Sorry it's been so long, but today was just a nice day to relax, study a bit and clean our kitchen. I know 2 of what I just said probably sounds like a crazy thing to enjoy for a P-Day... BUT something that I have come to truly love is studying. Pouring through the scriptures, listening to Conference talks or other talks in the background or in the shower, and so forth. ALSO spent some time cleaning our flat, and... Mom, you'll be proud of me. I enjoy a clean flat. Our flat is a work in progress because we've been super busy, but it was nice to take some time today and clean. Man this mission is working some miracles, I tell you what!
Anyways, so this week we had our Zone Conference. It was just truly inspiring. It was also a sort of wake up call in some aspects for me, to shape up and be more accountable (which happened to come b/c the other Zone Leader and I were giving a training on accountability... yeah... algood though, repentance and change is real and possible). Also I really don't care what anyone else thinks about their mission president and wife, but I'm willing to bet that I have the best of the best. One of the biggest blessings of my mission will be knowing President and Sister Runia.
We were invited to study Teachings from the Prophets, Gordon B. Hinckley, Chapter 3: Cultivating an Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optimism (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-gordon-b-hinckley/chapter-3-cultivating-an-attitude-of-happiness-and-a-spirit-of-optimism?lang=eng#p28
Chapter 3: Cultivating an Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optimism
From the Life of Gordon B. Hinckley. President Gordon B. Hinckley’s mother, Ada Bitner Hinckley, often said that “a happy attitude and smiling countenance could boost one over almost any misfortune and that every individual was responsible for his own happiness.”
1 His father, Bryant S. Hinckley, also had an “inherently positive outlook.”
2 President Hinckley recalled, “When I was ...www.churchofjesuschrist.org
In accordance with this, Sister Runia talked about how can we find more joy in our lives. Not just as missionaries but in general. She mentioned how a lot of studies made on being happy and finding joy, are found in what we do as missionaries or what she's invited us to do before:
- Get enough sleep
- Physical activity
- Write 3 things you're grateful for everyday
- Spend $$ on others
- Be present, in the moment
- Smile
- Be a slow Samaritan (not in a rush, able to help if needed)
- Talk to a stranger/start a conversation
- etc.
Additionally, there's a quote she shared from President Gordon B. Hinckley that I loved:
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.
“Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …
“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
“The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”
I repeat, my brothers and sisters, the trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride; and really, isn’t it a wonderful ride? Enjoy it! Laugh about it! Sing about it! Remember the words of the writer of Proverbs:
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22.)
Let there be something of a light tone in your life. Let there be fun and happiness, a sense of humor, the capacity to laugh occasionally at things that are funny.
In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."
I love that. How wonderful of a ride we are on. The adventures and experiences that we are able to take part of. We know through the God's Plan of Happiness, that this life a time to prepare to return to Him, to learn of Him and be tested. So it won't be all sunshine and rainbows. However, we also learn through this plan that this life isn't the end. That death really isn't death in the sense that we think of it being, the end. Rather, it is merely a separation that is brief compared to eternity. It is sad and difficult but because of Jesus Christ we can have the hope that we will all see each other again, free from pain, suffering, and sickness.
It is also because of Jesus Christ that I've been able to see people change. In particular, a man we have been visiting. He is an excommunicated member, who is fighting to overcome his drinking problem. He has had a rough upbringing and he says he has done a lot of bad. The first time we met him, he was very drunk. Very drunk. However, he had very little hope for the future and getting back on track. He had forgotten his identity as a son of God and his potential to become so so much more. We reminded him of these things, and how through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all things are possible. It ended with him being committed to try again to stop drinking for good. That first visit was sad and I could see how some people wouldn't want to be involved with him or have gotten tired helping since he's relapsed several times before. However, we shared our Book of Mormon lesson that talks about the power that comes from it if we prayerfully study it everyday, and the things that we can overcome because of it. Additionally, the more we fill our lives with light, the darkness will gradually disappear b/c the 2 can't coexist. The promise from President Nelson is that as we do just that, fill our lives with light through the Book of Mormon every day, every piece of darkness in our lives (guilt, fear, anger, sorrow, pain, impatience, and so forth) can and will disappear, or tools will be provided to overcome them.
So after visiting him for the past 3 weeks or so, wow... He is a changed man. Are things done? No, he still has a long way to go. But from the first time I met him and when we started reading the Book of Mormon with him, he tried reading it upside down and not even being able to see. Compared to now, where his knowledge of the scriptures from the past is coming back and he prays and reads everyday, several chapters on his own. Also, we gave him a speaker that connects to a flash drive that we put 100s of Tabernacle Choir songs on it, and he's loved that. Talks about how excited he is to wake up each day and flip it on, starting the day, making breakfast, as he studies and so forth. It's been incredible to watch and be a part of the change he's going through. He's working hard to eventually be baptized again, and one day go to the temple. He's inspiring as he truly relies on Heavenly Father and uses the tools he has and that we've provided.
