Week 8

This week I received my mission call to the Adriatic North Mission, it is comprised of 5 countries, and there is just so much work to do there! While I was studying my scriptures, specifically about missionary work, there were a few scriptures that stuck out to me. One was in Alma 26, verse 22, "Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing- unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal such things which have never been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance,"

This scripture really hit a chord with me, reminding me how important it is to actively prepare to serve my mission. I cannot expect to "bring thousands of souls to repentance" or even one soul, without preparing myself to have the Lord work through me. I need to be continually praying, exercising faith, doing good works and repenting so that I am worthy and ready to receive all the guidance the Lord is willing to give me as I embark on what will likely be the hardest 18 months of my life thus far. This is especially important for me, because the Croatian/Serbian/Monetenegrian/ Bosnian/Slovanian people deserve dedicated missionaries who desire to love them and invite them to accept Christ in their lives, and it is up to me to help give them that.

In connection, another scripture I read in Alma 30 verse 5 says, "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just- yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them- therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

The people of the Adriatic North Mission have seen a lot of hardship, and they should know the power of the word of God that transcends any of the hard things they have managed to bear up to this point. The word of God is the most powerful tool we have to show people that they truly can live their lives in a fulfilling and beautiful way, no matter their other circumstances. I am so humbled to be able to go and serve these people for 18 months, and I hope that I can find it in myself to be so faithful and obedient to truly make a difference in their lives, and complete my mission of spreading the word of Christ to the best of my ability.