Bruh What Was This Week

Yo, it's your boy Chips Ahoy. It's finally getting cooler up here in California. It was fun to see all the election stuff, haha. This week was one of the better weeks in the mission (every week is usually pretty great). So, how about I talk about it?

It was nice getting opportunities to do some service for some people. I dug this hole for over an hour to plant a tree. That dirt was so darn tough I had to use a dig bar every single inch I dug to break up the dirt. It felt so invigorating though! The tree we planted already looked half dead, so we'll see if it survives and I didn't dig a hole for nothing. I want to know how people (probably kids) think you can dig a hole to China. Why is it always China? We also helped another lady pull up tons of weeds out of her garden, and Elder Pancheri kept chucking oranges and lemons at me! It felt good, though it sucks to see that the washer didn't wash all the dirt out of my jeans later that week. We also were driving during a storm and saw some people cleaning up a fallen tree, and it felt right at home for me, being from Oklahoma, so we helped them out. They really appreciated the help, and to top it off, there was a rainbow at the end.

It feels like Elder Pancheri and I have really dug our heels into the work, and it seems to be bringing forth fruit. We have a few people right now working towards baptism, and it's beautiful to see how the Lord is orchestrating it all. Like, there are too many coincidences. As I serve my mission, I'm forever grateful for tearing my knee playing basketball at the church. If I would've left in November when I was supposed to, I definitely wouldn't still be out here. The Lord needed me to slow the pace down and take Him and His work seriously. I feel divinely called to serve Him, and it's the least I can do for the big guy.

Some days I wake up and feel drained. Like I'm doing everything I can to be righteous, not say dumb teenage things, work my tail off, and bless others, but I still feel down. I think, "C'mon, I'm doing all the right things, why do I feel this way?" And the more I've thought about it, the more I've been able to diagnose that it's just Satan. Just like Heavenly Father can fill you with joy, happiness, and fulfillment, Satan is working hard to do the antonyms of those. Just like the Lord is a real being giving you real feelings, Satan is trying to do the same. I've been trying to be patient with the Lord and not let Satan control how I feel. We are free agents; we get to choose, ultimately, who we follow. What good would it do me if life was all bliss? I would forget my Savior, forget that I need Him. The Lord knows where every single prepared person is in Sanger, California, but what good would that do me? How would that build my faith? How would that teach me patience and trust? Trials are hard, but they are for our good. You can't learn how to walk without falling, you can't learn how to run without first walking. Some trials on earth are extremely hard; some we wonder what good could even come from them. Sometimes we don't even see the blessings until way later in life, or even in the next life. But this life is a time to walk by faith. My testimony has grown as I've heard the testimonies of those who have had unthinkable and unbearable trials—things someone shouldn't have to go through. But I've seen the miracle of the Savior's Atonement lift them from lows that seemed inescapable. Whatever is in your mind telling you that it's not possible, you can't overcome what you're feeling, it's not true. The Savior conquered all.

I love you all so much, and I'm thankful for the support, even if you just open my email to get the notification off your screen for phone cleanliness. At least you saw my name.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TJ69KxoDsiQe4Phz5

1814 N Echo Ave
Fresno, CA
93704

Love, Elder Berry




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