You Will Impact

Hello everyone! I love you so much and hope you had a wonderful week!

Missions encompass just about every emotion. I'll never forget the first day I left for the mission. Lots of tears, lots of joy, lots of fear, lots of love but also what felt like a broken heart. And it didn't really ever go away...until I allowed it to. I have been taught by the Spirit continually throughout my mission experience about the principle of finding joy through my focus not my circumstances. As I went day by day I would feel such joy sharing what I love so much, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then I would feel fear not knowing what to teach someone when the time came. I cried when I missed my family, I cried when I felt the Spirit. I felt broken hearted as doors were slammed in my face. But what followed this bitter feeling of rejection was the forever lasting and infinite love of my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father knows each of us and He knows our desires. He knew that our mortal journey would be far from perfection, so He literally sent His Beloved son Jesus Christ to come to earth and take upon Himself the knowledge and feeling of every trial or pain we would ever go through. Jesus Christ is my brother. He is my best friend. He is my savior and redeemer. He is the literal son of our Heavenly Father. He sent His only perfect son to earth in essence to suffer and experience our every trial with us. Jesus Christ's gospel did not begin in Bethlehem and it did not end with nails in His hands on the cross at Calvary. It is everlasting, infinite, all encompassing. My love for my Savior and Father in Heaven has increased tremendously and will continue to as I look forward with Faith in Jesus Christ. Circumstances which may seem overwhelming, sins that may seen unforgivable, days that may seem more gloomy than ever, choices made that bring deep sorrow, when other people break our hearts...whatever it may be, we must be able to recognize the eternal purpose of these trials, these mortal experiences and opportunities. We cannot determine our joy in life solely based on our circumstances, but by our focus. And IF that focus is on our Savior Jesus Christ and what we can do to become more like Him each and every day then we will be given an eternal joy that no mortal mistake could ever overpower.

Elder Toki just returned home yesterday and Elder Kilembi (my other companion) and I got to take him to the airport for his departure. Elder Toki changed my mission. He changed my life. His simple yet significant testimony was so influential to all that were within distance of his voice. There was nothing he said or did that was more powerful than him simply carrying the Spirit with him every where he went. He magnified his call to be a full-time missionary for his Savior. I will strive in all I do to give my all to the Lord. He has finished his temporary opportunity to serve full time in this eternal work. But will continue to be a missionary wherever he goes.

Your example goes beyond what you can see. In fact most times when seeking to help individuals with personal needs, it takes more than just listening. You must feel for them. You must love them. You will make an impact everywhere you go, make it an empowering one.

Jesus Christ lives. He is the son of our Father in Heaven. They love each and every one of us. They want to see us happy, but sometimes, with opposition in all things, it takes experiencing something that may seem miserable, to in the long run receive an eternal ever lasting joy.

I love you all! Have an amazing week!!

- Elder Newbold

Hearing What Is Not Said

HELLO HELLO!! I LOVE YOU ALL!! It has been so long since I have taken the opportunity to type out an email but I have had the Spirit teach me so much this past week I could not wait another day. I wanted to focus this email on the topic of "Hearing what is not said".

Take a moment to think about what this phrase means to you.

Elder Bednar, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ that lives today, recently took part in a counsel with teachers and leaders from across the world. Before every question or statement that he gave he prefaced with the invitation to seek to "hear what is not being said". As he went about responding to the spiritually guided questions that were asked by many of the teachers there, it seemed most apparent to me that his goal was not to answer their questions. He in fact stated several times that he is incapable of answering their questions alone, but through the guiding power of the Holy Ghost, Elder Bednar was able to best provide a response that, if hearing what is not said, put the teachers in a position where the Holy Ghost could reveal to them the direction and source that they may go to find the answer for themself. Now this was very profound to me for many reasons. One being that even an Apostle of the Lord was inadequate to provide ALL the answers to every question that comes his way. Second being that the responses he provided allowed all individuals that were listening to act. 

Faith is a principle of ACTION & POWER. Notice the order in which I listed these principles. Elder Bednar, through the power of the Holy Ghost, helped me tremendously to understand that I cannot expect the power to come simply in accordance to my faith alone. I cannot pray for strength to fulfill a task and expect the power to proceed my action taken towards that specific task. The power will not, in most cases, come before we act. However it's the very opposite. We are promised that as we ACT the POWER will come. We see numerous accounts of this in our Holy Scripture. The Holy Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants & The Pearl of Great Price, all provide us with examples where great followers and representatives of the Lord were required to take action before the Lord provided them the strength intended to fulfill what was commanded of them.

Now if I can go back to the first question I asked, What does the phrase, "Hearing what is not said", mean to you? Please keep this question in mind as you continue to study the scriptures and the words of the prophets. Even President Nelson as the Prophet today simply performs the Lord's work as a VESSEL. His worthiness, submissiveness & humility allows him to best teach to others what the Spirit makes known to him.

Mothers, Fathers, Missionaries, Leaders, etc.. should never be the teachers alone, but should be striving to teach in unison with the Holy Ghost, the true teacher. This becomes more apparent to me each and every day.

Words are inadequate for the amount of love I truly have for each of you. I pray about you all. I thank the Lord everyday for the opportunity i have to share my testimony with those I feel so close to. If you are reading this, it is because you've been brought into my life for a reason, I really believe that. You have touched my life deeply and continue to do so as I feel your support and love daily. I hope and pray that the Holy Ghost will continue to teach you as you [Listen & hear what has not been said, but what the Spirit has taught you.] "If all you heard is what was said, you didn't listen. If all you get is what the teacher presents, you missed what matters most." (Elder Bednar)

Heavenly Father loves you! Jesus Christ loves you! I love you!

SMILE SO BIG THIS WEEK!!!

P.O.L.Y (peace out love you)

- Elder Newbold