Patience Purifies

 So I'm mega confused as I'm scratching my head right now because my pday felt like it was literally yesterday. I think this was the fastest week of my whole mission! I'm not sure why. Either because it wasn't like I was extra busy, but I guess I just love the new year and setting more goals! I thought that I was all "goaled" out because as missionaries we set SOOOO MANY GOALS. But I have honestly drawn a lot of strength, direction, and purpose for myself as I took the time to ask Heavenly Father what he wants of me for 2021. It was amazing to see how revelation from him came line upon line and he helped me create a few plans to accomplish the vision that He has given me too. I invite all of you to consider making a firm goal that helps you accomplish something and become something for 2021!!

This week entailed studying A LOT about patience and I am realizing that I am NOT a very patient person. I'm the type of person who eats all of the cookie dough before it even gets in the oven because I just can't contain myself ;);) But I ran across Elder Uchtdorfs talk called "Continue in Patience" and he had some really good one-liners that delineated patience a little better for me. Here they are:

"If I applied myself consistently, I could learn. It didn't come quickly, but with patience, it did come."

and catch this one...it is super cool:

"Patience is a purifying process that refines understanding, deepens happiness, focuses action, and offers hope for peace."

HOW COOL, right? Some of us wait a few years to appreciate something even greater. And all of us are having to wait a lifetime AND MORE to fully appreciate the gift it is to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father. What a gift that will be and patience is definitely polishing us.

And to end things here is an amazing story of patience from this lady named Bea. We had our second video lesson with her this week and we shared the message of the Restoration. We taught super simply and even would review and see what she understood but we weren't sure how much actually stuck. But we have been trying to get better at promising her blessings and applying these special messages to her unique circumstance...Well to give some quick background of her--she is living in a trailer park in a trailer that is falling apart. Her and her husband just recently got married and they have so much credit card and other types of debt. Their hot water doesn't work and everything has been going south. We called them to pray with them and it's amazing to see after all these years of suffering, God is putting their lives back together. When we pulled her situation into the light of the restored gospel and how it will provide her more peace and shelter even when the world can't she broke down into tears. It was such a tender moment. We asked how she was feeling and she said "I'm happy." When we asked her where she thinks that those feelings come from she responded "It's God."

What a sweet spirit and what a testament of how patience can refine us, it can help us deepen our appreciation for the Savior, and in Bea's case, it helped her truly appreciate the gift of peace and God's love.

I love you all and make sure to set those new years goals! Write them down!

Elder Gardanier

For their Christmas Eve Zoom call, they acted out the Navitity