Back in my day (good things to remember)

 I'll start out with a random journal excerpt. This was from about a month ago

• After I had got out of the shower, Elder Clay was like, “hey it’s time to go.” And I was like, “Wha?” and it turns out that we were going to be late for a service project. We showed up and almost everyone there was fairly old, so it was good that two weak young gentlemen came in order to make the old men feel good about themselves. Didn’t see that coming, didn’tcha? As the weak young genteeelmeen that we are we carried the fridge and the bed and they carried the blankets and single pieces of spaghetti. (they didn’t want to hurt their backs). T’was a good time. Right as we were finishing, Lindsey gave us a call and invited us to breakfast with his roommate and friend! I felt so happy

We did a food drive on Friday. It was literally a food drive. People literally drove up and we literally gave them food. we saw Nicholas there, who we healed a week or two previously. Here's the text I sent to the zone chat about it

"MIRACLE: Elder Clay and I visited a member 2 weeks ago who had the day previously received a deep gash in his hand from an old electric saw. Though he had gone to the hospital to get it treated, it had only been stitched up; his hand was very swollen and infected. We invited him to seek a priesthood blessing, and he invited us to do it. During the blessing, Elder Clay felt moved to rebuke the infection. We left shortly thereafter. Since we talked with him today, he showed me his hand, and told us that the infection had completely left his hand a couple hours after the priesthood blessing."

Amazing. God has always been with us, and this experience has got me thinking about some other miracles I've seen in my own life. 

Another miracle, or rather one of the first miracles that I can remember at the present is from a priesthood blessing I received for a terrible burn when I was 9 years old. To provide a little bit of background info, there was an accident where a pot of corn and boiled water tipped over onto my ankles. There were 2nd and 3rd degree burns, and I was completely inconsolable and unable to stop sobbing. As soon as my grandfather arrived, my father gave me a blessing. I don't remember the words that were said, but what I do remember is that after the prayer my pain was eased and I was able to bear my circumstances. I likely continued to make a fuss in the weeks and months that followed with that terrible recovery, but I was able to bear every moment of it, and I was better for it. Honestly, I am profoundly grateful that that accident occurred and I had such a bad painful experience, because I was able to see the power of a blessing from my father from a very young age. It has aided me in times of trial and it will aid me in the future to know that my Father was worthy and willing to give me access to the blessings of heaven in that instance

   

However special this experience, I feel the need to inform you all that this is not the most profound miracle I have seen in my life. It comes from living a life with a focus on the Savior. It comes from being taught the ways of God by my parents, and living my life in a way that I can feel the Atonement. It is joy. How could any person chance upon the environment and blessings conducive to having joy?- IT. WAS. NOT. BY. CHANCE.

   

Our Heavenly Father loves me so much. And I want everyone else I meet to be able to experience this joy. I want everyone else to experience the Atonement of Jesus Christ in their lives and feel this same joy.

In Mosiah 3:13 it states, "And the Lord God hath sent His Holy prophets among all the children of men to declare these things to every kindred, nation, and tongue , that thereby, whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive a remission of their sins, and rejoice with an exceedingly great joy even as though He had already come among them." I have memorized this scripture because it means so much to me that the blessings of heaven can reach every willing person when we are willing to share them with others. Are there any blessings you have that you want to share?

Please pray for:

- Michelle

- Kyi Min Htut

- Brother Holben