This week went well until yesterday night. I have changes (La
Sierra city called La Junta with Elder Rodrigues). The last thing I wanted to
hear was that I have changes. I’m pretty bummed.
Normally I’m not affected by the changes but this time it is
tough. I love the area, my companion is/was awesome, and above all our relationship
with the Barraza family. I feel like that is the hardest thing to leave behind.
The family just was great. We went over this last week and I couldn’t have
asked for a better last lesson. We went in not sure what we were going to share
and we asked if they had questions and we went about like that answering
questions and then we got to a point where they both shared their testimonies.
They talked of the blessings and miracles and changes they have witnessed since
having accepted the gospel. It was so powerful, the spirit was crazy
strong and one of the best experiences of my mission to hear these converts
with such a conviction and with such gratitude first to God then to us.
But this experience of a perceived
ending is a testimony strengthener even though it is a bitter experience.
Holland has a talk where he talks about the importance of not looking back as
lots wife. He says don’t miss the here, and now, and tomorrow for the there,
and then, and yesterday. Faith is always pointed toward the future. Always for
blessings that will yet be efficacious in our lives. HE says the past is meant
to be learned from but not lived in. And Uchdorf tells of the remedy being gratitude.
He talks about how endings are not our destiny we are eternal beings and that
the more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that
endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions
temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy
awaiting the faithful. We should be grateful to our Heavenly Father that in His
plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings.
This last week was kind of weird lots of people who were going to get baptized
or confirmed had weird stuff happen to them. One guy was on his way to get
confirmed and the police arrested him and took him to jail. They confused him
with another guy and let him go eventually. Another lady was going to get baptized
but then had to leave town to go visit and sister (I think) because her baby
was born with the stomach outside. Another guy was going to get baptized this
last week on Friday but on Monday he had a stroke and went into a coma and
later passed away on Thursday night. On Sunday two kids were going to get baptized
after church but their dad disappeared and the mom was really down and crying. We
don’t know if he left her or if he disappeared as in kidnapped but they kids
got caught up in the situation and the ward thought it wouldn’t be best to baptize
them yet.
Love Elder Blanchard
