I've been putting my mission pictures in a scrapbook. I know it's crazy that it has taken me 15 years to do it. It's been really good for me to do this though. It's made me think about who I was during that time and what I see in myself now. I served in the Brazil Brasilia mission for the first half of my mission and the New Jersey Morristown mission for the 2nd half. Last night I was reading through some letters that my Brazilian companions wrote me. It was interesting to see myself through their eyes again. I definitely feel like I've lost a lot of who that person was. I was such a different person while in Brazil then any other time in my life. I wonder why that is. Was it just the mantle of being a missionary or was it being surrounded by such incredibly humble people that I became that way too? It's interesting to think about. While looking at my pictures I was reminded of the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants. 18:15 "And if it so be that you should labor all your days....and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" No matter how insignificant I feel at times or how little I feel I've accomplished, I have reason to be joyful. I'm really grateful for that.
3 comments:
Wow! I knew you served in Brazil but I didn't realize you also went to Morristown. That was my ward as a kid! We lived in Montville which was part of the Morristown ward.
That is so cool Bridget. I served in Red Bank NJ the entire time I was there. I loved it. Hey, aren't you supposed to be on the road? Where are you?
thanks for the post. it made me thing back to when i was on my mission. i feel the same way that you do. i feel like i was a different person back then and i wish that i hadn't lost that person.
i think it does have a lot to do with the mantle of being a missionary, but at the same time i think because our lives were so focused on the gospel and teaching others, life was simpler. sometimes i long for that simple life again. our lives get so cluttered with way less important things that we lose that focus of what really matters, that focus that we were able to have while on our missions.
i need to go through my mission stuff again! those were great times!
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