I think this was one of the fastest weeks of the mission. There
has been a lot of traveling, lots of learning, and of course, lots of miracles.
I started off the week in Barcelona. Wow I love that place, it was just home
sweet home. We had a meeting that we call "concilio" it's a meeting
with all the leadership of the mission. The meeting was honestly so much fun
and it was such a blessing being able to see so many of my friends I've been
able to make here in the mission. It was crazy, it was kind of like an MTC
reunion because we now have a part of the Madrid mission and a part of the
Málaga mission so there were a lot of Hermanas there that were in the MTC with
us.
Something I loved from this meeting we had was a message from
Hermana Galli, she taught about how important it is to always act in a way that
we can be recognized as disciples of Jesus Christ. It is something that we hear
a lot as missionaries and members of the church but it is something so simple
yet life changing. If we understand this principle, we will constantly strive
to live worthy of the Spirit, being an example, treating others with love and
we will see growth in out lives and in the lives around us.
Another thing we discussed was the importance of a vision. A
life vision, mission vision, school vision. What ever it may be, if we know
what we want out of something and set goals and make plans to get there it
helps us get through the difficulties and helps us know we are on the right
path. This teaching made me think about the perfect plan God has created for
us. He is the perfect example of making a vision and setting the perfect plan
to achieve it. As I was thinking about this topic, I stumbled on a conference
talk called "the mystery of life" by Boyd K. Packer from 1983. And he
explained with a very clear perspective of our lives here on earth and how God
is the Master of this plan and despite the trials and difficulties we face his
plan will come to pass. There was a story from this talk that I'm going to end
my email with it is a bit long, but I highly recommend reading it.
"We know that this life is a test, that life did not begin
with birth, nor will it end with death.
Then life begins to make sense, with meaning and purpose even in
all of the chaotic mischief that mankind creates for itself.
Imagine that you are attending a football game. The teams seem
evenly matched. One team has been trained to follow the rules; the other, to do
just the opposite. They are committed to cheat and disobey every rule of
sportsmanlike conduct.
While the game ends in a tie, it is determined that it must
continue until one side wins decisively.
Soon the field is a quagmire.
Players on both sides are being ground into the mud. The
cheating of the opposing team turns to brutality.
Players are carried off the field. Some have been injured
critically; others, it is whispered, fatally. It ceases to be a game and
becomes a battle.
You become very frustrated and upset. “Why let this go on?
Neither team can win. It must be stopped.”
Imagine that you confront the sponsor of the game and demand
that he stop this useless, futile battle. You say it is senseless and without
purpose. Has he no regard at all for the players?
He calmly replies that he will not call the game. You are
mistaken. There is a great purpose in it. You have not understood.
He tells you that this is not a spectator sport—it is for the
participants. It is for their sake that he permits the game to continue. Great
benefit may come to them because of the challenges they face.
He points to players sitting on the bench, suited up, eager to
enter the game. “When each one of them has been in, when each has met the day
for which he has prepared so long and trained so hard, then, and only then,
will I call the game.”
Until then, it may not matter which team seems to be ahead. The
present score is really not crucial. There are games within games, you know.
Whatever is happening to the team, each player will have his day.
Those players on the team that keeps the rules will not be
eternally disadvantaged by the appearance that their team somehow always seems
to be losing.
In the field of destiny, no team or player will be eternally
disadvantaged because they keep the rules. They may be cornered or misused,
even defeated for a time. But individual players on that team, regardless of
what appears on the scoreboard, may already be victorious.
Each player will have a test sufficient to his needs; how each
responds is the test.
When the game is finally over, you and they will see purpose in
it all, may even express gratitude for having been on the field during the
darkest part of the contest."
Update on out friends!!!!
Ok super fast, a man named Bonaventure from my other area here
in Zaragoza will be getting baptized next week. He was searching for a strong
answer about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and the Hermanas went to visit
him and he told them of such a powerful converting experience.
The night before, he had a dream, in this dream a man approved
him and told him he was Joseph Smith. Joseph Smith told him in his dream that
the Book of Mormon was true and that he was following the right path and
Bonaventure answered him saying that he knows it is true. He woke up the next
day filled with joy, knowing exactly what he needed to do. What an amazing
miracle!!
So sorry for the long letter! Love you all!!!
Hermana Bangerter
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