The Greatest Miracle #2

 Hey Everyone!

2nd Week at the MTC was great. I got to meet a fellow Bateman in the wild! During Sundays devotional we heard from the MTC president who in 2012 was the mission president of the NYC north mission which includes Kings Point. I introduced myself after the devotional and he expressed to me how happy he was to know 2 USMMA midshipmen are serving missions and said "There is a lot of good to do there, I hope you return to serve". On Thanksgiving we got to hear from church leader Ronald A. Rasband, and his daughter. Both gave moving talks about faith and miracles. We also packaged 400k meals for the hungry on thanksgiving. Our table of 8 packaged about 1k meals. 

This week I enjoyed daily 6:45 runs with Elder Huish and Arrington who are bound for Korea, and basketball afterward.  

Spiritual Thought:

After deciding to serve a mission I journaled what I want to get out of a mission. Looking back at my first journal entry months ago it reads something like this "In serving a mission my greatest hope is to become a blessing to the lives of those God chooses to surround me with". Not only do I desire to be a blessing to those I serve in Mongolia but I want to be a best friend, brother, son, uncle, grandson, and someday husband and father I can be. It's my greatest fear in life that I will be a burden to others. 

It reminds me of God's promise to Abram "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing"

I know that by being obedient to God's commandments, loving my friends and family, and having faith in Christ will help me become "a blessing" in the life of my friends, family, and future wife and children.

While reading in John this week I was moved by this profound teaching from Christ "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends". Shortly after Chirst died for his friends (all of us), and later on his disciples for him. How amazing is that?

It reminds me of many heros who have sacrificed themselves for their friends since, such as Todd Beamer's "Let's roll" before taking down United airlines flight 93 on september 11, 2001. He along with other passengers saved thousands of lives that day. Nothing makes me more emotional than learning of the sacrifices individuals have made for their fellow man.

The greatest miracle, we often believe that miracles are mystical and supernatural events but honestly don't think so. Personally I believe miracles are what you see. And the greatest miracle to me is to touch the human heart. Whether loving a friend, rejoicing with a friend, mourning with a friend, or showing them what makes life meaningful to you. I believe the impact we can have on others by touching their heart will affect their life more than any gift or single action. 

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched but must be felt with the heart" - Hellen Keller

With Love,

Elder Bateman