Hey everyone! For those who don't know, I'm a service missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving at the Bishop's Storehouse and in the temple. I love it so much, and here are some of my adventures from the past month!
This month, some sister missionaries came into institute and talked about how about 1,000 people are moving into Utah County each month. Many are nonmembers and they think they are moving here to be close to family, or other reasons, but it's really because God is gathering them and He wants them to hear His gospel. The sisters challenged us to give away a Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and they'd follow up in two weeks. I love missionary work, but when it comes to sharing with friends and neighbors, it's harder for me. I don't always know who is and who isn't a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I feel more nervous giving it to people I know.
I prayed about it and my friends Manny and Nesa came to mind, and I messaged them, asking if either would like a copy, along with a brief explanation and testimony, but hadn't heard back from them. On February 13, I was inspired by the Holy Ghost to make a goal to give it out the next day. I wrote a note about God's love, and determined to give it away to show my love for others and God on Valentine's day. I prayed about my goal, and wasn't sure how it would work out, but it felt right.
The next day I was at the Bishop's Storehouse until 6, stopped at the store, then returned home still with a Book of Mormon to give away. I still didn't know who to give it to, but I had an appointment with the Lord at the temple to keep, so I went, even though the day was slipping past. I didn't know if I would actually give out the book or not. While in the temple, near the end of my time there, the Spirit impressed upon my mind who I should give it to. It was my neighbors, people I had actually felt to give a Book of Mormon to before, but didn't for fear they would think I was pushy. They seem to get a lot of attention from their member neighbors, and I didn't want to bug them. However, as I pushed my fears aside and listened to the Spirit, I felt excited, and that it was right to give it to them. At nearly 10 I softly (because it was late haha) knocked on their door. The sister answered (and I prayed it would be her - I know her better than her husband) and I was able to give her a copy of the Book of Mormon. Oh, God loves that little family! I am so glad I finally listened to Him instead of those silly voices telling me not to do it. I don't know the results, but when you are on the Lord's errand it all works out.
"Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened into you" (3 Nephi 27:29.)
After giving my Book of Mormon away, I asked God how I could continue to serve. I went to the temple with my sister, and we were able to serve 21 of our ancestors through baptisms for the dead. Then, on the way out of the temple, a sister stopped us, "I think you two will really like this quote." I had never formally met her, but I had seen her at the temple often. She shared a quote about how everything comes from God. Then, she asked if we could give her a ride to the other temple (we were at the Provo City Center temple, she needed to go to the Provo one by the MTC, I'm not sure why). I agreed, and so off we went. It was a simple act of service, but by going out of our way for a few minutes helped this sister get where she needed. When we're willing to ask and act, God will give us opportunities. He wants to bless His children, and He will let us be His hands if we are willing. Another time I got a letter and treat for a family member. Sometimes it's strangers, sometimes friends or family, He guides us to those who need help.
This month I and the other young service missionaries also went to the temple to perform baptisms for the dead. The night before, I realized that I didn't have any names to take. I called my Grandma Cuthbert to see if she had any, but she didn't answer. My neighbor, Kay, has lots of names to take, but I couldn't get ahold of her and she wasn't home. I didn't have any, and the Ordinances Ready option on Family Search only pulled up temple, not family, names. So, I set to work to see if I could find one. I searched along one of my great, great grandmother's line, and found a grandchild of hers! In the meantime, Kay called back and gave me some names. I was able to take hers along with my name to the temple, and I could feel my realitive rejoicing, and my great, great grandma as well. God opened the doors up to help me find her, and then I was able to help Kay's family as well. Kay told me how she hadn't been able to go to the temple because the freezing weather messes with her health. She really wanted to go, but couldn't, and she felt bad about it. Then the next day I called her, asking for names. She was so elated! We did work for over 45 of God's precious children that day. It all just works out! God hears our prayers and knows our hearts.
At the Orem Institute, there is a board on the wall that asks, "What is you word for the year?" It has pictures of people and their words. It got me pondering what my word for the year is. I decided TRY is my word. Sometimes it is awful hard to even get up, but as I TRY, God helps and magnifies my efforts. In the movie Ephraim's Rescue, Ephraim at one point washes his hands before proceeding to bless and heal a pioneer young man. The young man's mother observes, "Brother Ephraim, you are a holy man."
To which he replies, "I have so many faults I cannot count them."
"Then how do you do so much good?"
"I try."
