Coming on a mission has been one of the best decisions that I have made in my
entire life. I have changed so much. It's funny to see the things that I never
thought would change too.
As missionaries we have the chance to truly live a Christ-centered life.
Before my mission, I didn't really understand what that meant. Since coming on
my mission, I've had about 700 days where I have an hour a day allotted to
personal study. I've spent all my time studying the gospel and then trying to
share with people just how awesome this gospel really is. Coming on a mission
has solidified the things that I learned when I was younger and gave me a strong
determination to never fall away.
Another thing that coming on my mission has taught me is what love is.
What love is and how to live. Before my mission, I thought I knew. And to an
extent I did. But coming on a mission and being around the fanastic selfless
examples of other missionaries and my mission presidents, made me realize that I
did indeed have a lot to learn. I wanted to be like that. I wanted to be one
of the ones who people would talk about as being someone who really loved
people. I guess only time will tell as to whether I was successful or not. I
have however discovered how to love. I realized that it is through sacrifice,
through service, through giving up of ourselves for the others, that helps us to
develop love for others. The Saviour demonstrated this love for us when he
completed the Atonement. And I will say that while my mission has been the best
experience that I've ever had, it has not all been easy. One such experience
was actually just recently. We were doing a joint lesson with the sisters. We
each (the 4 of us and the family of 4= 8 cups total) had a cup with water in
it. Because the water was clean, it symbolized our hearts when we were born.
But then as we go on we unfortunately sin and our water becomes dirty. Everyone
added things to their cups like salt and pepper, soy sauce, mayonnaise, sauce
used in cooking meat. Everyone's cup became rather dirty and not
looking very clean. It was then I realized that the only way to clean the cups
was to drink the mixtures that each person concocted. 8 cups of pain later, I
set the last cup down. It was not a very pleasant experience. I was even
suffering the next morning and throughout part of the day. I drank a bitter cup
and I suffered, so that everyone could have clean cups. But the Saviour drank
the bitter cup, and he suffered for each one of us so that we could be clean and
eventually return to live with Him. As I was drinking the cups, the sister said
something that struck me. She said, 'If I had known, I wouldn't have put what I
did in.' It made me think. If we knew how much the Saviour was truly going to
suffer for us, how much he did, would we have put more in the cup that He would
have to drink? My appreciation for all that the Saviour did has deepened
tremendously.
My testimony has also grown to heights I never thought before my mission.
Jesus Christ, came to this earth. He is the Son of God, the only sinless
Being to have ever walked the earth, and as such, he was the only one capable of
fulfilling the Atonement, the greatest act of love known to humankind. He died
for you and for me. He died that we might live. That he is our Saviour and
Redeemer, that he loves us beyond measure, no matter who we are, I testify in
His holy name, even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Looking forward to seeing you
Love you
Elder Keith
