Note: Daniel returns from his mission December 2, 2015, after being in the Philippines for two years. We're grateful he's had a chance to serve as a missionary, and are thrilled to welcome him home.
I've been busy doing tons of missionary things and fixing
all my past mistakes, but I love each passing day. Yes, there's sacrifice,
there's always sacrifice, but I love serving the Lord.
Today we had the privilege of visiting the Manila Philippines
Temple. It was great and very calming; just what I needed today. While in the
temple I considered if I truly understood the law of consecration, and I read
about it more after my session today. The Doctrine and Covenants discuss this
principle in depth multiple times. In one of these instances it mentions that
we are supposed to give back anything that is left over after we have satisfied
our needs and our wants. I think often if I am being thrifty enough or if I
should do better. Ironically, I want to only spend money on that which I need.
I don't want to want, or to indulge my "wants". I don't think it's
necessary, but the scriptures reminded me that I can want things. Things that I
don't need are still important. Blessings that we receive from following
commandments such as the law of consecration, are meant to please us. Our food
is meant to please us. This life is meant to please us. God wants us to be
happy. I'm not saying that thrift has no eternal value or that your personal
happiness is more important than anything else, but I realized for myself
earlier today that I need to be happy, and my righteous and even my natural
desires are meant to be bridled and fed. In the Lord's time of course.
I've been very blessed, and for most of my life I have
wanted for nothing, or very little, (Just ask my parents, I'm very hard to shop
for.) but those who walk in obedience to the commandments of the Lord will
always receive what they need, and sometimes the things they merely want.
Let us all remember that we are children of God, and we are
here on earth to be tested, but through the infinite wisdom of our Lord it is
intended to be pleasing.
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I'm going to be training a new missionary for my last 6 weeks.
In fact, everyone in my district is going to be training or in training for the
next 6 weeks. I have no idea what his name is. I don't know if he speaks any
English or not, but I'm going to love him. He will be my only begotten son in
the mission. I'm super excited, I think I'm hiding it pretty well, but nothing
can upset me right now.
I remember 6 weeks ago I thought I was going to end my
mission in Mandaluyong as a normal missionary, and now I've been called to one
of the highest and most challenging, and most rewarding positions in the
mission. At the same time I'll be a district leader. I'm going to be stressed.
I know that, but I can't think of a greater way to end my mission. :)
I love being a missionary. I can be a very stressful job if
you do it right. I've noticed that the missionaries who don't care are not
stressed, but are not happy either. They see no blessings from the half-hearted
work that they do, and soon forget why they even left home to serve a mission.
There are 5 sister missionaries in my district that are stressed; some more
than others. They understand that there are many sacrifices to be made in
missionary service.
I've learned to love hard work, and see laziness as the sin
it is. I love being active, and doing good things that require effort. I'm
surprised by how easy it has become to focus on the work. I remember in my
first area emailing was the one thing I looked forward to every week, and I
wished the end was near. Now I can truly say that I have found joy in the
journey. I look forward to being a missionary for 30 more days. I rarely think
about going home. It's drawn quite close, but I know that everything is in
order, and I don't have to worry about it or think about it.
Getting lost in the work has made it too inconvenient to be
trunky. I love this work too much. I'll wait to get excited about going home
until I start packing, probably 28 days from now. I know that there are still
people here that need my time and attention, and I know that Elder Dadis has a
lot more that he needs to learn from me.
Thank you for all of your letters of encouragement and love.
If you haven't emailed me yet, or it's been a while, I would really appreciate
even a small email from you, just one before I come home. I'm strong, but I
still need encouragement in the last and final stretch.
* * * * * * * *
Something that I have noticed and applied in my life as a
missionary is that a huge part of my life needs to be about giving to others. I
realized early in my mission that I'm not here to serve myself or to be served.
I'm here to give of myself. My rest, my time, my love, my effort and my heart.
In a physical sense, giving so much of yourself makes very
little sense. Physics will tell you that the more you give the less you have.
Physically speaking this is absolutely true. If you give your lunch to another
person, no matter how much they need it, you will lose your lunch. However, for
me, and for those who know of God and His matchless power, and mercy and love,
giving of your own possessions or efforts or time will always be a rewarding
experience.
400 hours from now my life as a full-time missionary will be
over, and I will be released from my prophetic calling to serve in the
Philippines. I'm trying my very best to not look forward to it yet. I'm more
concerned about those people that still need me, and whom the Lord has called
me to serve and bless for the next 400 hours.
I'm very grateful for all of the people who are working
together in harmony to make my home coming a wonderful and organized series of
events. If I had to worry about the plane tickets or the flight plans or the
reservations or the meals or any of the transportation I would not be able to
focus on my work for these final hours. So thank you for your quiet planning
and preparations. It means a lot.
I'm very grateful for every minute that I've been given to
serve the people of the Philippines. And when I'm done I will use every minute
to serve Americans, starting with my wonderful American Family. :)
Also, I'll have the opportunity to see my first apostle in
person tomorrow. I've heard rumors that it will be Elder Renlund. But I'm not
sure.
* * * * * * * *
I've been doing a great job of
not thinking about going home. Maybe it's because I can't wrap my mind around
it yet. I feel like I'm in denial. :) But that's okay for now. I know that I'll
be home and going through many major life changes in a week or so, but I'm not
ready to think about that yet. I've made plans and organized my life in such a
way that I don't stress about big changes, because I've prepared for them
logistically and physically, and I'll adjust emotionally when the time comes. I
thought the emotional trunky battle would be more of challenge.
The mission is still my life
for a week, so in my mind there's no reason to start thinking about home.
I was very happy to teach two
new families about the gospel this week. They are very kind and they love their
families, and they all said they would come to church, but not a single one
showed up. I was confused and a bit upset on Sunday (of course I didn't let it
show) and I still don't know all of the reasons why they weren't at church, but
I realized that the reason why it matters to me if they come to church or not
is because I care about them and desire their happiness and their salvation, so
as a missionary I can say I did my part and I was successful, because I love
those that I teach. :)
Of course I would be very happy
if they would come to church next week and continue to do so. Please pray for
them. Abrerra Family and Gonzales Family.
Thank you for all of your
prayers and words of comfort and counsel. Thank you also for all the
missionaries serving in your wards that you help, and feed. There are many
people who have in turn watched over and cared for and fed me since the day I
arrived in the Philippines.
— Elder Southwick
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