July
9-18, 2014
The
first week in the MTC was filled with introductions, learning and awakenings
for Alecia! The day she arrived in the MTC (July 9), she was one of 600 new missionaries that day! Yes, 600
NEW missionaries in one day, 22 of
whom are ASL missionaries. Her “district” includes eight missionaries, six of
whom are sisters. Her companion is Sister Brown and Alecia says she is very sweet.
This
blog post is rather long because it includes some excerpts from her first day
in the MTC and the following week, so bear with me. Please be sure to read
though because as her thoughts progress, you will see tremendous growth JUST IN
ONE WEEK; I’m so amazed and feel so blessed by Sister Abeling.
Day 1
“As soon as we dropped off our bags to our room
we went to class and the learning began. The teacher didn't speak a word
although she is hearing, the others teachers are Deaf. I am so thankful I am
serving ASL because I felt right at home right away. We were in the classroom a
couple hours and then I think we ate food – I forgot already, it's crazy I feel
like I have been here for weeks. Holy No Naps Batman!
“It's different but I think I am adjusting well.
During lunch on Wednesday, it hit me hard that this isn't for a day and that I
wasn't going home that night or the next, I wasn't going home at all for the
next year and half so it felt like a ton of bricks. I almost wanted to cry but
I ‘pulled myself together woman’ (Edna from the Incredibles – oh that's another
thing all the sisters in the ASL family here we are constantly quoting movies
and I break out in song anytime someone says any word to a song, I should have weaned
myself off the music it's starting to show J).
“So after lunch we went to this huge group thing
called People and Your Purpose where
there are real investigators to talk with and it's really cool. The first guy
we met was George, who is a quiet, humble man of few words and with a soft
spirit. What I took away from meeting our first investigators was to LISTEN,
like really listen and hear what they are saying.
“The second and most important thing that hit me,
just like at lunch, is that THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME. This whole thing – it’s not
about me. It removed that weight and I felt less burdened and more motivated to
work harder for people like George who are searching for answers and for people
to just listen to him. My obedience to all the rules (even the silly ones) will
help bring the spirit, which is mandatory for teaching and bringing people unto
Christ – and ultimately happiness. So that was a great lesson for me.”
Week 1
“I think the district is getting more and more
comfortable – we are like a family, there are a few nuts but we all need each
other ;). Elder Jackson is Deaf and I was blessed to interpret for him, which
has been nice – I feel right at home signing again J! I hope he understands everything.
“I wanted to share a journal entry from this
week:
"Man of man. This is a trip. Full of ups
and downs and lots of highs and lows but man the highs are sweet and the lows
don't last long, I think because I'm learning this is the Lord's work. Some
things that have really hit me this week are:
·
The Lord doesn't need me in His work.
It
is not as if He couldn't do this without me. For Heaven sakes, He is a Perfect
Man, He is the Lord and surely He would make a way for His work to be done.
Talk about humbling. At first, it's like, "Okay, so you don't need me? SO
I can go back home to my Netflix binges and you'll be good with
everything?" At least, for a millisecond that thought may have ran through
my head, but it didn't stay long and it was replaced with the word
"privilege." It is a privilege to be helping in His work. I thought
back to the first time we met some investigators and just being able to listen
to their stories knowing you got to share a part of the missing piece in their
puzzle, and listening to their own testimonies of how they knew the gospel is
true. What a sweet work it is, being in the business of making people happy. It
goes beyond any corny joke I could tell to get them to crack a smile for a
minute. It's a message that should they decide to accept, gives them the
opportunity to experience everlasting joy and even strength on their worst
days.
·
I have learned this is not my message.
It
is the Lord's message and everything I teach, say, do or think should reflect
back to His message. With a shiny conspicuous name tag on my chest every day, I
am representing two names. My family's and My Lord's. People are always
watching, some are just waiting for me to mess up or whatnot. But it is always
going to be there on my chest for the next 18 months. I should wear it with
humility always remembering who and what I stand for.
·
Faith without works is dead.
Holy lightbulb man. If nothing else, THIS is what I have learned. We
spend hours upon hours a day in a classroom doing personal study, companionship
study, language practice, etc. all to prepare to teach about Faith in Jesus
Christ and how to return to live again with Heavenly Father in happiness.
Repentance, baptism and enduring to the end – a message founded on faith; that
is our purpose, is to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them
receive the restored gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement,
Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the
end." There it is. The purpose we recite in sign every day. MY purpose for
leaving behind school, my family and friends. And let me tell you, for having
my nose in the scriptures more than I ever have in my life, I could not feel
more insufficient. There is no way I have all the answers to life and God's
mysteries or even just my own basic questions. How in the world can I teach someone
and expect their hearts to be converted if I don't have all the answers? Well,
the answer is: I have no idea.
But I can tell you the church today is millions strong and it was not
because of missionaries who had all the answers. That's why we are here, to
walk by faith not by sight. James 2 :17, says "Even so Faith if hath not
works is dead, being alone." What this means to me: Press on. Carry on as
Elder Cheney would say. It means do what is right even when you don't
understand.
Another
great scripture, this one's from the Book of Mormon, "An now, I, Moroni
would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that
faith is things which are hoped for and not seen: wherefore, dispute not
because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your
faith." Ether 12:6. Just because we can't see doesn't mean things aren't
true – check out Alma 32:21, "And now as I said concerning faith – faith
is not to have a perfect knowledge of things (CHECK.. that's me); therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things
which are not seen, which are true." So if you don't want to take my word
for it...
“I was talking to my companion, Sister Brown
tonight about some of the things I was struggling with. I told her that
sometimes I just don't feel qualified for this work, but that I have faith that
if I seek out answers they will come – perhaps over time, maybe not until that
Great Day but I am sure they will come. So we were talking about baptism and
recieving the gift of the Holy Ghost for our investigator Jamie and I brought
up something I had read in the My Preach
MY Gospel manual.
"[Baptism] is a sign or ordinance."
Referring to baptism as not just an ordinance (or covenant to God) but is a
sign that reminded me of an analogy. Someone who says, I love God, I have a
relationship that is personal therefore I don't need to go to church reminds me
of telling a family member you love them. After a while, "I love you"
becomes words in thin air. My mom and dad for example, I grew up leaving off to
school every day with an "I love you have a great day!" but it was
the times I left my flute or homework or take-home quiz at home on the counter
and I called them at work and they drove from in town to pick it up and brought
it to me at school, not once but several times. It was all the times I called
my dad for a minuscule question but he answered my call in the middle of his
corporate meeting. My parents showed me through these "signs" that
they loved me. It is a sign to my Lord that I continue to stay focused and try
to work hard to show Him I love Him. Christ himself was baptized not because He
needed to be – I assure you a Perfect man like the Son of God didn't have a
need to be baptized – but because, "He witnessed unto the Father that He
would be obedient unto Him in keeping His commandments." 2 Nephi
31:7.
“That is why I am here, not that going on a
mission is a commandment, like I said the Lord doesn't need me. I am here to
teach others, the importance of following His commandments. I promise it brings
blessings. Above all, it brings happiness. Oh and in those moments when I
question what I'm doing here or what I would be doing if I weren't, I think
about how Christ did what he did because He loved his Father. I want to be like
Him. And I’m learning I must be the first person to convert. In the name of
Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Sister Abeling"
