Enkhtaivan #65

Hey Everyone, My companion and I just split. We had to split the investigators, so that was not fun. Elder Hall became a trainer, and I took Elder Martinez. My new comp is awesome. Elder Martinez is a pro with people. He makes our people feel like a million bucks, so we are going to do great work. Spiritual thought: hope Throughout my mission, I've wondered what gospel principles are most important. (ie. Virtue, faith, love, sacrifice, and hope...). While I'm quite convinced that love is the crowning principle of Christ's ministry, and Christianity as a whole. There's one virtue I've come to highly esteem on the mission. I've never appreciated hope before, like I do now. The father who cries in despair that he cannot stop drinking. The single mother who struggles to care for her children. The lonely widow, the parent-less child, or the young man who's struggling with addiction. When working with these different situations, the beginning of healing is always hope. It is the moment an individual in dispear turns their heart to the Father, they feel his divine compassion. The healing of hope begins once they realize they are not alone, that God loves them, and will help them. Dieter F. Uchtdorf said this Hope sustains us through despair. Hope teaches that there is reason to rejoice even when all seems dark around us. And to all who suffer—to all who feel discouraged, worried, or lonely—I say with love and deep concern for you, never give in. Never surrender. Never allow despair to overcome your spirit. Embrace and rely upon the Hope of Israel, for the love of the Son of God pierces all darkness, softens all sorrow, and gladdens every heart. I testify that hope is an essential virtue. Through hope, your darkest times can turn into your greatest triumphs. You are not alone. God loves you. He will not abandon you. 7 Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption (psalms 130:7) Love, Elder Bateman