I have to
admit, my mission has been and continues to be the happiest, most REAL and
rewarding experience of my life. Every day is a new adventure. Every day I
learn something new. I meet someone, I serve someone and I just love everyone. It's
all worth it; every moment. It's all about the work and other people, but it
always just comes right back to me personally. The MORE we serve, we give, we
share and we love … the MORE blessings WE receive. We can't ever really pay back
our Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ, because the more we do for His cause and
try equal it out, the more we realize that we will always be indebted to Him … and
His great sacrifice, blessings, and mercy. I know blessings await us as we
serve Him with all of our heart, might, mind and strength; and that this is
just a training for me for my life. He is preparing and changing me. I am so
blessed to be one of the Lord's missionaries, called to bring to pass His work
and His glory!
Tuesday
(July 14): This morning we saw our friend Victor. We met him the week before,
and he told us that he really needs the gospel in his life. He told us he wants
to set a good example for his 8 year old son, especially now that he and his
wife are planning on getting a divorce. We told him that this gospel is the
best way to help his kid; that in this generation it just continues to get
harder and harder, and that he has got to be walking on steady ground if he
wants to bless and help his family. Victor is great and he has a big heart. He
is an overwhelmed middle aged man who is just looking for that relief in the
midst of life's craziness. He just doesn't know how to go about changing or
finding that peace. That's why we're here. I'm excited to see where everything
goes with him.
Wednesday
(July 15): Today we were able to visit a woman named Marcela. One of her
friends is a member of the church, and told us to stop by and that she wanted
to meet us. As we stopped by she told us that she had accidentally fell asleep,
and still had a ton of things to get done for the day. When we were at her
door, she said she was sorry, but didn't have time to see us. We asked if we
could just talk to her and share something for 5 minutes. She said that was
fine and let us in. We simply testified of faith and the power of prayer. She
wept as she explained to us that she was going through a lot of really hard
times in her life right now and she was just exhausted. She just had a baby
about 5 months ago and is searching for work. As we finished and prayer, we
were able to notice how scattered everything was around us. We asked her if
there was anything we could help with and she at first said no; but we insisted.
We first helped her clean and organize her kitchen. We wiped some things down,
swept the floor and put things in the fridge. She then led us to her bathroom
that was just filled with dirty clothes. In the sink, in the bathtub, on the
floor; you name it. She told us that her washer had broken the other day and
she was just swamped with all of this. We then went out onto her little balcony
with big tubs of water and put the clothes in. We poured some soap in and began
stepping on the clothes and washing them with our feet. The bottom of my dress
was soaking wet as we were washing, mopping the floor, and hanging up the clothes
on the line. We were there for about an hour until we had finished with all of
it. She was overwhelmed with gratitude and thanked us for what we did. She told
us that we were true representatives of Jesus Christ, and that she knew we
lived what we preached. What a blessing to experience that.
Thursday
(July 16): We have a friend named Guri. He is about 17 or 18 years old and is
from India. We have been helping him with his English. He is currently working
on a project about the difference between Indian Culture and Spain Culture. It
was so interesting for me. I realized I know very little about that part of the
world, and he shared his passion for his country and his religion. I have so
much respect for him because, even though his religion is different, he
believes and he is faithful to his principles and beliefs. So cool!
Friday (July
17): Today we met with a less active woman in our ward named Doris. It was the
first time we had ever met her because she is new here in Spain. It was hard
for her to move here and she misses her family. She also is in a somewhat
abusive relationship. We were able to go over there and give her comfort, and
share our testimonies with her. It was such a sweet moment and she said it
really helped. Please keep her in your prayers.
Saturday
(July 18): MIRACLE BAPTISM! Joshua Simon Suleman was baptized! He is our other
best friend from Nigeria! I love these people so much! He had been learning
about the church for over a year, but because of family and girlfriend
problems, he wasn't able to take this step. He has been waiting for this moment
for a long time. We finally got things handled and fixed, and he was baptized
and confirmed as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints!
Such a special day for him! He is so happy! I am so proud of him and this
amazing decision he has made in his life. The boy that baptized him is actually
going on his mission in about two months to the Córdoba, Argentina Mission!
At the
baptism, we sang this children's hymn. I love it; it is so cute and simple. It
really makes me reflect on my life.
“If the
Savior Stood Beside Me”
1. If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I
do?
Would
I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would
I follow His example? Would I live more righteously
if
I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?
2. If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I
say?
Would
my words be true and kind if He was never far away?
Would
I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more rev’rently
if
I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?
3. He is always near me, though I do not see Him there,
And
because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care.
So
I’ll be the kind of person that I know I’d like to be
if
I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me."
Sunday (July
19): I once again had to speak in church. It is the 7th official
talk I have been asked to give in church during my mission. I love being able
to stand in front of all of these people, whom I love so very much, and share
that love with them. I shared a lot of very tender and special experiences from
my mission. These experiences are so dear to my heart and so powerful. They
have become a very sacred part of my life. As I continue to think about and
reflect on my mission every day, I notice and learn a lot of things about
myself and this blessed experience that I am having here.
