In the third and fourth months, 2015 A.D.
Recently my mission President asked each of us to be clean.
This seems like a simple request, and it ought to be, but I have been well
acquainted with much of the filth that exists in the world, as many of us have.
As fun as playing in the mud may seem at the time, it makes you dirty, and it
doesn't come out with a light rinse. I've been on the earth for many days, and
I've not avoided all the pitfalls, but I can trace back a long line of good
things that I've done.
Many days indeed have passed since, as a young man, I
applied for college, and as a newly ordained elder, gave my first priesthood
blessing, and as a newly called missionary, taught my first lesson, and as a
full-time missionary baptized my first family. Indeed, many days have past
since I learned to be patient. But I'm not done doing good or making any
changes I should to my life and character.
With the landfall of March, I hope to be a new person. As
children of Our Heavenly Father we are all intended to progress. If a day
passes and we have not grown or learned or changed, even by small degrees, we
are not fulfilling the measure of our creation.
God will, over the course of our lives, give us many chances
to learn, grow and change ourselves when needed. We call them trials. Although,
God would never inflict harm on us, he knows that all the love in the universe
would never foster the "mighty change of heart" or the "broken
heart and contrite spirit" that is required to return to live with Him, so
he allows Satan to test and try us.
Satan is real. Bad things can and do happen to wonderful,
amazing people because there is opposition. He would love for us to believe
otherwise. His work and his 'glory' is to destroy us.
Read and re-read 2 Nephi 4:16-35, and ponder on Nephi's
words. Satan hates every one of us, more than we can understand, don't give
place for him in your mind or in your heart.
And even all this by itself is not enough to come off the
conqueror. In addition to all of this we must cling to our Savior with all
diligence. Learn of Him, embrace Him and follow Him. He who is said to be the
"Light of the World" is indeed the only source from which darkness
flees.
Let us not sit in darkness, hoping, by and by that the
darkness will flee. But let us labor in seeking for the Light, that we may be
ready.
Time flies on wings of lightning, we cannot call it back.
Work while the sun is radiant. Work for the night draws nigh. As Jesus Himself
said "I must do the works of Him that sent me while it is day, for the
night cometh when no man can work."
* * * * * * * *
Before my mission I did everything possible to avoid being
labeled as childish, and rightly so, but we use the word 'childish' in such a
way that it seems we have forgotten the Savior's words about the attributes of
children.
I happen to be very fond of children and seem to understand
them on a level that is not very common. I enjoy talking to them, even when
they cannot yet speak their mind the way they would want to I listen with all
my heart, and look for ways to communicate. I then help them solve their little
problems which seem huge to them. It brings me great joy when I can see in
their eyes that they realized I helped them.
I've had many such experiences on my mission which was not
something that was mentioned in my call letter, at least not specifically.
However, they are treasured moments that help me remember that we are all part
of God's family and he blesses us when we serve each other. This service can
take many forms and has no age limit.
One of these experiences was last Saturday at a church
activity. It was the annual Relief Society activity, and there were hundreds of
faithful sisters and their husbands in attendance. There was dancing and
singing and food from every corner of the Philippines. I would have tried all
of it, but most of it was gone when I went back for seconds. Anyway, there were
many people there that I had never seen before. Members from other wards and
other stakes, and many of them brought their kids with them.
About half way through the activity I found myself just
outside the doors of the cultural hall where the activity was being held. I was
glad to be outside because of the hosts of people crowding the hall. As I was
standing there I saw a little girl. She couldn't have been older than 2. When I
looked at her, her eyes met mine and she had a distressed look on her face. I
thought it was because she was not accustomed to seeing tall Americans, but as
I continued to look at her with a questioning look on my face she locked her
eyes on me and began to walk towards me. I was confused. I thought she was
scared of me. In fact, I thought that was the very reason for the look on her
face, but she approached me.
As she drew near she reached out her hand and I took it in
mine. I was astounded as she then led me by the hand into the cultural hall,
still distressed and upset, but now hopeful that I would help her. By this
point I was very confused. I tried asking her questions to no avail. She didn't
say a word. But as we entered the activity another member recognized her and
noticing her distress picked her up.
This member then explained that he would take her to her
mother. Then he thanked me. I realized then that she was alone and looking for her
family, and no one had taken notice of her, until I saw her, and somehow she
saw something in my eyes that led her to think that I would help her. She
walked to me, a stranger, and without words I helped her. I don't feel as
though I really did anything. She led me, she walked to me, and she discerned
my goodness and I was glad to be there for her long before I understood her
problem. I was there to help.
