Try, try, try

 

3-1-21

Hi everyone, 

It has been another week here in Kaw Valley! Not a lot happened. My companion and I were invited to a zoom church. They spoke in tongues there, so that was an unique thing. I'd never seen it before, but it was very interesting. We were invited by Mrs. Margaret, this sweet friend of ours that lives here in Kansas. 

Weather has been beautiful 65° and sunny. I feel blessed! The fact that we live by a dog food factory and the smell blows over is kinda gross though - lol. But one of the other Elders thinks it smells like French fries. Yeah no, it is dog food and makes me wanna vomit. 

One wack thing that happened this week was the prank the sister missionaries played on us. Sister Montoya and Hermana Gleed both tricked us Elders so good! So they claim that one of them is getting an emergency transfer (meaning moved to a new assignment rather suddenly). They moved her suitcases down and had us write farewell notes. We were majorly tricked, but now they just unleashed a prank war… so stay tuned. 

Here's my spiritual thought for you today: 

I feel like I fail a lot here on the mission and that I am less than the perfect mission. But I honestly try, and when I don't try my hardest, I have to remember I can repent and change and try a little harder the next day. A talk given by President Eyring in October 2018 called, "Try Try Try" moved me this week. In the quote I'm about to reference President Eyring is referring to his wife. The quote goes as follows: 

"Now she can speak only a few words a day. She is visited by people she loved for the Lord. Every night and morning I sing hymns with her and we pray. I have to be voice in the prayers and in the songs. Sometimes I can see her mouthing the words of the hymns. She prefers children’s songs. The sentiment she seems to like best is summarized in the song “I’m Trying to Be like Jesus.”

The other day, after singing the words of the chorus: “Love one another as Jesus loves you. Try to show kindness in all that you do,” she said softly, but clearly, “Try, try, try.” I think that she will find, when she sees Him, that our Savior has put His name into her heart and that she has become like Him. He is carrying her through her troubles now, as He will carry you through yours."

I often feel like I have nothing to give and that I make mistakes and I just suck. But it's important to remember that I'm not Jesus, I'm trying to be like Jesus. Each day we can try, and when we account to the Lord and we fall short, if you try, He'll make up the rest. But if you didn't try, you can ask for forgiveness and a redo, and you'll lovingly receive one. The Lord did 100% of the work - his grace makes it possible, without him there'd be no point. But now we are asked to try, try, try for Him and try to become like Him. 

It's important to pray to Heavenly Father and ask, "Lord, what can I do on this day to serve thee and others within my reach?" I promise as you do that and follow the spiritual prompting you receive, you will become more like our Savior Jesus Christ. I fail at this, and it's something I'm trying to improve on as well, so if you feel like oh boy, Elder Hedrick seems preachy today, remember, we are all beggars and need forgiveness - Mosiah 4:19. 

In Matthew 5:48, Jesus says the following, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." So that's the commandment - be perfect… is anyone else getting nervous lol. Elder Holland gave a talk, and he read this scripture and added the word "eventually" to the end.  Perfection is pending and comes in the next life; all we are asked to do is try, try, try. 

Love you all, 

Elder Hedrick