He's on a mission right now in the Philippines. I've always been completely horrible at writing missionaries, but I told him I'd write him once a week. I would be better. I missed the first week and felt terrible, so I wrote him the next week. And... that's the last time I wrote him :/ I'm a terrible friend, I know it. I don't know why it's so hard for me to just make the time and sit down and write. Especially with him, all I have to do is send him an email. With all the hours I spend online, I have no excuse. And that's exactly the topic his most recent email home talked about. There are no excuses.
I'm going to copy and paste, because paraphrasing and summarizing wouldn't do him justice. He's a genius.
"Dear Family and Beloved Friends,
I'll begin this week's email by sharing something I've learned with you, perhaps one of the most important of my mission, if applied properly: God doesn't make excuses. So often in our lives, we are intimidated and overwhelmed by the tasks that loom on our oncoming horizon. The mountains we are called to climb at times appear too high, too steep, and too laden with entangling foliage to be conquered. As I've examined the lives of those I've taught, I've noticed that the ones who experience what Alma termed a "mighty change of heart" (see Alma 5:14) are those who are willing to sacrifice a portion of their desires, fears, habits, and hobbies to the Lord, if they are out of line with His divine counsel and teachings. Such sacrifice is abundantly apparent in any success achieved in life. To cite examples from history, the founders of the United States of America placed their lives on the line in signing the Declaration of Independence. Those soldiers who have fought throughout the history of our country have risked life and limb--and have often given them--to preserve the cause of freedom and peace. The successful scholar knows that knowledge doesn't just drop randomly into our thoughts, but is bought with the price of deep pondering, anguishing study, and continual trial and error. So it is with life. Having given us a knowledge of good and evil, God has given us a choice. Christ has invited us to come unto him through the waters of baptism, without which we cannot receive a remission of sins. Some may think this is unfair--why would God require us to meet some requirement to obtain forgiveness or to enter into His rest? What end can such attain? The answer is simple: He wants us to attain greater joy, greater righteousness, and greater faith than we have now, and we cannot attain that unless we make the sacrifices and do the work necessary to achieve the task. The work is the process by which we are refined and perfected. It roots out our evil habits and lets us live lives free from the constraints of addiction, the blindness of greed, and the pains of regret. It shows us a better way. And now, I would like to point out that better way in the lives of a few of our investigators.
David and Kiel are two young men, ages 18 and 21 respectively. Both work at Jollibee (a popular fast food restaurant here in the Philippines) and call us every time that they are both free at their apartment to be taught. Since beginning to investigate the church, they have changed their work schedules and patterns of their lives in order to keep the commandments required for baptism, and haven't once made an excuse.
Jessica and Jallean are two investigators who live very far away from the church. After about a one kilometer walk from their house just to get to the road, they have to catch a jeepney (if you don't know what that is, look up a picture on Google) to ride the twenty minutes to church, which they pay with their very meager funds (they live in a bamboo hut in the middle of a sugar cane field).
"Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven," said W. W. Phelps. I know this principle to be true. I challenge each of you, when faced with the question: "Why is this so hard?" or find yourself thinking "I can't do this because of __________," remember that Jesus Christ gave His life for each of us, and did so without complaint. I know that as we sacrifice for Him, God will bless us with happiness and success in all we do in this life, and bear you my witness thereof."
Seriously. Why is he so amazing? That is exactly what I needed right now. And I didn't even know it. All the little things I've been planning on improving that I've just said, "oh, it will come in time," haven't. I should be completely used to a normal sleep schedule right now, but guess what time it is? 3:30am. It's ridiculous. Terrible. I keep pushing it back and just saying it takes time. But that's not true at all. It takes sacrifice. It's a sacrifice I need to be willing to make. Sleeping during normal hours is scripture. (D&C 88:124. I've quoted it before.) And all the other little changes in my life that need to happen. They require sacrifices. This procrastination business is just excuses I keep making for myself. There are no excuses. David made that very clear. It all made complete sense to me, reading through his letter. I knew what I had to do. But what really hit me was remembering "that Jesus Christ gave His life for each of us, and did so without complaint." He had every right to complain, let out a little grumble or word of discontentment. But He did no such thing. He really was perfect in any way. As much as I love David and think he is the most wonderful example, the Savior is the Ultimate Example. He faced everything, more than man can bear. I owe my life to Him, spiritually and physically. I love Him. He is my Best Friend.
"And when I was weak, unable to speak,
Still I could call You by Name.
And I said, 'Heartache Healer, Secret Keeper,
Be my Best Friend.' And You said, 'I Am.'"
I will make this sacrifice for my Lord and Savior. He is worth it. I love Him that much.
Thank you, David.
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