Falling in Love on the Mission:
I am not sure when the tradition began, but it has been common for missionaries to be told to ‘lock their hearts’ while serving a mission. By securely locking their hearts’, and perhaps by giving the key to their mothers’, it was hoped that missionaries would not fall in love on their missions.
What a terrible mistake. Any missionary who doesn’t come home head over heels in love has missed one of the most important growing opportunities that come from full time service.
The gospel of Jesus Christ has been defined as “all the doctrines, principles, laws, ordinances, and covenants necessary for us to be exalted in the celestial kingdom.” (https://www.lds.org/topics/gospel). Missionaries are told that the lessons they teach “contain the essential doctrine, principles, and commandments that [they] are to study, believe, love, live, and teach” (Preach My Gospel 29). Missionaries are also told to love their companions, love the people they serve, and to love the members. And certainly Jesus’ command to “Love your enemies” is more applicable than ever before (Matthew 5:44).
For me, serving a mission has been an incredible opportunity to grow in my capacity to love others and see them as their Father in Heaven sees them; his children. I have also gained a profound love for the simplicity of the gospel, and its universal application in the lives of all of God’s children. Indeed it can be said that I have ‘fallen in love’ with the gospel of Jesus Christ, with the people that I serve, and the people I serve with. Still working on loving my enemies.
Water to Wine:
Something else on my mind this week has been the first miracle that Jesus performed, as recorded by the gospel writer John. Found in John 2, the miracle is one of the most remembered acts of Jesus, but also perhaps one of the least understood acts.
In turning water into wine, Jesus was showing that his power was a power capable to transform. In fact, he can turn water to wine, just as we can be turned from our natural desires into men and women of God.
An important aspect of this transformation is obedience. Mary told the servants at the wedding “Whatsoever [Jesus] saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5). A miracle, even as wonderful as the transforming of water to wine, will take place within each of us who will do everything Christ commands us. And what is it that Christ commands us to do? “Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day” (3 Nephi 27:20).
Six Months to Six Pack:
This past week marks my last six months on the mission, which makes it seem only reasonable that my six month workout program will start. I have found that the mission is one of the best gyms available. Although there isn't a nice squat rack and barbell to train my body, the mission does include some of the best spiritual workout equipment on the market. In this aspect, I plan on coming home in my most spiritually strong state.
Questions:
Q:Have you learned much about politics in Indonesia?
A: Yes, but not too much. It is currently election season but being honest I don’t feel that things here are too politically charged.
Q:What is temple attendance like for the members in Indonesia?
A: By stake annual temple trips are planned for members who would other times have financial difficulty attending the temple. The trip normally has twenty people who go, and they attend the Manila Philippines temple. For the members who have the means to go the temple themselves, they often go to the Hong Kong Temple.
Picture of my district below.
Elder Allen.
