This is a beautiful story I found on the Missionary Mom email list I am on. I actually sobbed reading it, so have some Kleenex ready. I sent this to Mic and I think every Missionary needs this story.
He's Been There Before
The alarm rings at 6:30; I stumble to my feetI grab my companion's bedding and pull off his sheet.A groan fills the room. It's already time to arise?"It seems like just a second ago I was able to shut my eyes.
The morning activities follow: study, prayer and suchWhen its time to leave the apartment, you feel haven't accomplished much"We have a super day planned," my Companion says with a grin.I lowly utter a faithless breath, Yea, if anyone lets us in.
With the word of God and my faithful schwinn, we ride off in the street.Prepared to face another day of humidity and heatIt's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through.My companion and I are riding home, not accomplishing what we thought we'd do.
We ride up to the mail box hoping to receive a lot.Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "AIRBOX"We go up to our apartment; the day is now completethe only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet
It's past 10:30 Pm, my companion is fast asleep.Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weepIn the midst of sadness I kneel down to pray;I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say.
"Oh Father," I begin, "What happened to us today?I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was awayMy hands, my aching hands worn, hurt and beatIf our area was any smaller,we'd have knocked on every street."
Why on missions are the days so much alike?the only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike.Will you send some cooler weather? the heat is killing me!I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes. Its very hard to see.
Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?People always laugh at me and call me stupid stuff.Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack;I want to give them Book Of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back."
And what about my Family? They don't have much to say.I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day.Oh Father,why am I here, Am I just wasting my time?Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind.
My Companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?The way he rides his bicycle I don't know if he can even see!Now you have it, I can't go on. I DON'T KNOW what to do!That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I leave you."
My prayer now finished I stand up, then jump right into bed.I need my feet for tomorrow; we have another long day aheadSleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away.Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day.
I'm standing alone on the hill, the view is very nice.A man walks towards me and says, My name is Jesus Christ."Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet."Arise he states, follow me to the shade you and I need to speak."
My attention towards my Savior, total and completeHe says, "Your Mission is similar of what happened to me.I understand how you feel, I know what your going through;In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you.
"Even know how you felt when no one listened to youAt times I felt not quite sure what else that I could do.I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for a car would be sweet.Just remember the donkey I rode I was not equipped with 21 speed.
I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate.I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, " Oh, the agony was great.I see you don't like your companion you would rather have someone else.I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth.
It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you.I remember when they put thorns in my head and called me King of the Jews.So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack.I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back."
Your hands hurt from tracking and knocking on doors all dayI guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ache in a similar way.It's hard not to hear from home when your family was not there to see.I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why has though forsaken me?"
We have a lot in common, but there is a difference between us you see.I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me."He embraced me with his arms, His light filled me with His love.With tears in my eyes, I watched as he went back to the Father above.
I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head.I listened and heard the alarm, when I realized I was in my bed.My companion let's out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"I sat up and said. Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"
No matter what we go through when we feel we can't take more,Just stop and know that we can go on with our Saviors example and we want to be like Him! We will not be given anything we can't handle. Let's carry each others scriptures and press forward.