I don't know her name. I don't know her family, I couldn't
even guess what ward she's from, and I will likely never see her again, but
sweet opportunities to help the Lord's little children are precious to me, and
I will remember her. I will remember her FAITH when she saw me and believed I
would help. I will remember her TRUST when she grabbed my hand with her tiny
one and did not doubt that I was good, and her HOPE when she pulled me along
not knowing where to go or how to her problem would be solved.
If you spend enough time with children you will begin to
admire their childish attributes of trust, love-unfeigned, humility and faith.
(just to name a few) It is one of my goals to become as a child in all such
ways. When I grow up to be a man I want to be submissive, meek, patient and
full of love. Even as a Child.
I know that I am a Child of God, and I pray that my age and
status and pursuits never interfere with that knowledge, and same to you. :)
Mahal kita kapatid
-Elder Southwick
* * * * * * * *
2 weeks ago I had been in Pasay 4th Ward for 5 months, and I
had taught hundreds of lessons, and talked to hundreds more people, but had no
real success. I didn't view my efforts as wasted, knowing that I had been doing
what I could, but I had come to the realization that a baptism was something
that would have to wait until my next area.
Then the sister missionaries told us that there was a family
they were teaching that might actually live in our area, so we tried to contact
that family. We then found out that one of their daughters had a scheduled
baptismal date for April 18, and it was going to be our baptism. The diligent
sister missionaries have taught Juliz 34 lessons in the last 4 months trying to
prepare her for baptism. She was baptized on April 17th and by her choice I
baptized her. She was confirmed on April 19th and I confirmed her. It was
awesome, and now this 9 year old girl that I met less than a month ago is like
a sister to me. She is so sweet and I hope I can remain in contact with her
forever.
I can truly testify that God's timing is not the same as our
timing, but now I see that not as a reason for patience, but also a reason for
hope. Even when I thought all hope was lost, and I thought there was not any
time left, the Lord stepped in and showed me that He can do anything with any
amount of time.
I'm grateful for the sisters that taught Sister Juliz
Naigan, and for the chance to be such a big part of her life. I'm often
surprised at the love Jesus offers me; confused by His timing, but humbly
accepting of it.
I love you guys,
-Elder Southwick
* * * * * * * *
I'm happy to report that my companion and I are still
together and still getting along great, and last Friday, 2 weeks before
transfer day my companion got a call from the Zone Leaders and they informed
him that we were being emergency transferred to a new ward the next day. We're
still in the same apartment, and we're still companions, but Elder Reupta and I
are no longer assigned in Pasay 4th Ward, but have moved to Pasay 3rd Ward.
It's such a close transfer that our house is still ideally
positioned to work there every day. One major difference is that Pasay 3rd
meets in a different chapel.
However, as a stake they're having a volleyball tournament,
and there was a game the day we were transferred. So on Saturday when we went
to the chapel to participate in a Ward Family Home Evening, we saw the teams
that were playing: Pasay 4th Ward, against Pasay 3rd Ward. My companion and I
really didn't know who to cheer for. We sat with Pasay 4th, but we didn't cheer
very much, aside from the occasional "Go Pasay". I didn't know what
else to say.
So, after 3.7 transfers in Pasay I was preparing for the
inevitable transfer to a new area and a new apartment, and to be assigned a new
companion, I thought I knew what the future had in store. I thought I would be
transferred on transfer day, but I guess that would be too predictable.
In other news, I finished the Book of Mormon again
yesterday. It seems to get shorter and shorter. Alma is always exciting, and
Moroni is a bit depressing. I'm haunted by chapter 9, but thank goodness for
chapter 10. It makes me feel less alone when I think of what Mormon and Moroni
went through. They witnessed the destruction of their own people, and were
forbidden to preach unto the people because of the hardness of their hearts.
They had distanced themselves from God so much as to obscure their view of good
and evil. They exemplified the doctrine that the Spirit does not always strive
with men. The wonderful gift of the Spirit of Christ is given to every man,
that he may know good from evil, but even this sweet gift can be driven away by
pride, and contention, and war.
I'm going to do all that I can to ensure that the Spirit
does not cease to strive with me. I will stand in holy places and be not moved,
and I will let charity fill my heart and mind, and I will follow the example
that Jesus set when he said: "For the mountains shall depart, and the
hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart, neither shall my covenant
of peace be removed."
I'm trying to be like Jesus, I'm following in His ways.
-Elder Southwick
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