I feel like
I have changed a lot on my mission. It's interesting, because I still have my
outgoing, bubbly personality … but I also feel that I have matured so much in
every area of my life. I have realized what really matters and what is truly
important. Like I said recently, if it's not eternal or of eternal significance,
I don't want it in my life … it's simply not worth it. God knows us perfectly
and knows exactly what we need. He knows our strengths, and how we can use them
to the best of our abilities. He knows our weaknesses, and how we can
strengthen them. We won't be perfect, but He won't let these little imperfections
and faults immobilize us; we are stronger than that. Being here and having this
opportunity, I have learned so much. I am able to witness things that are just
so different and that really open my eyes. It has helped me see some really big
problems that other people have, that are beyond me and any difficulty that I
face. But it has also shown me that there is always a solution. It has humbled
me so much and has helped me realize how truly blessed I am.
In The Book
of Mormon, there is a very popular verse that I have really come to understand
out here. It is in Ether 12:27, and it reads:
"And if men come unto me I
will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be
humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before
me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I
make weak things become strong unto them."
His grace is
sufficient. We can’t do it alone. It is not humanly possible. Even if we are
obeying each and every commandment that God has given us, and being the very
best we can be … it still won't be enough. We have to meet Christ in the middle.
We have to offer him all that we can, give our all, and do our part … and He
will make up the rest. "To believe
in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we
are saved, after all we can do."
In Alma
26:12 it says,
"Yea, I know that I am nothing;
as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will
boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many
mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name
forever."
He strengthens
us because he loves us. There are so many experiences I have had, and I feel
like you all only hear about 10% of what happens. It's not just life changing,
it's eternity changing … and that's what we want right?
I have met
or taught people from: Spain, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina,
Venezuela, Paraguay, Brazil, Columbia, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Angola,
Liberia, Gambia, Ghana, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras,
Nicaragua, El Salvador, Romania, Armenia, England, Austria, Russia, Poland,
Pakistan, India, Tanzania, Italy, Philippines, Canada, Guinea, New Zealand,
Australia, Germany, Portugal, France, Morocco, Korea, China, Sweden, Cuba and a
handful from the United States.
I have witnessed
and tried to help:
-A young
woman suffering with anorexia
-A mother
enduring the pain of losing her only son
-Marriages
and families being torn apart (physically and emotionally)
-Men with
their overwhelming alcohol and drug addictions
-A girl
fighting off cancer, people with very severe illnesses
-Many
homeless people find comfort and peace in their lives
-People
who've lost their jobs and have been kicked out of their apartments
-People getting
out of abusive relationships (physically and emotionally)
-Teenage
pregnancy
-People with
non-Christian backgrounds (Hindu, Muslim, Buddhism)
-Burglaries
and fatal accidents
-Youth
running away from home
-People
being wrongly accused and thrown into prison
-People
illegally living in Spain and their problems with the police
-People with
life threatening depression
We, as 19
and 20+ year-old “kids”, are supposed to have all of the answers and be able to
fix everything.
You have to
be the:
-Shoulder to
cry on
-Hug giver
-The best
friend or only friend they have
-Listener
-Obedient
one
-Patient one
-One who
loves and notices everyone
-The
volunteer for everything
-The
organizer
-The planner
-Problem
solver
-One who
always is smiling
-Counselor
-Hero to the
rescue
-One constantly
serving
-One that
never gets tired
-Peace maker
-Scripture
scholar
-Example
-Teacher
-Representative
of Jesus Christ
We will meet
with someone, or step into their homes, and be expected to bring this faith,
hope, love and joy, to each and every situation. We need to show them the way
to everlasting happiness and their personal salvation. They will come to us with
a problem, and look at us with sadness in their eyes and fear in their voice,
and ask, "Hermanas, what are we supposed to do? Help us. We have nowhere
else to turn." As they turn to us … we turn them to the Savior. We guide
them to the Way, so that Christ can show them the way. We are standing in the
place of our Redeemer. We are doing all that we can to become more like Him and
develop His attributes. We are his representatives and his disciples. He is
depending on us. Many times, people and their longing and pleading prayers and
hearts are answered and comforted by those around them. We are the Lord's
instruments. We are His hands. He went about doing good, always. We must all be
worthy of the call and be ready to be His hands, however and whenever He needs
us. He is counting on you. He needs you. God loves each and every one of us. We
are equal in His eyes. "Remember the worth of every soul, is great in the
sight of God". While He loves us all, we have to gain His trust and be
worthy of it, by being obedient to His laws and loving His gospel and His
children. We must live that gospel and be His hands.
Con amor,
para siempre,
Hermana
Lydia Pamela Vance
Hermana Lydia Vance
C/Calatrava N, 10-12, 1
08017 Barcelona
ESPAÑA
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