My friend Catherine taught RS this week. The lesson was about " missionary work" she asked me to talk about how it was to be a new convert and go on a mission. I meant to only take five minutes.. instead I took fifteen or maybe twenty but this is what I said
When Catherine asked me to do this I said no.. but she does not know why.. the reason is because when I was on my mission.. we would go to member's houses every night and every night the member would say where are you from and my companion would say wherever she was from in Utah or Idaho ( I had a few from different areas) but they were mostly from Utah and Idaho.. then they would ask where I was from and they would say WOW.. you live near DC I went there once!!! ..and my companion was ignored.. after awhile I would just say that I was from VA instead of outside of DC and if I just said VA then they would bring up Williamsburg..
Then they would find out that I was a convert.. and they would want to hear my conversion story .. every night they would want to hear my conversion story.. and some of my companions got so annoyed.. they did not want to hear about VA or my conversion story every night..and I soon began to feel like my story was not worth anything..and I should not even tell it..and so when Catherine called me and asked me to talk.. I felt like I can not do this..but then as I was praying I realized that everyone's story is worth sharing and these are my miracles, you have your own miracles.. and hopefully one day I will get to have a daughter or son that I can teach them to be confident and help them to know that their story is amazing..! and to never feel diminished by their story..
so here is some of my story...When I had been a member of the church for 15 months I decided to go on a mission.. the missionaries came over to my house one night and asked me when I was going to go on a mission I said " never" because I seriously thought that all girl missionaries were fat, nerdy and total losers..
they then said things to me like "well you probably could not go anyway.. you dont' even have any appropriate clothes.. and I found one outfit I could wear and I said I have this.." and they said wow one outfit.. that is all you have.."
that night after they left I kneeled down and I prayed and I felt like I WAS supposed to go on a mission.. so I called my bishop at ten pm at night and told him that and he said " how old are you and I said 24 he said when will you be 25? I said in two months.. he said no that is to old.. you need to stay here and get married" I said "OK GREAT to who?" ...I said I had really prayed and I really felt like I was supposed to go on a mission.. He said that he would pray about it and if I was supposed to go then he would give me my papers and if I was not supposed to go then to never bother him about it again.." I was so nervous.. because this was the first time that I had prayed and really felt like I got an answer but did I?? I was hoping that I did.. so I had to have a lot of faith.. then I went into his office on Sunday and he passed me my papers and said here.. you are supposed to go on a mission.. After that he told me that I had to dress like a missionary because I was wearing really inappropriate clothes.. I prayed and prayed and really wanted to go to somewhere in the US speaking English ( and I am not going to go over that whole story again because you can scroll down I just wrote that story a few weeks ago) I said Bishop Alires, I really feel like I am supposed to speak English on my mission and got to America.. he said why.. I said because I have a gift and my gift is to talk to people and to be a good speaker.. and I need to use my gift.. he said maybe the Lord does not want you to talk..
When I got my call to the California, Ventura mission speaking English I showed him that and I said " THE LORD DOES WANT ME TO TALK!!"
I am so grateful I served a mission some days were hard and depressing and crazy like the time my companion and I were tracting and she was like "this whole street is going to go up in flames" because they were so mean to us... some days were amazing and happy and cool like the time we were tracting and felt like we should go back to someones house and she wanted to be baptized but through it all I knew I SHOULD BE THERE...
once one of my companions said I don't want to do this.. why do we have to do all this work.. I said because WE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THIS AREA THAT ARE ORDAINED TO TEACH THE GOSPEL IN THE ENGLISH SPEAKING LANGUAGE TO THESE PEOPLE!!!!
I felt that way then.. and I still do..
I am so glad that Catherine is my friend and asked me to speak.. when she introduced me she said " this is someone I respect" WOW.. wonderful words from someone that is basically my hero...
also when I sat down my friend Jan and her daughter Sarah and my friend Julie said THANK YOU SO MUCH! and Jan said I wish you could speak every week.. ! amazing compliment..
and then when I was leaving a new lady Jenae was in her car driving away and she said " Hey Keli thank you for sharing that! " another amazing compliment!
I am so grateful I went on a mission!!! and am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!
When Catherine asked me to do this I said no.. but she does not know why.. the reason is because when I was on my mission.. we would go to member's houses every night and every night the member would say where are you from and my companion would say wherever she was from in Utah or Idaho ( I had a few from different areas) but they were mostly from Utah and Idaho.. then they would ask where I was from and they would say WOW.. you live near DC I went there once!!! ..and my companion was ignored.. after awhile I would just say that I was from VA instead of outside of DC and if I just said VA then they would bring up Williamsburg..
