Lies within

Your head hits the pillow.

Body exhausted, feet aching, mind racing.

No one told you what you were signing up to do.

You feel like you have spent all day racing around,

but you know you wont see a finish line for a long time.

You ponder the conversations, invitations and motivations of your day.

Did you do enough?

... I frequent this pattern many days a week. Seven to be exact. Many a nights are full of questions, concerns and outbursts of emotions as I converse with my father in the evenings... and often I find myself wondering... Why? Why Put myself through all of this?

We find that most people don't want to hear, or that they have "already learned" what there is to be taught.

We find that the days plans get changed or they fall through completely.

We find that we don't know where to go, or how to get where we need to be.

We find that we are really doing this by our-self, in an unfamiliar place with a person you have known for maybe 3 weeks.

We find that we try to do the best we can, but we know that no matter what we do we still fall short...

The life of a Mormon missionary is not what I thought it was going to be. Now that is a fact. 

But you know what else is a fact? 

We do it because we know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is Jesus Christs church AGAIN restored to the earth today. And that EVERYONE should hear his message!

We do it because we hope that just one person will hear our words and accept the happiness that is attached to his holy name.

We do it because we have been so blessed in our lives it is our turn to give.

We do it because we believe in being good.

We do it to become better examples and members of our faith. 

We do it because it is a privilege that we have been given.

We do it to help people become who they can truly become through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

But quite simply, we do it because we love our savior. 

That is why.

That is why I am here. That is why there are thousands of other 18-26 year old people putting their life on hold. We do not do it for the fame, recognition, experience, travel, language, money ect. We simply do what we do because we love our Savior and our Heavenly Father. 

What do you do to serve your father in Heaven? What have you gained because of the love of Christ in someone else? 

So often I find myself wondering why, and am slowing trying to change the "why" into the "because"... it is a process, but I have learned that every time we are blessed with that question it makes us grow closer to our Savior.  I have found that the answer to all our questions can be found- ALWAYS- through his Holy name, even Jesus Christ.

All my missionary love,

Sister Steffany Laurel Bird

"With his stripes we are healed"