It looks like many of my friends are going to school again, high school and college. So, to my folks who are going to begin studying again this week, I give you this message: Prayers are sent your way. You are probably thinking about the benefits of what you are doing right now, and how it will affect your future. You are probably thinking about what you are going to do to relax when the homework gets piled all of a sudden. You are probably already expecting stress, if not distress. Just remember to live in the present, learn from the past, and prepare for the future -- but live in the present! Enjoy the relaxed moments. Enjoy the busy moments. Make plans and set deadlines and times during the day to do things, and focus on what's important. Put the 30 minutes aside that you need to do something, and put aside some break time. If you feel like you need to relax, and there is something that you like to do that helps you relax AND is productive, like exercising, reading, playing the piano (my personal favorite), do it. Enjoy the busy moments and enjoy the relaxed moments. Your life is a gift from God, so why not we make the most out of it, and in the way He desires we would?
I have learned a lot from my service as a missionary about how precious time is. I've especially been impressed by what I have been learning just the past week. We try to be in and out of a house in 30 minutes, using 15 minutes to share a message and helping our investigators to change their lives for the better, and use another 30 minutes to try to talk to more people. And the things we help our investigators do require time too. Time and effort. But we try to help others to see the blessings of 10-15 minutes of reading the Book of Mormon, saying a prayer of 1-3 minutes at least twice every day, and going to Church for 3 hours each week, and we help them get as much as they can out of those 20 or more spiritual minutes every day, and that 3 hours every week, so that they can enjoy the real purpose of all those hours, which is coming unto Christ, developing a relationship with Him and experiencing the blessings of His Atonement.
So, I would strongly encourage you to enjoy every moment. Be patient with yourself, and trust in Christ and His Atonement. Try to look at your life from a 30,000 foot building, and trust that God knows all the details that you don't. Trust that He loves you, and that He is helping you to come unto Him if you seek Him, and that He accepts you as you are and is there to guide you to perfection. He only expects your best. Be thankful for the blessings you receive from Him. Learn of Him, and follow Him, and you will experience even more joy. Living the Gospel is not an easy way of living, but it is the happiest way of living if you allow it to be. I promise these things, and I leave them with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Have a wonderful week!
Elder Dredge
Elder Braden K. Dredge
Guatemala Guatemala City East Mission
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| Piano lessons in Gualan |
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| The very talented Elder Cifuentes |
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| Beautiful! |
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