A Perspective from Papa

I thought I would share something with you about our mission. I'm so dumb for not having a greater understanding of what Heavenly Father has been teaching me for a life-time. I have done a good job so far on our mission of avoiding discouragement and depression; anxiety, well that's a different story. I think Satan knows there are many temptations that just don't work with me anymore. But if I'm not careful, I can get very anxious and a little depressed. He knows that, and I think that is the way he will try to disrupt our mission. What I seem to need to re-learn over and over is that discouragement, depression and, to some extent, anxiety, can be controlled with prayer and service. (I know that sounds easier than it really is, and I don't mean to suggest it as a cure-all that works for everyone in every situation.) We had a couple of very difficult days; everything we did was a disaster. To say the days were unproductive would be way too kind; everything went wrong. Then yesterday afternoon, we were exhausted and decided we needed to just rest. That was the mistake. Eventually, what I did was pray very specifically for something good to happen. Nothing very good can happen sitting around feeling sorry for myself. We then got up and went out to try to accomplish at least something and salvage the day a little. It was amazing how suddenly things happened that made the previous two awful days fade into history. What an amazing thing it is to be 8000 miles from home and know that the God we worship is very real and personal. He knows me and loves me. He doesn't always rescue me in the way I would like or on my time schedule, but that's because He knows best what I need; He knows the lessons I need to learn, the people I need to serve, the influence I need to have, the lives I need to touch. He will do it in His way; but He also knows when I really have had enough pain, discouragement, loneliness, etc., and rescues me at just the right time. I hope in some small way, our mission can help you learn some things along the way. Never forget the power of prayer, very specific prayer, and service. It is amazing how unimportant my worries and cares seem when I am serving others, particularly those who need me and whose lives are so much more simple and difficult than mine. Love, Dad and Papa