How's it going?!? Things here in Aussie land have been rollin along. Weeks fly by and time is just going by so fast. So I think the last email I sent was at the end of last transfer, so updates:
- Still with Elder Lee (이규배 장로)
- Still in Bankstown
- No longer District Leader, just focusing on training Elder Lee
- People still freak out finding out about my Native American background
- We got Facebook taken away from us as a mission and it's actually been SO NICE (highly recommend to yous to take a break from social media)
- My Korean has actually improved since being with my Korean companion, but still a very long road to go...
- We've been helping teach this Korean guy that one of the Chinese Sisters found when she served in the city, but... yeah it's complicated...
- They say that the "Mission is the MTC for life". I can testify that this is true, and has been all too literal... I'll just say that Elder Lee is very much like my own son... Not even joking...
Well today I hit my 11 months on the mission. It's been quite the journey. Next month I'll hit the halfway mark, but since I'll be going home a bit early for school, it's like I'm already over halfway. Crazy.
Yesterday, I was sitting in Sacrament with a lot on my mind. I'm definitely at a hard point in my mission, where a lot has been going through my mind. I've come to love the Sacrament because it's become a time of reflection, a time receive answers to my prayers and a time where I can receive guidance if I soften my heart and am willing to accept the guidance given. Yesterday, was one of those experiences. I sat there and was reflecting when the scripture Alma 23:6 and these thoughts came to mind,
Alma 23:6
And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles IN them—yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away
"Although you may not have seen, witnessed, or performed many miracles, the miracle of your mission has been the change taking place within you. Much like the Anti-Nephi-Lehis at the time of this scripture, the miracle in their life was 'the power of God working miracles IN them', which resulted in their conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and never falling away. So the miracle of your mission is the change you are experiencing. Your heart, mind, desires and so forth. This is the miracle of your mission."
My heart was touched as I felt the chills run through my body, confirming the thoughts in my head. Looking back, this really has been the miracle of my mission as my conversion and knowledge of the Gospel has deepened. Christlike attributes, such as patience, charity, humility, virtue and faith, have become more apparent (hopefully, at least just a little). This mission has been challenging and very different than what I expected. However, I will be forever grateful for this. The miracle being worked within me is far greater than any miracle I may see or be a part of. Laman and Lemuel had miracles done TO them, but that is where it finished. They never allowed those miracles to work IN them. So just take some time to think about your conversion. Are the miracles around you just happening TO you or are you allowing them to take place IN you.
Have a great week!
Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시다니 선교부
Went to the beach and had to keep that Korean going
The number of chairs = number of transfers left in our missions
Our Tongan members pulling through with the El Jannahs and KFC (if there is anything that Tongans love more than eating, it's feeding the missionaries)
group pic with some missionaries in our zone
beach again... but in missionary clothes :)
District lunch, getting some fish & chips
group selfie
Elder Lee being Elder Lee at the beach
another group selfie
group selfie