I am the kind of guy who enjoys to ramble (You'll hopefully notice that the word 'ramble' is cleverly hidden in the web address of this here blog). Get me started on a subject I love to talk about, and I'll ramble for hours. A prime example of that: Travel. I've never been out of Wyudahoming before (that's Wyoming/Utah/Idaho for those of you who didn't know) in my ENTIRE LIFE - that being said, you can imagine how badly I want to see the rest of the world. England, Scotland, New Zealand, Guatemala, Hawaii, the Alps, the Mediterranean, Israel, Mecca, Paris, Istanbul, Tikal, Kyoto, Madagascar, Sydney...yeah, I could go on forever and ever about the places I want to see and the things I want to do once I get there. This world is SO BIG, and I just want to be able to see it all.
Well, that wish will soon be coming true. On January 16, 2013, I received a large envelope from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - my mission call! I waited to open it until the following day, and here is what it read:
"Dear Elder Mitchell,
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Singapore Mission...You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center...[and] prepare to preach the gospel in the Mandarin Chinese language."
:)
Yeah, I was in complete awe at the place I'd been assigned to. Singapore!? Thousands-of-miles-away-in-the-middle-of-a-tropical-clime-assigned-to-speak-one-of-the-most-difficult-languages-on-the-face-of-the-planet Singapore!?
Yep, the one and only.
At times I feel very inadequate that I've received this call, but I'm also reassured by the fact that even though I have no idea what I'm doing, God knows what He's doing. That is what is most important after all. There are people in Singapore (and in Malaysia, also contained within the Singapore Mission boundaries) that need to hear 'glad tidings of great joy', that need to know that there is always hope, and that we have an older Brother and loving Father that have hands outstretched towards all of us, beckoning home.
There is a great scripture that we covered in my religion class that perfectly describes this truth:
"...Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming? Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children? Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?" (Alma 39:17-19).
How true this is! No matter our various religions, political orientations, physical and racial appearances, social backgrouns, or economic standing - God loves us. I'm always astounded by this truth. Looking back upon my own life, there are so many times when I have not behaved in a manner that would reflect this fact. I have faltered, I have failed, I have struggled, I have given up hope, I have lost sight of the Light, I have fallen short of glory.
And yet I am loved.
And so are you.
I don't know who will read this, nor do I know the various struggles you're going through. Perhaps there are trials in your life that involve broken hearts and loss of friends or family members; perhaps you are tempted by addictions or dark thoughts; perhaps you have lost hope of seeing the Light again; perhaps you are just having a bad day. Whatever your case may be, I pray that you will allow me to testify this simple but brilliant and marvelous truth to you: God Lives, and He Loves You :)
I don't really comprehend the depth nor breadth of that love, but I know that it exists. I felt it when I opened my mission call, I've felt it several times throughout my life, and I hope that I will feel it more throughout the coming days, weeks, months, and years ahead of me. I know that you too can feel of this love - find a quiet place, all by yourself, and sit there. Talk to your Father and to your Savior. Let Them talk back, through a peaceful, still, small, and wonderful voice that you can feel whilst reading your scriptures, pondering the eternities, or simply staring at the depths of the heavens above. Love God, and let God love you!
I testify that His love is real, and that He will watch over and care for you as long as you remain on this earth. Come unto Him, feel of His love, and know that, in the end, all wrongs will be righted and all hurts will be healed.
May God be with you till we meet again, my friends.
Sam
Those of you reading will understand some of the pride I have in being the earthly father of such an influential young man. His brother is no less talented, just beyond our reach for the duration of our mortal sojourn. I claim no credit for how he is turning out, that belongs to God and his mother, but I do rejoice in the fact that they are part of our family, and am eager to see how the girls do. Sam is able to put his feelings into words better than I ever will and I stand in awe myself at how well he does it. I find myself learning from my son, gaining appreciation for his insight and the wisdom life has bestowed. I share his pain in the passing of his little brother, as Rory was my friend as well, and I miss him so deeply, my heart aches constantly with the loss of such a wonderful spirit. I too am reminded of him by nearly everything I see, hear, do or eat. I try to hold those feelings in, but they bubble up and run down my cheeks and burn my skin like molten wax; I hope one day to find some solace, some peace and understanding, but I fear that will not be in this lifetime. Until then, I watch our children grow and develop and become the valiant souls God intended. How blessed I am to be the father of such Warriors of Light!
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