I'm so grateful for my mission. The experiences I've had are unforgettable. The people I've met and served with are precious and such a blessing in/for my life. The knowledge I've gained through the scriptures all point me to the One who makes it all possible ----> Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has allowed to come and enjoy this ride. Not easy, but a joyful one nonetheless. Sorry it's a long email, but hopefully it makes up for the last couple weeks... I love you and have a great week!
Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부
me before my Skype nomination interview with Arizona Congressman Bigg's panel to get back into West Point.
gave a new missionary one of the classic Elder Escamilla/Tobler driver's tests, which ended with a trip to Maccas.
the girls we're prepping for baptism + our Plan of Happiness pictures
- Get enough sleep
- Physical activity
- Write 3 things you're grateful for everyday
- Spend $$ on others
- Be present, in the moment
- Smile
- Be a slow Samaritan (not in a rush, able to help if needed)
- Talk to a stranger/start a conversation
- etc.
Additionally, there's a quote she shared from President Gordon B. Hinckley that I loved:
“Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.
“Most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …
“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.
“The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride.”
I repeat, my brothers and sisters, the trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride; and really, isn’t it a wonderful ride? Enjoy it! Laugh about it! Sing about it! Remember the words of the writer of Proverbs:
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22.)
Let there be something of a light tone in your life. Let there be fun and happiness, a sense of humor, the capacity to laugh occasionally at things that are funny.
In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured."
I love that. How wonderful of a ride we are on. The adventures and experiences that we are able to take part of. We know through the God's Plan of Happiness, that this life a time to prepare to return to Him, to learn of Him and be tested. So it won't be all sunshine and rainbows. However, we also learn through this plan that this life isn't the end. That death really isn't death in the sense that we think of it being, the end. Rather, it is merely a separation that is brief compared to eternity. It is sad and difficult but because of Jesus Christ we can have the hope that we will all see each other again, free from pain, suffering, and sickness.
It is also because of Jesus Christ that I've been able to see people change. In particular, a man we have been visiting. He is an excommunicated member, who is fighting to overcome his drinking problem. He has had a rough upbringing and he says he has done a lot of bad. The first time we met him, he was very drunk. Very drunk. However, he had very little hope for the future and getting back on track. He had forgotten his identity as a son of God and his potential to become so so much more. We reminded him of these things, and how through the Atonement of Jesus Christ all things are possible. It ended with him being committed to try again to stop drinking for good. That first visit was sad and I could see how some people wouldn't want to be involved with him or have gotten tired helping since he's relapsed several times before. However, we shared our Book of Mormon lesson that talks about the power that comes from it if we prayerfully study it everyday, and the things that we can overcome because of it. Additionally, the more we fill our lives with light, the darkness will gradually disappear b/c the 2 can't coexist. The promise from President Nelson is that as we do just that, fill our lives with light through the Book of Mormon every day, every piece of darkness in our lives (guilt, fear, anger, sorrow, pain, impatience, and so forth) can and will disappear, or tools will be provided to overcome them.
So after visiting him for the past 3 weeks or so, wow... He is a changed man. Are things done? No, he still has a long way to go. But from the first time I met him and when we started reading the Book of Mormon with him, he tried reading it upside down and not even being able to see. Compared to now, where his knowledge of the scriptures from the past is coming back and he prays and reads everyday, several chapters on his own. Also, we gave him a speaker that connects to a flash drive that we put 100s of Tabernacle Choir songs on it, and he's loved that. Talks about how excited he is to wake up each day and flip it on, starting the day, making breakfast, as he studies and so forth. It's been incredible to watch and be a part of the change he's going through. He's working hard to eventually be baptized again, and one day go to the temple. He's inspiring as he truly relies on Heavenly Father and uses the tools he has and that we've provided.
I'm so grateful for my mission. The experiences I've had are unforgettable. The people I've met and served with are precious and such a blessing in/for my life. The knowledge I've gained through the scriptures all point me to the One who makes it all possible ----> Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has allowed to come and enjoy this ride. Not easy, but a joyful one nonetheless. Sorry it's a long email, but hopefully it makes up for the last couple weeks... I love you and have a great week!
Elder Brandon Escamilla
에스카미야 장로
Australia Sydney Mission
호주 시드니 선교부
me before my Skype nomination interview with Arizona Congressman Bigg's panel to get back into West Point.
gave a new missionary one of the classic Elder Escamilla/Tobler driver's tests, which ended with a trip to Maccas.
the girls we're prepping for baptism + our Plan of Happiness pictures