This City Needs Me (Gotham)

Hey, it's been a little bit, but I'm doing well! Missions are not easy, but at least I knew that coming into this. It's just a different kind of hard, a different kind of challenge.

I had my birthday, and I'm 20 now. Like, what the heck. I actually had a good birthday! It started off great with my companion secretly waking up at 4 a.m. and blowing up a bunch of balloons so when I woke up, I'd see them! It made my day. Also, my dad would probably like some recognition that he was the FIRST (I think) to text me on my birthday, haha. My brother Conner had incredible charm on my birthday and somehow got married to this super cool chick named Morgan. She's sweet and very kind. I gotta be honest, when I first found out they were going to get married on my birthday, I didn't know what to think, but I'm low-key cool with it and honestly just so happy for them. They'll probably get me cool gifts for my birthday too. I'm not a homesick person, but if there were a time of year to be homesick, this would be it. It's just different but also a blessing and a new perspective. I'm enjoying spreading the holiday cheer and serving the community.

Traditional missionary work has been very difficult and unfruitful lately, but a huge blessing was that we got four people on baptismal date! The oldest son is also coming to early morning seminary! He's not even a member and is going—wow. I've been a member most of my life and dreaded it most days. Definitely wished I paid more attention so I could've come out way smarter.

We were walking down this street when a car pulled up, and these two ladies got out, so we decided to talk to them. One of them was very nice and talkative and invited us to the Posada (it's a Catholic thing they do around Christmas), and it was very fun. All the people were a little surprised when we walked into the house as these two big white guys, but they soon figured out we were chill. It was cool to be a part of that, and I really felt like family there. Not to mention, the food was SO good. They kept telling us we didn't have to eat it if it was too spicy, but I wasn't a wuss. (It was very spicy.) It really made my day because earlier that day was crap.

I guess a spiritual thought I have is to be like the Savior at this time of year and "go about doing good." Be truly good without guile. Be good with a pure heart and pure intent to love. Find ways to serve. I think one thing I've learned is how truly hard the gift of charity is to fully have. All of us "have charity" until we have someone in our life who is hard to love. Imagine Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, paying for sinners' sins, and then, to show their gratitude, they nailed Him on the cross. How did He do it? How did He never succumb to temptation, not even once? It bewilders me surprisingly often—how He did what He did. And how did He do it with perfect love? I'm faced with temptations every minute of every day, and so was He, but somehow He didn't give in to temptation once, not even of the least degree. I'm absolutely amazed by how important of a role the Savior has. If He sinned just once, we'd all be damned. But we're not, because He did what He promised to do. He won victory over sin and the grave.

Look for ways to develop your charity. Look for ways to develop your faith so that your charity can increase. I'm far from perfect, but I've seen a mighty change in my heart and others. I've been blessed to train three times, and the reason I love training so much—even though it's so stinking hard—is because I get to see the Atonement of Jesus Christ so profoundly work in their lives. I get to witness their conversion to the Savior. What a blessing! I get to be a positive influence on these elders who are unsure if they're in the right place.

Love y'all, and thank y'all so much for the birthday wishes. I hope y'all have an amazing week!

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

I'm sorry, but Gotham needs me.

Elder Berry


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