Called
to Serve
Dec.15, 2014
My 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.
I love my purpose! It is only one sentence long, but
it is powerful. What an amazing cause to dedicate this past 18 months to,
and the rest of my life. I truly feel there is no greater calling than
that of a missionary. What a blessing! This experience has changed
my life. I can hardly believe that it's coming to an end. The time
has flown by so fast, but I know that I'll remember it forever. Looking
back, so much has happened and I've met such incredible people. I love New England!!
I've learned so much about the gospel, and my testimony has been strengthened
so much. Man, trying to sum everything up is so difficult! However,
I've been thinking about it a lot because at transfer meeting I'll be giving my
golden truth. I feel like I have so many, but the one I'll be sharing is
this. On my mission, I've learned this golden truth that will change who
I am forever-that is, that when I labor building God's kingdom, God is really
building me. My mission vision, be a builder, has shaped my entire
mission. I've loved striving to work harder and show more love to help
people come closer to Christ and build on His firm foundation. It has
brought me such great joy and now I feel like I can see so clearly throughout
this whole process how God has been changing and shaping me. Helping me
build more firmly on His foundation as well. I am so grateful for my
Savior and Redeemer. For His perfect life, filled with service.
I've grown and learned so much as I've tried my best to emulate Him.
Service. I love service! It makes me so
happy! Being a missionary has helped me see even more that my whole life
needs to be filled with service! The song Called to Serve isn't just for
full-time missionaries, I know that for sure! I'm grateful I have the
chance to serve the Lord for the rest of my life! There was I great quote
Sister Maxwell shared with me that I just love! It's by Spencer W.
Kimball and says,
"Service to others deepens and sweetens this life while
we are preparing to live in a better world. It is by serving that we
learn how to serve. When we are engaged in the service of our fellowmen,
not only do our deeds assist them, but we put our own problems in a fresher
perspective. When we concern ourselves more with others, there is less
time to be concerned with ourselves! In the midst of the miracle of
serving, there is the promise of Jesus that by losing ourselves, we find
ourselves! Not only do we 'find ourselves in terms of acknowledging
divine guidance in our lives, but the more we serve our fellowmen in
appropriate ways, the more substance there is to our souls. We become
more significant individuals as we serve others-indeed, it is easier to 'find'
ourselves because there is so much more of us to find!"
So true! It is such a blessing to serve. Another
quote I love comes from M. Russell Ballard's book, Our Search for Happiness
(which we finished today! Yay! Such a good book!). This sentence
struck me because it pretty much sums up how I feel about missionary work.
"Weaknesses become strengths, challenges become opportunities, trials
become triumphs, and adversity becomes an adventure in the service of the
Lord."
I definitely feel like my mission
has been an adventure! This past week definitely was! In a nutshell...District
P-day. 4 member meals. Christmas decorating. Snowed in. Last district
meeting. Stuck in a member's driveway. 'He is the Gift'ing. Elder's
baptism. Afternoon in the hospital. Festival of Choirs! Cookies galore. Played
violin in Sacrament meeting. Last day of 12 week. Saying goodbyes.
It was the greatest last week as a missionary I could ever ask for! :)
Overall, I have a deep feeling of gratitude. Gratitude
for everything I've experienced and learned. It is so hard to put what I
feel to words! I'm grateful I can continue to strive to follow Jesus
Christ. I finished reading the New Testament today, and I'm so grateful
for everything I've learned from the scriptures on my mission! John 21 is
one of my favorite chapters. I learned a lot from Peter and what he did
when Christ's earthly ministry ended. He went back to his old life,
fishing. However, Christ appeared to Him and three times asked Him to
feed His sheep. He gave up his fishing before to serve the Savior and was
asked to continue to do so for the rest of His life. I know that I need
to continue to serve God the rest of my life, no matter what changes and
challenges come to me. I know that as I do so, I'll continue to be
blessed and feel true joy!
To close, I'd just like to leave you with my
testimony. I know that God is my loving Heavenly Father. He knows
me individually and He has a plan for me. At the center of that plan is
my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love Him. I know that because of the Atonement
I can be forgiven of my sins and live with Him again. If I do my part, I
can receive the greatest gift He has to offer, everything He has. Because
of this plan, I have hope and joy, and that joy has increased as I've shared
God's plan with others! What an honor to represent my Savior and this,
the true church, for the past year and a half here in the beautiful land of New
England. This is certainly the best mission in the world..for me!
I'm sad it has to end, but I wholeheartedly agree with
President Uchtdorf who said,
"How grateful I am to my
Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting
beginnings."
Sister Bergeson :)
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