Growth...like Mold...
July 19, 2016
I am, as my dad puts it, burying my companion.
I'm counting down the days till he "dies" in the mission. He hates it, so of course, I remind him on a regular basis.
He thinks Papa and Mama were crazy. He doesn't know how anyone can get engaged in a week. He says that if everything works out with one friend he has, he might get married maybe in a year.
He's known her his whole life!
I'm trying to convince him marriage isn't that hard a decision. Important, yes, but a successful marriage has very little to do with "finding the one who's right for me." It's just not about destiny. It's about work, humility, love, sacrifice, and being centered on Christ, not as an individual, but as a family.
But what do I know? I'm 19!
I've been in the Philippines for 10 months now. WOW!
I'm late emailing because we had a temple trip again. Good thing too, because the temple will close next month and stay that way for 2 more after it.
But speaking of temples, it's exciting to find out that we are moving to Italy, and...
The Rome temple will be built soon! It's already under construction. If I somehow get the opportunity to go to the open house or the dedication, that would be cool. But who knows what time frame that will happen in?
Speaking of building, I've thought on progress recently.
As I watch here I notice buildings that are being built getting higher every day. At any given point a building doesn't look like it is increasing in height, but as the months go by, you notice the growth.
The same happens with all life on earth. As we watch in any instance a sprout doesn't look like much, and definitely doesn't look like it's growing.
But if you protect it, nurture it, and give it what it needs, in a few years it is not only a tree, but it is giving off fruit that will produce more of its kind. It is full, and hard, and strong, and green, and large. It provides shade, sustenance, and support.
Kittens slowly become cats. Puppies become dogs. A bowl of old food becomes a bowl of mold (oops!). Babies go from doing little more than staring and crying to making noises, walking, learning to shake hands and high five and wave, and doing a lot more smiling.
Storm clouds go from being a few wisps to soaking us.
Illness begins as a funny feeling in the throat and becomes a full cough, headache, runny nose, and itchy eyes.
It's fascinating!
I love seeing growth of all kinds. It makes me wonder at the changes that can occur.
But I love seeing it when it becomes what it was intended to be.
When a plant gets the wrong sustenance, or is not protected, it can grow into something else, weaker, smaller, and sometimes, poisonous. Simply because it was not cared for, not planted on the right soil, or didn't receive enough rain.
We, as people, don't need to worry too much about a lack of care. Our father loves us enough that we won't lack it coming.
But sometimes, we do block or neglect to use it.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave the following counsel not too long ago:
“Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.
“Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient?”
My favorite phrase there is that: "he prompts us...to fulfill the measure of our creation."
This is what I spoke on once and will remind you again, in reminding myself. We will find happiness in becoming what we were meant to become. As children of our God, that does follow one common strain, but now I will say that for each of us it is also different.
Though the commandments teach us to live up to our potential, some think they also quench personality. This is not true. What people don't realize is that not always do they really know what their true personality is. Hidden deep inside, people are sometimes different than they realize.
But God sees that. Our Father sees that.
I have found great joy in looking for it, asking Heavenly Father who I really am, and forming that vision. I have caught glimpses of me I never thought possible, I never would have guessed. But once I caught those glimpses, I never let go.
And I have seen progress in myself. It is more fascinating than all the creations of man.
It is just as fascinating as the progress I see in other missionaries.
I hope to see it is just as fascinating in those I love.
I'm still here in Pasay, we did baptize sister Abegail, and we are still looking for people who are excited to hear about the Gospel.
Remind me next week to talk about the Alcantra family.
With love,
Elder Streeter
I'm counting down the days till he "dies" in the mission. He hates it, so of course, I remind him on a regular basis.
He thinks Papa and Mama were crazy. He doesn't know how anyone can get engaged in a week. He says that if everything works out with one friend he has, he might get married maybe in a year.
He's known her his whole life!
I'm trying to convince him marriage isn't that hard a decision. Important, yes, but a successful marriage has very little to do with "finding the one who's right for me." It's just not about destiny. It's about work, humility, love, sacrifice, and being centered on Christ, not as an individual, but as a family.
But what do I know? I'm 19!
I've been in the Philippines for 10 months now. WOW!
I'm late emailing because we had a temple trip again. Good thing too, because the temple will close next month and stay that way for 2 more after it.
But speaking of temples, it's exciting to find out that we are moving to Italy, and...
The Rome temple will be built soon! It's already under construction. If I somehow get the opportunity to go to the open house or the dedication, that would be cool. But who knows what time frame that will happen in?
Speaking of building, I've thought on progress recently.
As I watch here I notice buildings that are being built getting higher every day. At any given point a building doesn't look like it is increasing in height, but as the months go by, you notice the growth.
The same happens with all life on earth. As we watch in any instance a sprout doesn't look like much, and definitely doesn't look like it's growing.
But if you protect it, nurture it, and give it what it needs, in a few years it is not only a tree, but it is giving off fruit that will produce more of its kind. It is full, and hard, and strong, and green, and large. It provides shade, sustenance, and support.
Kittens slowly become cats. Puppies become dogs. A bowl of old food becomes a bowl of mold (oops!). Babies go from doing little more than staring and crying to making noises, walking, learning to shake hands and high five and wave, and doing a lot more smiling.
Storm clouds go from being a few wisps to soaking us.
Illness begins as a funny feeling in the throat and becomes a full cough, headache, runny nose, and itchy eyes.
It's fascinating!
I love seeing growth of all kinds. It makes me wonder at the changes that can occur.
But I love seeing it when it becomes what it was intended to be.
When a plant gets the wrong sustenance, or is not protected, it can grow into something else, weaker, smaller, and sometimes, poisonous. Simply because it was not cared for, not planted on the right soil, or didn't receive enough rain.
We, as people, don't need to worry too much about a lack of care. Our father loves us enough that we won't lack it coming.
But sometimes, we do block or neglect to use it.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave the following counsel not too long ago:
“Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.
“Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient?”
My favorite phrase there is that: "he prompts us...to fulfill the measure of our creation."
This is what I spoke on once and will remind you again, in reminding myself. We will find happiness in becoming what we were meant to become. As children of our God, that does follow one common strain, but now I will say that for each of us it is also different.
Though the commandments teach us to live up to our potential, some think they also quench personality. This is not true. What people don't realize is that not always do they really know what their true personality is. Hidden deep inside, people are sometimes different than they realize.
But God sees that. Our Father sees that.
I have found great joy in looking for it, asking Heavenly Father who I really am, and forming that vision. I have caught glimpses of me I never thought possible, I never would have guessed. But once I caught those glimpses, I never let go.
And I have seen progress in myself. It is more fascinating than all the creations of man.
It is just as fascinating as the progress I see in other missionaries.
I hope to see it is just as fascinating in those I love.
I'm still here in Pasay, we did baptize sister Abegail, and we are still looking for people who are excited to hear about the Gospel.
Remind me next week to talk about the Alcantra family.
With love,
Elder Streeter
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