Why Serve a mission?

When I was 15 years old I listened to the mother of a close friend talk about serving a mission. For the first time I remember really wanting to serve a mission when I turned 21. I just had to hear hundreds of missionaries sing "Called to Serve" in the MTC! Time went on, and I prepared for the different eventualities of life. When the age sister missionaries could serve dropped to 19, I was super stoked! I was 19, almost 20! I could go early! Well, it turned out that wasn't the time for me. November of 2013, I felt strongly like I should reconsider the mission idea. I did, and the pieces of the puzzle fell into place :) This is all really nice, but it's not really the WHY, it's more of the HOW.

So WHY am I choosing to dedicate 18 months of my life away from my family, friends, school, and a closet full of clothes to talk to people in Missouri? Well, 33 years ago, 2 male missionaries started talking to my dear sweet Momma. The message they shared with her changed the course of her existence, and our family. I'm so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the knowledge I have of who He is, and what His plan for His children is. I can't help feeling like if I choose not to share this message with others that I'll be ungrateful for the amazing gift that I've been given. I've also been blessed with some talents that I'd like to give back to the Lord. As much as I love my family and the other things listed above, I love my Heavenly Father and Savior more. They have called, so I'm answering.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Sept 21, 2015 Sister Blonde

Hello Everyone!

I hope this letter finds you happy and well. Things are going pretty well in Columbia! This past week I was in Mexico, Columbia, and St Louis! (all in Missouri of course ;) I was in Mexico for an exchange, Columbia (because that's where I'm serving now), and St Louis for a mission conference! These town names still kill me. It's awesome :)

So I can't think of any particular funny story from this past week, but a few weeks ago I was in the car with these little kids, and one of them kept calling me "Sister Blonde". It was adorable! I love children! They're the best!

So the highlight experience of this week was definitely going to St Louis for Mission Conference! Elder C Scott Grow of the 1st quorum of the 70 came for a mission tour. Thursday morning we had a meeting with him with the mission leaders, and then we stayed with some other STLs and helped them work their area. On Friday, the other half of the mission had a conference with him. Boy was it powerfully refining! His wife got up and told us "You're all beautiful missionaries, and wonderful people, but you're not working hard enough." Talk about boldness! It was exactly the call to repentance that we needed. I cried pretty hard, but then was able to recommit to trying harder. I was able to feel the relief that comes from repentance, and trying to constantly improve, and not settling for "good enough". I know that if we want to be ready for when the Savior comes again, we are all going to have to work harder, and with greater unity. It was so exciting to see the potential our mission has as we stay close to the spirit and try harder each day to be better.

One of the things that Elder Grow shared with us, was how to have more powerful studies. He talked about how (the spirit)+(the word of God)=Spiritual Power! He suggested that we study by topic, and ponder more of the things that we read. It was awesome! I wish I could've put you all in my pocket so you could've been there to see it. It was amazing to feel of God's love through the correction process. We were corrected by God, not because we're not good enough, but because God loves us and wants us to become even better! It opened my eyes for my need to constantly strive to improve. Correction is a way we can know that God loves us and cares about us. He wants us to stay close to Him!

Saturday night we had a really neat experience. We were 10 minutes late to an appointment, and just as we got out of our car, a man pulled up on a scooter. We started talking to him, and at first he wasn't interested. I pulled out a Book of Mormon to give to him, and he just lit up. He opened up to us and told us that as he was driving home that night, he had prayed and asked God to let him know what he wanted him to do. He asked him to show him a sign, and within minutes, there we were on his doorstep. It was amazing. What really touched me was that it wasn't until he had the Book of Mormon in his hands that his heart softened enough to want to meet with us. We saw him yesterday and he had already read and found answers to prayers. Wow! I'm looking forward to meeting with him again this week.

Life is so great! I love being a missionary! I love this work! I am learning so much, growing so much, and learning to love the Lord! He is my rock. He is my source of peace. Keep looking to Him and being your great examples of service and progress with God by your side. Have a great week!

Lots of love and support,
Sister Edgel
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1 comment:

  1. UnknownAugust 24, 2016 at 8:53 AM

    I miss ya sista!!!! 🌠🌠
    Kellee from St Louis

    ReplyDelete

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