Calling Upon The Lord During The Difficult Times Is Easy
But what seems to be the hard thing is to remember him when things are going well. I was thinking about this the other day as I was pondering mission stories. I recently posted on this LDS Blog that we were looking for returned missionaries to submit stories to us, (and that invite is still open) and thats what really got me thinking!
I remember growing up I had always relied on the testimony of my parents, and I guess I never did a good job enough of getting a solid testimony of my own. I had a testimony, but did I really know for sure beyond any doubt it was true? If my parents knew, that was good enough for me until I could figure it out I guess. I had never read the Book of Mormon until I was in the MTC, and really had never felt that burning everyone talks about. I just knew serving a mission was the right thing to do in my heart, just like I knew the Church was true (even without that amazing burn).
Well I got into the mission field fresh out of the MTC, and found myself in a weird country that smelled like pancakes. That is the best way I can describe it. I got called to the Fiji Suva Mission back in June of 1995. When I first arrived and smelled the weird smell, and looked around at all the weird looking people (at the time I had thought) that return trip ticket that I had not given back yet really seemed like a good deal.
Contrary to what I hear from everyone; “Oh you are so lucky to get called to an exotic Island”, it was a 3rd world country, and the resorts that everyone goes to and talks about (with Fiji) was not where I served. I remember being humbled my very first day because the two things I hated in life the most was the hot (or being hot - no air conditioners in Fiji “bures” or huts) and fish. I found myself hot, and eating a fried fish (with the head attached) the very first day.
I needed to rely on the Lord big time. I remember pouring my soul out that night and praying harder then I had ever prayed in my life for guidance, and that I was indeed in the right place. I soon calmed down, and had a feeling in my heart that I was doing the right thing. The major burn, and gaining my own testimony came about 19 months later during my mission (another story for another post another day), but I got what I needed to finish my mission and survive in Fiji!
The point here is we need to remember to rely on the Lord even when things are going great. He never goes away, so why do we? I think the start of my mission would not have been so difficult if I had that open line of communication with the Lord already.
