Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Goings On (Ben letter 2/22/2019)


This week at the MTC was just like any other. However, our fake prienten, Loana, is ready for Baptism. Colegul Meu si eu are going to commit her to a date next lesson.  I heard what happened this past week and that is so sad. I remember when Jack Briggs took Sams starting spot on the offensive line in the Super Bowl in 3rd grade. There have been many people I've known that have died in the way of suicide. And every time it just hurts way deep down. Then I think about how bad it hurts his parents, and how much they love him. Then I think about how much God loves him, and how much it hurts Him. We had a really cool devotional this week, and it was about how Jesus sees your potential. When he first met Peter, he had just been fishing all night and didn't catch a thing. He was probably sweaty and not in a super mood. And while he was cleaning his nets, Jesus asked if he could use his boat, to teach a congregation. But the point that was made was that when Jesus walked over to Peter to use his boat, He knew that he would one day be the president of His church. He knew that he would spread his name across the middle east and that one day, he would die for the sake of Him. Jesus knew what he could become, a celestial king. Jesus knows all of us in this way, an infinite love. We live in a fallen world. There is sadness, death, lying, stealing, cheating, whoredoms, and sickness. If everyone saw themselves in the way that Jesus sees us, we would feel purpose, and joy in that purpose. My job as a missionary is to help people find their purpose, repent and be born again. All these people I know that have committed suicide, I always wondered what I would say to them if I had the chance. I thought about this really hard during my sophomore year. But the thing I would say wouldn't be about life or death, of convincing them of something or anything like that. The only thing I could really say that could truly effect their life is are these words: God loves you. Although that would be awkward to say just like that, we can all help others feel His love through our actions. Being true disciples is the only way to show love, which is the most important thing for anyone to know. Although this will never solve completely any type of problem our fallen world has, it can help. I know that God loves us and knows all of us by name. I know that Jesus knows what we go through, our rough edges, our sadness, and pain. He knows Jack Briggs' pain, and his trials, and through His love and Atonement can make him a celestial king. Now for those of us that have a glimpse of these truths, it is our duty to help others, to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those in need of comfort. And if you don't get what I'm saying, I'm trying to say that everyone needs that, all the time, so treat all as Christ would treat them. Try and feel what Christ feels about us. Try to know what Christ knows about us. Try to be like Jesus in every deed and thought. That is why we are here on earth and why I am on a mission. 
Well, hopefully, that made sense because that's what I feel like my purpose is. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I am enjoying learning more every day at the MTC. 

Te Iubesc,

Varstnicul Stanfield

 I had told him I was surprised at the mix reaction I was seeing on media about the new calling home change.  Mom's think it's great! but some think it's a bad idea....

Yeah, people that don't like the calling rule are just jealous and I'm not really seeing the downside to it. Maybe wasting too much time calling home? I mean if you're wasting that much time calling, then you didn't have the right mindset to be on a mission anyways. So really giving us time to call home is pretty much saying that they trust us more. I don't know maybe some people were so undisciplined on their missions that they think we can't handle it. Like I said in a previous email, the world is changing, and so the Church is going to adapt. Maybe the first missionaries would call us wimps for having air conditioning, writing mail, and not having to leave 5 kids and a wife behind. 

My brother Josh and his wife Erin and family moved to West Richland...
 
That's good to hear Josh and Erin are moving successfully, finally. I'm so happy they are moving back because they are so much fun, and though it was fun to see them once a year at state, this will be even better. When Ben and Steph moved back, they got the most help for a move I have ever seen, but it was also super ghetto if I remember right. Needless to say, the cousin club is not full of professional movers. So I'm sure with Josh it will be even more ghetto, and it will not surprise me if there are chickens and whatnot in random dressers. That's sad Grandpa still has the infection. Maybe cutting off an extra toe this time will help. Then he will have 2 toes that couldn't go we we we all the way home, which is quite depressing. 


No comments:

Post a Comment