I feel pretty inadequate in my own. It's hard to get out of bed on some days, maybe most days haha, it's hard to put on my running shoes and get out in the sunshine. It's hard to get out the house. It's hard to come back. It's hard to go on when depression seems to suck the life of of me. It's hard to pack a lunch, even! Anxiety tells me I'll be judged for what I pack. It tells me I'm not good enough, why even TRY? But Heavenly Father helps me, hold my hand, and comforts me. He magnifies my efforts, to the point where people say, "You're so good Mayli! You're a lifesaver and always helping others." I feel like I've hardly done anything, but I TRIED, and Heavenly Father does the rest. Our efforts don't need to be perfect to touch someone's heart, in fact God uses the weak things of the earth, "The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones..." (Doctrine and Covenants 1:19). My scripture for my mission plaque reflects this, "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (Doctrine and Covenants 123:17).
We don't need to "run faster or labor more than you have strength and means," (Doctrine and Covenants 10:4) we don't need to be the answer to every single person, and we don't need to compare our efforts to others' efforts. We just need to do what we can, we just need to TRY our best. Take one more step towards the Life and Life of the world, and trust in Him.
"When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seem all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many failure turns about,
Into success'-because we stuck it out,
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
You may succeed with just another blow-
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit,
It's when things seem worse-that you must not quit!"
(Don't Quit, I'm not sure who the author is. Google's uncertain too.)
When I came home from the Philippines, I definitely did NOT want to do anything that even mentioned the word mission. I told my Stake President, "No, I don't want to go back out." Nope, no way. Not even a service mission. Then, a few months later, I was sitting in the temple, and the Spirit said, "Service Mission."
"Haha what are you talking about? I'm good right where I am. I'm still healing from that last mission. I really don't want to do that."
The thought of a service mission, specifically the bishop's storehouse, however, continued to persist. I felt some peace, but as I left the Temple, my doubts and fears came back, and I still didn't want to do it. Heavenly Father knows me though, so He waited. I stewed over the prompting for a while, and finally acted on it, because I knew it was from Him, and He's a good guy to follow. So I finally did, even though it wasn't in my plan A or B or even Z.
In Alma chapter 32, Alma says to his son, Shiblon, "And now, my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God..." Steadiness doesn't mean he never made mistakes. A gymnast on a balance beam might have to start with someone's help. They may need to put their hands out for balance. They may fall off. It may even hurt an awful lot, and bones might be broken! They may need to rest and heal for a period of time. When they get back on, it will take time to get used to the beam again and be on the same level as before. But as they TRY, they get better and better, and steadier. They still slip up sometimes, but the coach is there to help them get back up.
What God was asking me to do was to get back on the balance beam. I really didn't want to, but God intends to make more of us than we could make of ourselves. As I TRY, He helps me. I have made more friends, opened my heart up for more healing, He has poured blessings into my life, and given me knowledge and strength. He is there, right beside me, helping me to TRY. It's hard, but full of joy as well. The point of life is to become more like Him, so even if we aren't flawless, as we TRY, our hearts change and we get closer to Him and more like Him.
And, so far, I really love the storehouse. It's so amazing to see someone come in, looking a little dejected and down, but they tend to leave with a smile and sunshine in their hearts. A smile, helping hand, or conversation really can lift a person's heart. It happens to me a lot there too! That place is full of love, hope, and faith. It's hard sometimes, but as I TRY He helps me.
What is your word for the year? What are you striving for? What is a challenge that God can help you with?
On the Sunday before Valentine's day, a member of the San Gabriel ward in the Philippines messaged me, asking if I would send a video message for Valentine's day. That's all they said, I didn't have a specific topic or time limit. I prayed, and the Spirit put an idea in my head, and the result is the video below. I was able to serve the Lord on His Sabbath day by sharing His love with others. It got my family involved too, and gave them a chance to remember God's love in their life, and get them excited to share their testimonies too. It wasn't about the topic for the Come, Follow Me resource, but it definitely got them engaged like how Come, Follow Me does, and it drew us closer to the Savior.
I've been reading scriptures in Spanish lately, and here is my testimony for y'all in Spanish! Lo siento si este es difÃcil a comprender haha!
Yo sé que Jesús es El Cristo, la Luz, y la Vida del mundo. Él es mi Redentor y mi Salvador. El Padre Celestial ama yo, tú, y todos los hombres. La iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos dÃas es Su iglesia y es verdad. José Smith y Russell M. Nelson son propetas verdaderas. Si le seguimos Jesucristo, será bendito. Dios tiene un plano que es perfecto. En el nombre de Jesucristo, amén.
I love you all!
Sister Keeley
