July 29th, 2013 Maren

Hello Hale FAMILY!

How are you all doing? How is life? Mom, is your headache better? Thanks for writing anyway, I hope you feel better.

Man it sounds like your pioneer day was awesome! I want to go hiking! Someday. Haha. Our RS president said she talked to mom. haha is it weird talking to the people I am with every day? They're SO AWESOME!

Okay, a quick overview of the week...

We've been able to teach our investigators a few more times and we see great potential in Osmar. Fernando (his brother) has great potential too I just don't think he quite understands the concept of faith yet. He wants to understand EVERYTHING before he takes those first few steps into the darkness. Its kinda scary talking to him sometimes as I often wonder if he really believes in God the same way that we do. Let me explain. I asked him this week what he would do if God stood right in front of him and told him that he needed to do these things... would he do it? He answered that he would think about it, ask a lot of questions, and then if he could see that it was reasonable and the purpose then he would do it... no faith. That to me is scary. But we had a cool moment right after that, we were playing Handball with them and Matt (investigator - getting baptized in august) and the Elders and Matt was listening in on our conversation, I asked him if he wanted to add anything and he testified boldly about Faith and how we can't know anything until we try it out (like playing the piano, your not an expert no matter how much theory you know until you start playing the keys). It was so cool! I can't wait until he is baptized, he really is real growth. The Elders have done a great job with him.

Evelyn told us yesterday that her "husband" doesn't want to meet with us anymore. He still wants to come to church but he doesn't want to feel pressured into doing anything. I don't feel like we were pressuring him but what can you do? Anyways. We'll keep teaching Evelyn and charge the members with teaching him for now.

I am loving life with sister Peacock and am so grateful that she is my companion. We learn and grow so much every day.

Lastly. As this transfer comes to a close I was thinking more and more about what next transfer will bring. Both my 7th and 8th month marks which means I'm 1 transfer away from my anniversary temple trip... that means HALF WAY!!!! how did that happen? It really freaks me out. Time flies. But as I was decorating my planner for next transfer I really wanted to focus on making it mean something and setting the stage for lots of growth. I was reading the talk "Of Regrets and Resolutions" by President Utchdorf and this part really stood out.

I Wish I Had Lived Up to My Potential

Another regret people expressed was that they failed to become the person they felt they could and should have been. When they looked back on their lives, they realized that they never lived up to their potential, that too many songs remained unsung.

I am not speaking here of climbing the ladder of success in our various professions. That ladder, no matter how lofty it may appear on this earth, barely amounts to a single step in the great eternal journey awaiting us.

Rather, I am speaking of becoming the person God, our Heavenly Father, intended us to be.

We arrive in this world, as the poet said, “trailing clouds of glory”4 from the premortal sphere.

Our Heavenly Father sees our real potential. He knows things about us that we do not know ourselves. He prompts us during our lifetime to fulfill the measure of our creation, to live a good life, and to return to His presence.

Why, then, do we devote so much of our time and energy to things that are so fleeting, so inconsequential, and so superficial? Do we refuse to see the folly in the pursuit of the trivial and transient?

Would it not be wiser for us to “lay up for [ourselves] treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal”?5

How do we do this? By following the example of the Savior, by incorporating His teachings in our daily lives, by truly loving God and our fellowman.

We certainly cannot do this with a dragging-our-feet, staring-at-our-watch, complaining-as-we-go approach to discipleship.

When it comes to living the gospel, we should not be like the boy who dipped his toe in the water and then claimed he went swimming. As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are capable of so much more. For that, good intentions are not enough. We must do. Even more important, we must become what Heavenly Father wants us to be.

Declaring our testimony of the gospel is good, but being a living example of the restored gospel is better. Wishing to be more faithful to our covenants is good; actually being faithful to sacred covenants—including living a virtuous life, paying our tithes and offerings, keeping the Word of Wisdom, and serving those in need—is much better. Announcing that we will dedicate more time for family prayer, scripture study, and wholesome family activities is good; but actually doing all these things steadily will bring heavenly blessings to our lives.

Discipleship is the pursuit of holiness and happiness. It is the path to our best and happiest self.

Let us resolve to follow the Savior and work with diligence to become the person we were designed to become. Let us listen to and obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As we do so, Heavenly Father will reveal to us things we never knew about ourselves. He will illuminate the path ahead and open our eyes to see our unknown and perhaps unimagined talents.

The more we devote ourselves to the pursuit of holiness and happiness, the less likely we will be on a path to regrets. The more we rely on the Savior’s grace, the more we will feel that we are on the track our Father in Heaven has intended for us.

For my planner I settled on the theme of "Become" and put the quote "He will create of you a Masterpiece, you will create of you only a smudge. You will create of you an Ordinary Man, He will create a God." from the 4th missionary talk. This life isn't just about learning the gospel. Its about living it. Its all about becoming like Christ, becoming who he created us to be. 

Jacob your email really hit home when I read it this morning. Wow! You have grown so much! I am so proud of you! I too want to get up every morning and dedicate myself to God. To become who he needs me to be and be his mouthpiece, hands, and feet here in Riverhead. I need to be better at making that commitment and more than that following through. Thanks for teaching me.

I love you Family! The church is true. Just keep doing the little things, they really are the foundation to a joyful life and they will keep you safe on the Lord's side of the line. Read and Pray EVERYDAY! Its so critical! and go to church and renew your covenants. There is nothing to freeing as starting the week completely new and fresh every week. Church has become the center of my week. My favorite part, I think that is something Tania learned long ago. Thanks for being an example sis.

-Sister Maren Hale

P.S. Is there any chance you would be willing to mail me my EFY Medly Piano Music? That would be awesome!