Livin' On A Prayer

Well, my dear friends and family, elders and sisters, ladies and gentlemen, we are halfway there! And we certainly are living on a prayer. Tomorrow, the 10th of October, will be my year mark from my first day as a missionary.

I have learned so much and experienced so many different things in this past year. I learned a new language. I've eaten some incredible food (Watch out for the full out taco Power Rankings btw). I've met so many amazing people. I've seen so many miracles. And finally, so many lives have been changed by this great gospel of Jesus Christ. I am just so happy and joyful to be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ. I literally have never been quite this happy to be serving the Lord.

But it wasn't always like that.

I definately have had trials. In my training, I was suffering a lot. I struggled with the language, I missed my family, my companion and I did not mix well. Later when I had 6 months in the mission, I was passing through a huge trial with my people in teaching. Satan was working hard on them. In my current area we've had many hard and sometimes scary things and we needed many miracles to get us out of a tough trials. Now looking back I realized something. Through every trial of my mission Jesus Christ has been there to lift me up and bring me once again the joy of living His Gospel.

It happened with the Nephites when they were almost killed for believing that Christ would come. And so when Nephi prayed, he received this answer in 3rd Nephi 1 :13, "Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets." 

His invitación? Lift up your head and Be of Good Cheer!!

In his earthly ministry, while talking to his apostles and their trials that they would have, again he responds in Juan 16:33, These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Again he invites us: Be of Good Cheer!!

After his death and resurrection and while Jesus Christ was restoring His Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord declared in D&C 68:6, "Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come."

For the third time: Be of Good Cheer!!

Before my mission, I thought I knew what true happiness was. But I was wrong. I now can testify with all my energy of my soul that LIVING the Gospel of Christ brings us happiness and joy. I love my Savior, and so why wouldn't we be happy? He already has atoned for our sins and has given us the invitation to follow him and to be of good cheer. Before his birth, during his ministry, and after his resurrection. We can feel the love of the Savior by sharing our love for the Savior.

So, Be of Good Cheer!! That is my invitation to you all. That doesn't mean that there won't be trials, but we will be able to be joyous through these trials. I am so happy and excited to be a servant in the hands of the Lord, and I am so grateful for this great year it has been to learn this lesson. True happiness and love are REAL. They aren't just pretty words that the prophets and missionaries say, because it is real. 

I testify that Jesus Christ lives, and he knows us, loves us, and understands us. He has restored His Gospel for us today through a prophet of God. I know that this Church is Christs church. I wouldn't be out here if it didn't. I promise. The Book of Mormon is the word of God and contains the everlasting fullness of the Gospel. I testify that LIVING the Gospel, we can find out what really is happiness, and this happiness doesn't end when we die. And in that, I do not lie.

I love you all! Have an amazing week!! And be of Good Cheer, because He lives. :)