Fire that your mom wants you to play with.   

(Finland – Week 39)   

06 Oct 2015 

Every Friday we plan out our whole week, and last week my companion and I were staring at our Monday that refused to be filled. No appointments were sticking, and we did not know where to go. We both got the thought that our mission president's wife would need help on that day, so we texted and she said that she would love us to come over! We went over yesterday and there were a few sisters there about to go home. We apologized that we were intruding and assured that after we had cleaned and made dinner we would leave. They all looked at us really funny and asked, "Why?" We looked at them funny and said, "Because we aren't leaving Finland." Then all those that were leaving told us that someone told them that we were going to be there that night. Finally after they each had reported that we were supposed to stay the night, we asked two more people, and then we believed them. We were so happy that the Lord was planning our Monday to get us to where we were supposed to be. We were also grateful for the extra toothbrushes and clothes kept at the mission home.

GENERAL CONFERENCE!!!! Wow, I just couldn't contain myself right there. Did you all watch it? Did you watch Elder Holland's talk and weep in gratitude for your fantastic, wonderful, amazing, super-hero mother? (Let's just say my bookmark was a tissue that night. LOVE YOU MOM! You're fantabulous.) Wow. The prophets and apostles are truly inspired men of God. I was really touched by the humility of the three new apostles called this conference session. It is amazing to see such wonderful examples that will admit they are not perfect. In fact, sometimes they feel inadequate and incapable. But, the important thing they know (and that I've been learning more and more on my mission) is that is does not matter where you are. Wherever you are now is a perfect spot to start. I noticed in the scriptures that Christ is referred to as the refiner, as in a refiner of metal. I imagine being in the refiner's fire isn't all that comfortable. Think about it, constantly being melted down, reshaped, and reformed. So what's the difference between the refiner's fire and the furnace of affliction? (1Nephi 20:10 "For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.") I've been thinking how much care the refiner has for his metal. He sees the potential, he sees something precious, of incredibly great worth. He spends countless hours and constant care, melting that metal over and over. Obviously to the refiner, this task is of the upmost importance and done with great care. What is the use of a furnace? To burn something down into nothingness. So although both are not comfortable, in the refiner's fire we have the constant care and attention of our Savior, we are constantly becoming better and valued for our precious divine nature. This discomfort leads to something better, and this discomfort eventually will end and be replaced with eternal joy. I'm so grateful for the constant refinement and care that Christ has for me, for each of us. He truly wants us all to have the best, and to be the best. We need only trust that He knows the best, and then follow His example. I love my Savior, I love conference, and I am so grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is truly Christ's church on earth again. Everyone, go watch or re-watch conference. Ihan nyt. Right now.

Here is a picture of me, riding my teeter-totter horse to the rescue, and then getting down to business. To defeat the Hun(s)ger for the gospel.

Rakkaudellani,

Sisar Mendenhall