Abraham's Blessings

I was just thinking about how yesterday was supposed to have been my two year mark. I was supposed to have been home now, and getting ready to go to school. But, life always is unexpected, isn't it? I have thought a few times as to whether or not I would have preferred ending now, or whether that year at BYU was well worth it. Though my grades definitely don't show it, I am very grateful for the opporunities afforded to me these past few years, especially those months at the Y. I loved it. I really do think that everything has happened for a reason, and that Heavenly Father had a hand in that.

We've had a pretty normal week, to be honest, it was rather hard and uneventful. We've been working to make sure we're keeping everything up to date in the office, and also trying to cover two wards/areas at the same time. It hasn't helped that I came down with bronchitis.

We went to a Bedok Ward activity on Saturday, which was really fun! The members are great and really like the missionaries. Hopefully we stay there for awhile. Their ward had been white-washed so many times, and they don't really know what's going on. We have a good ward mission leader, Brother Sakamoto, and he really does his best to help us out. It was fun to get to meet the members because some of them know my Mom – she was in that ward years ago, and they remember her well.

Sunday was rather crazy because we had to go to Bedok in the morning, then had to rush over to Ang Mo Kio in the afternoon. There's a half hour gap between the ward's meeting times, so it's definitely a rush, and we have to try and figure out lunch too. One of the members brought a colleague, so that was great! After that, we went back to the office to do some work, then headed over to a member's home for dinner.

We've been setting quite a few appointments, but no one has actually been meeting with us! They either have been canceling or not turning up, so it has been rather discouraging. We're really trying to work on building our areas up. The office has been really busy, what with missionaries going home, and some new policies and paperwork that had been implemented. We also have seventeen missionaries coming in this month, so we're working on the orientation for them. I'm really learning to be a better organizer and planner now. Messes are not good in any work place! I really wish that I was a better planner. Oh well, we improve as we go along huh? Poor Elder Austin isn't the biggest fan of the office. He's a great missionary, and very smart too, so the paper work in the office isn't his favorite thing in the world. Trying to figure out what to do/say.

I was having a rather hard day yesterday. Too much to do, and the Elders just weren't participating or listening in District Meeting. I was training on obedience, and they weren't excited at all. I thought it was alright. At least I learned for myself how I can, should, and must be more obedient to receive the blessings of the seed of Abraham. Took a great section out of Elder Bednar's talk "Becoming A Missionary" that really discussed that responsibility, and the blessings associated with it. Anyhow, the meeting ended, and I was just really blue. Went through the mail, not expecting anything (since no one has written in three or four months), and had the surprise of my life. One of my friends who's doing a term in Mexico had sent a postcard, and the missionary who baptized me, and his wife, had sent a package. It really made my day, just knowing that someone actually cared. I really am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who watches out and cares for his children.

Hopefully our appointments work out the rest of the week. It really is that hope we have to cling on to. It's hard, but we'll pull through.

I've been studying the Old Testament this past week, and of course read through the story of Abraham's sacrifice of Issac. It really gave me a boost to see the level of obedience that Abraham operated at, the sacrifice he was willing to make, and what it represented. I really haven't been focused enough on the Savior this past week. I've been studying, but not remembering the Savior's life at all. I guess I've been looking at all the small parts, but not the big picture. Well, that's going to change! The blessings promised to Abraham are promised to us also. We have to work for it and be worthy, but it's well worth it!

Hope that you are all having a great end to your summer!

-Elder Chua