Then they would find out that I was a convert.. and they would want to hear my conversion story .. every night they would want to hear my conversion story.. and some of my companions got so annoyed.. they did not want to hear about VA or my conversion story every night..and I soon began to feel like my story was not worth anything..and I should not even tell it..and so when Catherine called me and asked me to talk.. I felt like I can not do this..but then as I was praying I realized that everyone's story is worth sharing and these are my miracles, you have your own miracles.. and hopefully one day I will get to have a daughter or son that I can teach them to be confident and help them to know that their story is amazing..! and to never feel diminished by their story..
so here is some of my story...When I had been a member of the church for 15 months I decided to go on a mission.. the missionaries came over to my house one night and asked me when I was going to go on a mission I said " never" because I seriously thought that all girl missionaries were fat, nerdy and total losers..
they then said things to me like "well you probably could not go anyway.. you dont' even have any appropriate clothes.. and I found one outfit I could wear and I said I have this.." and they said wow one outfit.. that is all you have.."
that night after they left I kneeled down and I prayed and I felt like I WAS supposed to go on a mission.. so I called my bishop at ten pm at night and told him that and he said " how old are you and I said 24 he said when will you be 25? I said in two months.. he said no that is to old.. you need to stay here and get married" I said "OK GREAT to who?" ...I said I had really prayed and I really felt like I was supposed to go on a mission.. He said that he would pray about it and if I was supposed to go then he would give me my papers and if I was not supposed to go then to never bother him about it again.." I was so nervous.. because this was the first time that I had prayed and really felt like I got an answer but did I?? I was hoping that I did.. so I had to have a lot of faith.. then I went into his office on Sunday and he passed me my papers and said here.. you are supposed to go on a mission.. After that he told me that I had to dress like a missionary because I was wearing really inappropriate clothes.. I prayed and prayed and really wanted to go to somewhere in the US speaking English ( and I am not going to go over that whole story again because you can scroll down I just wrote that story a few weeks ago) I said Bishop Alires, I really feel like I am supposed to speak English on my mission and got to America.. he said why.. I said because I have a gift and my gift is to talk to people and to be a good speaker.. and I need to use my gift.. he said maybe the Lord does not want you to talk..
When I got my call to the California, Ventura mission speaking English I showed him that and I said " THE LORD DOES WANT ME TO TALK!!"
I am so grateful I served a mission some days were hard and depressing and crazy like the time my companion and I were tracting and she was like "this whole street is going to go up in flames" because they were so mean to us... some days were amazing and happy and cool like the time we were tracting and felt like we should go back to someones house and she wanted to be baptized but through it all I knew I SHOULD BE THERE...
once one of my companions said I don't want to do this.. why do we have to do all this work.. I said because WE ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE IN THIS AREA THAT ARE ORDAINED TO TEACH THE GOSPEL IN THE ENGLISH SPEAKING LANGUAGE TO THESE PEOPLE!!!!
I felt that way then.. and I still do..
I am so glad that Catherine is my friend and asked me to speak.. when she introduced me she said " this is someone I respect" WOW.. wonderful words from someone that is basically my hero...
also when I sat down my friend Jan and her daughter Sarah and my friend Julie said THANK YOU SO MUCH! and Jan said I wish you could speak every week.. ! amazing compliment..
and then when I was leaving a new lady Jenae was in her car driving away and she said " Hey Keli thank you for sharing that! " another amazing compliment!
I am so grateful I went on a mission!!! and am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!
3 comments:
I understand the whole hearing it all the time thing and even sharing it constantly thing, it happens, your companions either got tired of hearing it day after day and/or got jealous that no one was ever as interested in their stories. And, telling something over and over can start to feel less special, but, that doesn't actually make it any less special. And, to the people you have told it, aside from your companions, it was the 1st time they heard it and it was special and strengthening to them. You shouldn't ever feel bad about sharing it if there is an interest from someone to know. And, as for the 15 min. thing, instead of 5min. if she knows you even half as good as I do, she would know that you would take more than 5 min. As long as the Spirit didn't get bored and leave during those 15 min. (so to speak, if you get my meaning), then, you were totally justified in eating up the extra time.
Hooray! i'm so glad I got to hear the rest of the story since I had to take G into the hall! ;) I am so impressed by your obedience and testimony!
Jenny- THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT COMMENT!!!it really touched me :)
Hannah-thanks you !!! :)
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