Monday, January 22, 2018

Monday, January 22, 2018 ~ Week #26

Hey folks! I hope everyone has had a wonderful week this week.

Elder Dredge is still struggling to sleep, this is for sure. I am also seeing clearly a few of the weaknesses I had before the mission, mostly in the social aspect. But I am honestly still happy. I am incredibly grateful to be serving a mission, and I love having this opportunity to learn. I love having the opportunity to learn about myself, my personal weaknesses and strengths. I love learning Spanish, and I would love speaking it, reading in it, and even writing it; listening to it is still tough at times, but thankfully not as much as before. I am thankful for the support and the encouragement that I have had before the mission to serve, from my mom and my dad, from my grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins, from my sister, as well as from my friends, in the Church or not. After all the struggle, I am simply full of gratefulness to be able to serve.

After contemplating my situation a bit, and talking with my companion Elder Martinez, I realize that love for others is what helps the most. I have felt more happy on my mission when my focus has been on others and not on my own struggles. I feel more happy now upon thinking this, because I do not have to burden myself thinking about what I struggle with, and rather I can lighten myself up with the thought of helping others out with their struggles.

And I just want to extend a humble invitation to you, whoever is reading this, to strive to help others in ways that are within your ability. Our Heavenly Father has blessed each one of us with unique talents and abilities, that surely enough, we can help someone out in our own unique way. It doesn't matter if it is small type of service or a big type, it just matters to know what kind of service you are able to do, and to do it. And I know from personal experience, especially from my own musical gifts, that if you continually strive to use your talents and gifts and abilities and skills to serve others, and allow yourself to be open for these opportunities, these will undoubtedly increase unto you, by the hand of the Lord. I encourage you to ask for the gift of charity, the pure love of Christ, as directs Moroni in the Book of Mormon (Moroni 7:45-48), that you may always be willing to look for what others need help with and to help with these things. I encourage you to serve to the ability that you can, and to do more once you know you can. I promise the hand of the Lord to be upon you in your efforts to love others. I testify of these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Have an awesome week, and be of good cheer!

Elder Dredge

P.S. I brought my camera to the computer I'm using but I forgot the extension to use to send photos so I will send photos next week.

Elder Braden K. Dredge
Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission

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