elder Wilson and I played basketball with the young men for literally five hours straight yesterday in the summer heat. No sunburn too. Bear with me if this email is scattered...I might just end it here and take a nap. jkjk
I've had the opportunity to go to a bunch of conferences and meetings lately and the reoccurring theme that's been dwelling in my mind is how to measure success. Not only as a missionary, but life in general. Sometimes I sit there in meetings with groups on groups of missionaries around me that have been out for twice as long as me and I can't help but shake my head. I know I shouldn't be judging or making conclusions based on 2 to 3 hours of conversation, but waaaaayyyyy too many missionaries get down on themselves for not achieving goals. What's worse is that many of them want to be discouraged when they don't reach a goal. The advice I've been giving those missionaries that I apply to myself is to block out the negativity of opposition. It's no easy task and is hardly is ever accomplished completely. The state of mind, however, can be learned only through obtaining an eternal perspective.
Her's an example of a miracle this week a lot of missionaries attempted to tell me was a bummer. Friday evening Elder Wilson, Brother Lund (remember him? crazy southern California guy who died and came back to life), his son Ty (10 years old), and I went out to downtown Frederick to proselyte. We weren't exactly sure why but we definitely felt impressed to scout out down there. Long story short, we were putting around the old town's brick sidewalks along the 1800's historical town homes when a certain encrusted door knocker stopped Brother lund and I in our tracks. It looked a bit funky ad upon closer inspection we discovered the house was nationally registered as "Historical Housing", whatever that means. Up I went, knocking the knocker while Ty was climbing the electricity pole like the mad kid he is. An artsy 50 year old guy opened the door, revealing the immaculate, intricate painting of the walls inside. Pur woodlands canvased on a sky of pinks and whites rolling hills of Frederick made out the inside of this man's home. It turned out Bob's mom is Mormon and lives in Elder Wilson's last area. Bob even had missionaries live in his home when he was a kid. He let us in on the spot to his light jazz hummed house where we talked and chilled for a solid hour and a half about life, our personal stories, the places we've been, and how we've gotten to know our purposes in life. Before we left he pulled out his ipad, flipped to his Facebook, and asked us if we knew of a guy named Faust. James E. Faust? yeah. Him. He clicked a mormon message video narrated by James E Faust completely about the Spirit. Bob wasn't interested in taking any lessons from us or coming to church, but i can 100% say that was the most positive door approach yet on my mission. Key indicator wise he was one person talked to. Personally, he was a pivotal check point for me spiritually. After that meet up I have been on fire, helping everyone i come in contact with.
Goals are not given to lead us to dissatisfaction or discouragement. We are truly successful when we give our all to become a better human being through the ever present sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we change, through Him that we achieve optimism, and through Him that we see how little a moment in our eternal lives a sudden discouragement may last. Take a step back to look at the grand scheme of things. One year ago I graduated High School in Gilbert, Arizona. A year later and I live in Maryland. Time is only measured by man and, as such, should pass by as we strive to reach the height of love God has set before us. Life is meant to be hard. Life is not meant to be discouraging. Keep a cheerful heart knowing there is always a friend walking your pains with you :)
I'm a ranter
hehe
xoxo
Elder Burgess
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