Wow. What a week. Happy birthday America! We had a great
meal at a members house. They hung an american flag and everything! They're
great. We took a 45 minute bus ride up into the hills to their house. It was
gorgeous!! We had 5 meal appointments this week... That goes down in history!!!
I love these people, but let me just say, I will be excited to be able to serve
my own portions again some day. hahaha. When they feed us, we start out with a
full plate of pasta. We're talking covering the whole plate and then some. LOTS
of pasta. And then, there's a serving of meat and some sort of vegetable. Then
there's a salad and some sort of bread. And then there's a fruit. And then
there's a dessert. These people don't mess around with their meals... Needless
to say, the skirts were fitting a bit tighter by the end of the week.
Well folks, I have been a full time missionary for 6 months
now. It's hard for me to believe that a third of my mission is already over! I
honestly can't imagine that day when I'll be a returned missionary. I refuse to
say "the day my mission ends" because really, my mission will never
end. It started the day I got baptized and there will never be an end. Sharing
the gospel and being a missionary is something eternal.
I love my mission. I love being a missionary. It's such a
special calling to be set apart LITERALLY for this short period of time. All
faults and weaknesses are magnified, and strengths sometimes become new
weaknesses. But during this time of being set apart, every moment of my day is
focused on service, change, growth, learning, loving, following the spirit, and
trying to be obedient. There is no better setting to change myself than in this
safe and set apart missionary bubble. Away from several of the worldly
temptations, the temptations become wanting to sleep in, not diligently
studying, taking too long of a lunch break etc. It's so hard some days to find
the motivation to just work. But I know that every single moment of this time
does not belong to me. I am here to serve my brothers and sisters whom I LOVE.
My salvation will partially be based off of how I use this time. When I
remember those two things, it's a little bit easier to get up and go. I love these
people here so much. I desire their eternal happiness. And when I flip my
thoughts from my own selfish desires, I am again motivated to work. My heart
aches when they don't keep commitments or choose to not progress. It aches not
because I am sad for myself, but because I am so sad for Heavenly Father. I
know He watches every one of His children. He desires their safe return. I have
the sacred privilege of sharing that with them. I have the special authority of
personally representing Jesus Christ and inviting others to make choices and
steps that will lead them back home. Although full time missionaries have this
special authority right now, it doesn't change the fact that our duty as
members of the church will ALWAYS be to invite others to come unto Christ. I
take comfort in knowing that my calling as a missionary is eternal and doesn't
end when I am released.
Participating in the work of salvation is the single
greatest and most meaningful thing I have ever done in my life. Please, don't
wait until you have a tag to feel this joy and meaningful purpose in your
lives. I promise you that your hearts will change, your desires, thoughts, and
feelings will change. The gospel will be rooted more deeply rooted in your
hearts. You will feel a greater appreciation for Heavenly Father and His
children. You will feel a profound influence of the atonement and more
gratitude for what Christ sacrificed for us. But more importantly, you will
understand a little bit better how much He and Heavenly Father love every
single one of us. You will feel the pure love of Christ work in your life, as
the attribute of charity develops naturally through your service to God's
children.
I have such a testimony of the importance of doing
missionary work and the power that it has to change lives on both ends of the
situation. I love this work and I plan to do it every single day for the rest
of my life.
I love you all. I have felt the power of your prayers this
week. I have needed the extra strength and support, and it has been there.
Thank you.
Be good!
Love,
Sorella Tokarski
