A Little Taste of Foreign Holiday

(This is Brittney.) I finally found my thumb drive with all my mission pictures on it! In the middle of reviewing said pics, I found this video. It's really low quality and really shaky, but it is one of the few that I have.

It was taken on November 26th, 2006. I had been companions with Sora (Sister) Nettesheim--we called her Sora Nett--for about 2 months (she is the one sitting at the table). Then what should happen? President Ashby (every mission has a mission president that oversees all the missionaries) sent us a new companion! We became a threesome, which didn't happen very often in Romania back then. We were loving it! We had a lot of fun together. But this day, November 26th, we found out that Sora Valcaneantu (VUL-KEN-YAN-TSOO) was leaving again, and we had only been together for two weeks. To capture the moment, we put it on video.(By the way, I say "pa" at the end which means "bye" or "ciao")

My mission was one of the happiest times of my life. Not because I was vacationing in a foreign country, but because I was working hard and serving people as much as, and as best as I could! Well did the Savior say, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Matthew 16:25).

In fact, it was in this same area, in Brasov, that I met a young man who helped me realize this truth. We had been teaching a young woman named Iuliana (YUL-LI-ANA) and she seemed really interested.  She wanted to share what she had been learning with her boyfriend, so she brought him with her to one of our discussions. We tried to go about our lesson normally, but it was clear that her boyfriend (I don't remember his name, but for the sake of the story, I'll call him Sam) had only come to antagonize and deter us.

Sam asked, "Who are you?" Confused by his question, I tried to explain what we had already told him before, that we were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that we were trying to share a message about God and His plan.

He shook his head, "No, who are YOU?" and he pointed his finger at me.

Still a little confused, and praying that I could answer his question correctly, I told him that I was Sora Durfee. I was a daughter, of God. He had sent me on this earth to learn and to grow. Because I knew this, I had purpose, and because of His son, I could better myself every day.

Again, the young man shook his head. He was getting angry (which is not the reaction I had hoped for). He said, "No. Who are you without God? If someone were to ask ME that question, I would say, 'I am Sam. My favorite color is. . .I like to. . . etc.'"

Stunned, I contemplated his question. I actually don't remember what I said after that, but I couldn't get over it, "Who are you without God?"

It is true; I could have told him my favorite color or my likes and dislikes. But in all reality, I would be nothing without God. It is He that gives my life purpose and meaning. It is for Him that I try to do everything. Granted, there are times that I forget to put Him first and I only think of myself, but when I succeed in doing things for Him first, and for myself second, my life aligns in the best possible way. I am a daughter of God, and I will try to act as such. I will try to serve His children as He has asked me to. Christ served others all His life. He gave the example of the Good Samaritan and then he said, "Go and do thou likewise" (Luke 10:37).

Life is so much more fulfilling when we dedicate our time to God, to helping other people and making them happy. It is in serving others that we discover who we are, what we are good at, and where our true potential lies.  And you don't have to be on a mission to taste that fulfillment, either. It can happen every day as we make time to notice, and meet the needs of those around us.

P.S. Iuliana eventually broke up with that boyfriend and then after some time, and after I had left the area, was baptized.

The Decision To Serve: Confessions From The Heart

I have contemplated how to write this entry since the creation of this wonderful blog. Some of you might be confused on why I would give up 18 months to live in a foreign place to preach a religion. I want to help you understand why this is so significant and hopefully share with you the happiness I feel every time I think of the work soon to come. (This will be a LONG entry. Long but worth it! So keep reading and bare with me! :D)

I know NOW that from the very beginning the Lord planted a mission in my path but I was completely oblivious probably to the point of even purposely ignoring. Just a little more then a year ago I was convinced I would be married by the age 21. (21 was the previous age girls could go on a mission.) I was taught not to give up the chance to be married to go on a mission and to be honest I was excited to be married. That was my goal. Marry Chaz Green right after he was home from his mission. I couldn't (possibly wouldn't) see an alternative.

Then Andrew came along. Haha oh Andrew. I will be honest, he kinda forced himself into my life. I made some mistakes in the beginning when switching my love interest. I didn't cut it off with Chaz before kissing Andrew (though I like to say he kissed me first, but I kissed back). The reason for this was the fear. I liked the feeling of having tight control over my life and was absolutely terrified of it spinning out of control. But look there was life going crazy making me quite dizzy. I was confused and tired. Both boys told me to make a decision that I didn't want to make. Then during one of the many DTRs (Defining The Relationship known at BYU) Andrew and I had, he said something that hit me pretty hard. "I understand that Chaz has been your safety blanket for a long time. I just don't want you to make this decision because of fear." I decided to consider it once more before making the final decision. He left and I went to bed.

I lay in bed for a long time, tears might have been involved and out of desperation I reached for my scriptures in search for some answer and some peace. I just opened to a random spot and started reading and then I found it the Answer to my problem. Not the boy problem, but the controlling my life problem. It is in the Book of Mormon Mosiah 24:15 and it reads "And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord." That's it. The answer. The Lord knows more about me than I do. I need to release MY grip on my life not grudgingly but cheerfully and let the Lord take it in his gental hands. And so that scripture became my motto in life. When face with a big decision what really matter was what my Heavenly Father wanted and not I wanted, though 8 times out of 10 we wanted the same thing.

So I let go which included Chaz. Andrew and I only dated for 4 short months but because I was now open minded I learned so much more in those months then I did in my past 3 year relationship. I came home a new person with a bigger better goal. I was becoming who I was meant to be and I was SOOO happy.

I then headed out to school once more. BAAM! Life threw a curve ball, my swing missed and it hit me in the gut. I was completely penniless and jobless. My parents ended up paying for everything... and I felt awful. No, not just awful worse then that. Every time I would talk to my mom on the phone crying was in order. Plus there was this feeling I couldn't shake off. That I wasn't where I was suppose to be but I knew that home wasn't the place for me either. I prayed and prayed for an explanation. I didn't get one and the feeling didn't leave. Then the announcement happened...

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints holds a meeting every six months called General Conference. Our modern day Prophet speaks along with other seers and revalators. Every member around the globe tunes in to this to learn new things about our Savior and his direction. The very first session President Thomas S. Monson stood up and announced this. Yes, you have to watch to hear what he announced.

My answer. I was suppose to be on a mission. Not at home, not a school, but sacrificing 18 months to preach something I know with out a doubt to be true. But this revelation wasn't just for me. This effected the entire world. Here is a video. Its of a graduating 2012 class in Utah and them receiving their calls after this glorious announcement. About 104 teens received their call or are planning to soon. Now it is 14 minutes. You could just watch 4 minutes to understand the impact it has had on peoples lives.

And now I will add the video of me opening my own call to serve. I google talked with my brother and sister-in-law who are in St Louis, my two sisters and brother-in-law who are in Idaho and my best friend and cousin who is in Utah. So my entire family was there! It was a special day! 

 

 

I am beyond excited for this amazing opportunity! I am so grateful for all of you and your influence and your love. I wouldn't be who I am and I wouldn't be worthy if it wasn't for all of you! ALL of you! If you are reading I know you really care because this was long. I am truly thankful and amazed at the wonderful people placed in my life and yes, Jeff, that includes you! ;) Until next time!