This has been a crazy week. I think Sister Meier explained that I wasn't able to make it to the library on Monday because I went to the Museum of Science with M* in the morning, and then stayed home the rest of the evening to be with Sister Barben who's been sick. She had the flu and was OUT all day Friday through Tuesday, then yesterday morning woke up with shortness of breath and a cough so we called the mission doctor and he advised us to take her to a clinic or instacare or something. Luckily there is a walk-in clinic at St. Elizabeth's hospital which is a straight shot up Washington and the bus stops RIGHT there. So that's where I spent a good portion of my day yesterday - at the hospital! It was kinda fun. We were very well taken care of. After a chest xray it was determined that she has pneumonia. Poor girl! So they gave her some abx [antibiotics - sometimes she can't resist using her pharmacy shorthand!] and sent us on our way.
Well, this is the first day she's felt well enough to walk down to the library so here I am!
Thank you so, so much for the Christmas package! We got to go to the temple last Thursday with our Zone. It was a wonderful time at the temple, and then after lunch at the cafeteria, we went down to the Belmont chapel (just a short walk from the temple) and had a testimony meeting. After the meeting they handed out Christmas packages! It was so fun to see people getting all excited.
Well. Let's see. I have so much to report on! I'm going back through my journals to see what things I've missed...
On the 29th we had a really amazing lesson with L*. She had been taught about the pre-earth life by her Elders, so we finished the Plan of Salvation. She LOVED learning about it, and especially loved the idea of people getting another change to learn the gospel in the spirit world. Here are some (albeit non verbatim) quotes from her to show you how she took it (the lesson in general, that is):
"Even though it's going to be really hard to get baptized without the support of my parents, I realized that I DO have the support of my HeavenlyFather, at least. I know this is what He wants me to do."
After teaching her about the veil of forgetfulness, "So this lesson isn't me learning this stuff for the first time... this is just a review session!"
It was just the greatest lesson with the greatest Spirit. It was seriously thick like molasses in the air. We were all 3 crying, a lot. After the closing prayer as Sister Meier and I walked back to the bus station we rejoiced about how great L* is, and I said a thousand thankful prayers in my heart.
Let's talk about things I've learned this week. It has been SUCH a great time for personal revelation. At the temple, I was reading from the Book of Mormon. It opened up and literally fell right to 3 Nephi 22 - the chapter that I read on April 28th that made me think that I was supposed to go on a mission. It was exciting to read about the gathering of Israel, and comforting to read that I have the power of the Lord behind me. But this time I noticed something new in verse 2. It says we need to do two things in these last days (among others, for sure). 1) "enlarge the place of thy tent" and "lengthen thy cords" and also to 2) "Strengthen thy stakes". It was so cool to read because I've often felt a bit disappointed to be here in Boston, among the proud, in a place known for very unreceptive people. When I look at missionaries in South America or at Andrew in Russia, I think that they're bringing whole cultures into the fold -- humble people who want to change. They are definitely "enlarging" the tent of Israel. But I realized that my mission here in Boston is no less significant because I get to work a lot with members and "strengthen stakes"! Without strong, rooted stakes, the metaphorical cords would be useless, and the tent would be susceptible to being blown away by the winds of adversity.
I also had a very distinct, clear, and direct revelation about mySELF. Sister Meier and Sister Barben were reading from the Doctrine and Covenants and found a verse that stuck out to me. Section 31:3 says, "lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission is come". I felt very powerfully that that advice given to Thomas B. Marsh was just as applicable to my situation. The thought/impression came to me all at once and almost in full sentence form that this -- this mission of service that I am currently experiencing -- is something I (the eternal being that I am) have ALWAYS wanted. That I am thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to share this good news. That in the pre-earth life I CHOSE this for myself out a profound sense of gratitude. I could picture myself, my REAL self, my Spirit self as I rejoiced when I found out that I would be raised in such a remarkable family who would teach me the gospel. I know that as soon as I found that out, I asked Heavenly Father -- maybe even begging -- if I could at least take some time to share the good news of the gospel with everyone else. So I learned that any fear, trepidation, or anxiety about going on a mission that I felt as a mortal was only Satan trying to stop me. That was just so powerful for me to learn. I am SO thankful for that little pearl of knowledge Heavenly Father blessed me with in the temple.
So that was awesome! Also last week, at a dinner appointment, someone made the comment that he thought it would be really cool to serve in Cambridge Mass because it's the "Modern-day Athens" - the place where the minds of the world come, seeking for truth. It was a cool comparison. These things together made me more excited and grateful for my mission. Not just that I'm ON a mission, but that I'm here in Massachusetts (even if I do have to speak English ;) )
Last Saturday we had another really great lesson with L*. We had a member from the University Ward come with us and it was great because her situation is very similar to L*'s. We went to the temple grounds and walked around and chatted, and then sat down on the cement and huddled up in blankets and clung to handwarmers and had a lesson with her. It was just PERFECT. L* loves the temple and we could feel the Spirit of the lesson being magnified by the holy location. As we knelt there and I said the closing prayer, I was overcome with an amazing sense of gratitude. It was because of the gospel and missionary work that the 4 of us got to be there together at that time, looking up at the temple and feeling the Spirit. We were a very diverse group, coming from Maine, Qatar, and Utah. Without the restored gospel, we would likely never have met, and undoubtedly would NOT have been all together at the top of a hill in Belmont, Massachusetts.
So. I don't know what else to tell you, really. But I feel very blessed to be here and to be LEARNING so much about myself, about the gospel, and about the eternal, loving, perfect nature of God. I feel so happy to have Christmassy things all around me, and to be able to feel my family's support from across the country.
Love you,
Sister Broekhuijsen
Also FYI, Melissa mentioned in a separate email that she may not get to email us next Monday - transfers are coming up next week, so it may be later in the week (again) before we hear from her.
No comments:
Post a Comment