Hey all! This has been quite an awesome week, I must be honest. In terms of teaching and baptizing, it was not good at all. But in terms of working hard and experiencing personal conversion to Christ, it was amazing. If I were to come back home right now, I can confidently say that I have changed. But I am only just about to complete my fifth month in my mission, so I can't wait to see how much I have changed.
I don't think I could express how much better I feel about working than what I felt anxious to tell my mission president, President Christensen. I started a little practice each day this past Wednesday which is included in this passage from my letter to him:
"In terms of the work, it has been quite the same this week. All the investigators we meet with, or almost all, are not in their houses. We have met with a few members and less actives at least, which is good. And so we have been working with our Simi.
"In terms of attitude, we have improved quite a bit. I have been studying examples of love in the Book of Mormon every day since Wednesday ... The reason why I began the practice was because I was lacking in morale and I had already taken notes of the thoughts that I have had during the day which cause me to doubt and not act, and thoughts paired aside that would cause me to act in spite. And what I realized was that if talking with the people was something I woke up every morning wanting to do, to make a ton of new friends and invite them to hear more of what we testify in our encounters--indeed, if talking with the people was something I absolutely loved doing, I would not need to give myself a mental push to do so. I would simply be excited to talk with the someone upon seeing them in my path. This is the kind of love that I want to have in my heart every day, President.
"And so the first day I began this practice, I was very happy, and I was working hard, getting up quickly, walking fast, being a friend to every stranger and member I saw, and I hardly said a word about home, and I was not discouraged. The days following were quite similar to this pattern. I will have to admit, it is hard to keep the attitude strong and constant every day. But with a fervent prayer in expressing my personal conviction to love the people I encounter like Nephi loved his brethren, and Lehi his family, and Captain Moroni his country, and Alma his sons, I feel spiritually prepared for talking with whatever person might be in my way. I felt so much more converted to Christ overall this week."
I realized this week that if I could love talking with the people basically as much as I loved to play the piano, it would not matter to me what results we have at the end of the day. I have felt good about the work I've done at the end of each day because of this.
And so I would encourage you all to do the same, and apply it to your personal circumstances. What is that which impedes you? What is that which prevents you from experiencing true happiness and peace as made possible by the Gospel of Jesus Christ? I believe that by the divine grace of our Savior, we can not only be improved, but be changed completely. I firmly believe in not just the cleansing power of the Atonement, but also the strengthening power of the Atonement--that wonderful sacrifice that was in the process in the Garden of Gethsemane, finished on the cross, begun in service to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and continued after His Resurrection. I believe that repentance is more than putting in mental effort to change our thoughts and actions, but begging for a change of heart, for I know that if there is no disposition in the heart to do wrong, the mind nor the flesh will do any wrong, but rather bring to pass many good acts that would please our Heavenly Father. I know that there is power in the words of prophets, given by the gift of prophecy as well as by the gift of charity, insomuch that if we study and pray their words, we can experience the change of hearts as did the original listeners of their words.
I would encourage all who are willing to experience a change of heart, to study these scriptures, and analyze them in a notebook, with the question above, How is this an example of love? How was what so-and-so did for so-and-so an evidence of his love for them?
1 Nephi 3:7 (Nephi for his father and his God)
1 Nephi 7:6-22, 16:14-27 (Nephi for his family)
1 Nephi 8:2-38 (Lehi for his wife and children)
2 Npehi 4:15-35 (Nephi for his God)
Jacob 4:2-4 (Jacob for his brethren, children and grandchildren)
Enos 1:7-19 (Enos for his brethren the Nephites and the Lamanites)
Alma 39:1-14 (Alma the Younger to his son Corianton)
Alma 48:11-17 (Captain Moroni for his people and his country)
Alma 56:47-48 (The two thousand stripling warriors for the mothers)
As you study these scriptures, I hope that each of you have a look at mormon.org for some suggestions on how to Light the World. Let this be a season not just of receiving, but as of giving! I hope everyone has a wonderful one more week before Christmas! 7 more days!!!
Love you all,
Elder Dredge
Elder Braden K. Dredge
Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission
Just another day of tracting and hanging with the goats
Me and Elder Martinez outside our abode
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