“FEED MY SHEEP” – WEEK 4

1 month down!! I can’t believe I’ll be leaving for the mission field in 2 weeks! Yesterday we were informed that apparently a change was made at the Mexico MTC and the rest of our time in training will be a bit different. From now on, we won’t technically have P days and we’ll have class every day of the week except Sunday. This caused all the members of our district and I to get a little stressed, but hopefully we’ll still have time to get everything done before we leave! Yakima got a bunch of snow last night and our whole neighborhood is so bright and beautiful. I guess I should enjoy the snow here and in Tennessee because I’m sure there won’t be much in Costa Rica! 

The language learning never stops! Each week, we’ve set goals for how many new terms and phrases we want to learn. Hermana Green keeps me motivated and we’ve been trying to memorize at least a couple hundred new words and 40 new phrases weekly. We’ve gotten a ton of new challenges from our teachers! Our newest challenge is that no one is allowed to speak any English in class, our activities, or in companion study. This is actually super fun because it challenges us to put all of our new skills to good use. It also helps me to apply the language in every single conversation.

Hermana Green continues to bring so much light, laughter, and fun to my time in the MTC! I’m really glad I got paired with someone as weird as me. We always have our blankets on during companion study and the jokes never stop. She is also one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met and she has such a beautiful testimony. Her mission in Rancagua, Chile is currently open so she’ll be flying straight to South America in 2 weeks! I’m gonna miss Hermana Green so much, but I know she will be an incredible missionary. I can’t wait to keep up with her on her journey and see all the great things she’s able to accomplish.

I said goodbye to my wonderful mamá when she flew back home to Hawaii last Friday. I only cried a lot haha. I am absolutely terrible at saying goodbye. The month I got to spend with her during my home MTC experience was definitely the highlight of my year so far. It’s hard having her live so far away, but it helps us truly treasure the time we have together. I am grateful our Heavenly Father has blessed us with families, and has given us the opportunity to have homes as our sanctuaries of love, support, strength, and guidance. I am so thankful for my mom and her wonderful example to me of love and selfless service.

Now I’m able to spend the last little bit of my MTC experience with my dad and step mom Melanie at their home! I am beyond thankful for them as well. I also wanna give a quick shoutout to my two furry friends, Buddy and Jake, for keeping me company this week. Buddy often tries to be my lap dog during class, and Jake demands a constant supply of attention.

Not too long ago, we watched a really inspiring video titled, “If you love Me, feed My sheep.” It includes parts of Jeffrey R. Holland’s general conference talk “The First and Great Commandment.” Elder Holland’s messages always bring so much light and hope into my life! I encourage you all to watch it because it’s so wonderful! Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZASI21QAMI&feature=emb_title

In the video, Jesus is talking to his disciples, and He asks Simon Peter three times, “Do you love me?” “Lovest me more than these?” Peter responds, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.” To which the Savior says, “Then feed My sheep.” (John 21:15) Jesus didn’t need fishermen, He needed disciples and He needs them forever. He needs someone to save His lambs. He needs someone to preach His gospel and defend His name. He needs someone who will love Him enough to stand as a witness of Him in all things. I’ve learned more and more that this is our purpose in life, and what our purpose is as missionaries! We’ve been called to feed Christ’s sheep by loving them, serving them, and bringing them the joy of the gospel! We want to share the knowledge of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for us! Because of Him, we can live again. We can become perfected, just like our Father in Heaven is perfect.

Our first and great commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. He has said, “if ye love Me, feed my sheep.” He invites us to minister to others, love them, serve them, and bring them the joy that comes from knowing their Savior. This is how we can show our great love for Him. Our second great commandment is like unto the first: love thy neighbor. We can accomplish this commandment by following the first commandment, and by accepting our Savior’s invitation to feed His sheep and love them. Elder Holland says, “So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give, in demonstrating our love of the Lord.” As missionaries, this is our calling. In each of our lives, we are to follow the Savior’s example of love, service, and selflessness. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ’s perfect example!