I regularly read missionary letters. Over the years, I imagine it has been dozens, possibly hundreds. This week they were particularly poignant and inspirational, one letter in the midst of a particularly hard week and another noting what a privilege it is to be a missionary. I couldn’t have articulated their feelings better, so I am sharing excerpts with you:
Missionary Letter Excerpts
There are so many great things that come from being a missionary. In fact, my companion and I were talking one day about all the things you will only be able to experience as a missionary:
Only as a missionary do you have random people wanting to buy your groceries for you at Target or your meal at Chipotle. Only as a missionary do random people come up to you in a hospital and ask you to visit with their mother who just had surgery. Only as a missionary can you study the scriptures for several hours a day or eat at a different person’s house every night. Only as a missionary do you get to experience the joy when an investigator accepts baptism (or keeps any commitment for that matter!). Only as a missionary do you get to devote your whole time and effort to bringing people to Christ.
Missionaries are Representatives of Jesus Christ
As our Missionary Commission says, “How great is my calling?!” I often look at my name tag and think to myself what it means to be a missionary. I wonder to myself why people we have never met (are) so willing to do us favors like buying our food or asking us to visit their mothers? And then I realize how much that little name tag says about us. It is very humbling to me when I realize the trust and confidence people have in us because we are missionaries. They see our name tag and identify us as representatives of Jesus Christ. But even more importantly I am reminded of the trust and confidence our Savior has in us to represent him. I am incredibly humbled to know that the Savior has enough confidence and trust in me to call me to represent Him. I feel so unqualified, but I know if He can trust me, then I can trust myself. One of my most favorite scriptures is Alma 37:6 which says, “…that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass…” Whenever I feel unqualified or too small and insignificant, I just think of this scripture and am reminded of the great things God can do with little means. (See Alma 26:12).
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: for in him we live, and move, and have our being (Alma 17:27,28.)
Never lose hope! Never stop fighting!
In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life's challenges is his panacea.
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