SPANISH!!!!! WHAT!!

Spanish my second language:

When I received my mission call I was called to learn and teach in the spanish language. Being a missionary is completly voluntary but there are certain standards in order to quaify, and this is a process that takes a little bit of time filling out paper work and being interviewed. After all the paper work is completed the papers are sent to Church Headquarters in Salt lake city where the Prophet (currently Thomas S Monson) and the twelve apostles ask God through sincere prayer as to where He wanted me to serve. I did not have a say in the matter, my calling came from God. The Lord wanted me to serve here in Santa Rosa and to learn spanish and then to teach in this language for all those who speak Spanish living here.
It has been interesting learning a new language. I had 9 weeks of training and then I came here to talk and do 'missionary things' in my new language. I am sure there are many people who know what it feels like to be completely lost in a conversation or to try to answer the question and have someone answer for you because they do not think you are capable. It is frustrating to want to speak with the people and not be able to.

Sometimes I would sit in a lesson and not understand a single thing that went on and then my companions would look at me expecting me to say something. I would freak out thinking, I do not even know what this person has been talking about for the past 10 minutes and now you want me to say something??? 

Sometimes in our lessons there are people who start crying because they are having a hard time with the things in there lives, sometimes there is laughing I didn't catch the punch line.... so I pretend to laugh while everyone else is rolling on the ground from laughter. What?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Yeah I did not know what was going on. Or sometimes there is an intense story being told and my companion looks at me and says Do you understand? And I am wanting to say yes but really I have no clue what is going on so she says I will tell you later.

The Lord was teaching me patience. Patience with myself. When I exercised faith and trusted the Lord that he would help me and then I went and did the things that were expected of me I was able to learn and grow and slowly I learned to understand the language and even though I still have to learn more and improve I am almost able to actually communicate with people and they can understand me. It has been three months. I know that with out a doubt that I could not have done this on my own. I have taken one step at a time little by little and with my faith and my diligence I have been given the gift to understand. I am amazed at the power of God and I know that He is looking our for me.

This is one of my favorite Mormon Ads!

It is interesting because this small trial that I have to try to understand and learn a different language is a good analogy of life. Are we not all here not exactly knowing what we are doing? We can't remember anything about where we came from or we don't seem to know or remember anything beyond this life. And yet we are here. Does it every feel like you are lost? My testimony of Jesus Christ gives me understanding of why I am here and what I need to do. I am able to be guided through this life with out getting caught up in all the menial things. It is a process, we learn one thing at a time until one day things connect and start to make sense. (2 Nephi 28:30) Kind of like putting words together to make a sentence or sentences together to make a phrase. When this happens we feel so blessed to be able to live this life, serve God and have pure joy that comes through our Savior Jesus Christ.

Discipleship

I have been thinking of my one of my favorite songs that touches my heart every time that I hear it. The word are so very beautiful and describe beautifully how much we must love our neighbor who ever they may be.

And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow being ye are only in the service of your God.    Mosiah 2:17

Think of some one whom you love dearly. Then imagine that they were in some deep trouble. What would you do? 

Now imagine that you are walking on the street and you see someone in need of help and it appears as if they cannot help themselves

What would you do?

I pray that people in the world have a kind enough heart to offer the assistance needed. 

Everyone is loved by someone. 

And we can feel this love if we let Christ into our hearts and feel His love. 

Christ taught:

35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:35-41

This is a song text written by James Montgomery. It has a beautiful imagery that expresses our devotion to Christ must be manifested by the way we treat our fellow brothers and sisters here the live on the earth.

"The Good Samaritan"

A poor, wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief              
That I could never answer nay.
I had not pow’r to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.

2. Once, when my scanty meal was spread,
He entered; not a word he spake,
Just perishing for want of bread.
I gave him all; he blessed it, brake,
And ate, but gave me part again.
Mine was an angel’s portion then,
For while I fed with eager haste,
The crust was manna to my taste.

3. I spied him where a fountain burst

Clear from the rock; his strength was gone.

The heedless water mocked his thirst;