Dearest Family and Friends! How wonderful it is again, to take the opportunity to share of my experiences, testimony, and wonderful times I am having here in this portion of the Lord's Vineyard!!
The Work excites me and I am Loving my mission. I have had struggles, trials, weaknesses be made known, and had to really depend upon a Loving Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ; whom provides an Atonement to be better and forever changed and happy. May you never forget the unconditional love in which They both have for us all. Of course, the blessings that wait in-store for us are not unconditional. But are conditional. I Know when we keep the commandments and statures of this True Church we will find more joy (joy that lasts forever), have more confidence, and be more free of our weakness, pains, guilt, and sufferings.
I Know this Church is true with all of my Heart and soul. I certainly am not perfect. But I know the message and knowledge we posses of this true church is perfect. Never Give Up my Dear friends and Family Keep Going. May you find continual happiness and joy through even the hard times.
Most recently a trial I had for quite a long time made itself manifest and I would like to share. I would like it to be first known, that this is not a complaint. This trial, to me, shows how deeply Our Father in Heaven sees even our deepest sorrows and seeks to teach, love, and mold us into stronger, more cable, and happier people. This is the point of every trial. I heard once that trials should be viewed as blessings in disguise. If we overcome a trial with the help of The Lord then we will become stronger and be led closer to the safe and open arms waiting to embrace us at the end of this epic quest for Salvation.
With that said let me explain. For many of you, you are aware that I had been a victim of the ugly Dengue Fever. Mosquitos are the worst.. You get so sick you do wonder if you might die. I don't think it is actually life threatening, but try telling this statement to one who is enduring the illness and they might uppercut you in the jaw... That on its own was quite the struggle. It was after this, which caused some great struggle.
One of the symptoms of Dengue Fever is Liver Enlargement/and or (this is all to the best of my knowledge) Liver Damage. What does the Liver do you might ask? Here is some information from my Mother: The Liver's main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs. As it does so, the liver secretes bile that ends up back in the intestines." Look at this, you are even learning more about the human body through this email! :D From this long explanation we can conclude the liver is pretty important. Because my Liver was compromised what occurred was Third-Spacing. Of course I had no idea.
Third-Spacing occurs when too much fluid moves from the intravascular space (or blood vessels) into the interstitial or "third" space-the nonfictional area between cells. This can cause potentially serious problems such as edema, reduced cardiac output, and hypertension."
After my struggles with finally getting over Dengue Fever I soon began to have some other problems. It first started with my face. You may have noticed.. my face started getting bigger. Many islanders (in their good and joke filled sense of humor) started poking fun at me and telling me I was getting fat. Of course, no one likes to hear or feel this. And to be honest, it hurt my feelings and made me sensitive. The devil seeing a weak link in the armor came and told me the same things. To be honest, I started to feel worse about my self image. I started getting sad and feeling doubts in a lot of different ways What a jerk... The adversary is not a very positive group of individuals let me tell ya...
My face then started to hurt a lot and often had a burning sensation. My feet and ankles started swelling up/doing the same thing. Then my neck started swelling up too. It became painful to walk and do what I needed to do. I had what we call, Edema. If any of you that thought I was putting on some pounds with Laplap.. Ha! You were wrong! And I am so glad you were!
I often wondered... What's wrong with me? What's wrong with my body? Why am I getting fat, swelling up, and in so much pain? This is not fair. I tried to find more ways to be positive and found comfort by listening to the council of my Father before I left. Quote: Remember Alekken. Wear out your knees son. Then roll up your sleeves and go to work. There are angels on your right and on your left." I read from The Book of Mormon. I prayed as much as I could. I didn't give up. It was feeling like I was only slightly keeping my head afloat of the trials I felt were getting the better of me. I kept trying, although it was so hard to beat the negative thoughts. I testify angels really did help keep me up, when my ankles just couldn’t keep going. Then The Lord, just like Peter, lifted me from the depths of this sea of Negativity and pain.
Months later I am healed. It was only last week that my dear Mother broke the news to me about the Edema. It made so much sense! I then had a discussion with the mission Nurse. She was grateful I had done all she had asked me to do because apparently Edema is fairly serious. Because of all the swelling it is hard for the heart to pump to those places and it can cause some really serious medical/heart problems. She mentioned I could have left my mission early or been reassigned somewhere else. This hit me like a ton of bricks.
I remember after all my Mother told me and the nurse I came home and fell on my knees. Tears streaming down my face the only thing I could muster was, "Thank you. Thank you for helping me stay." I felt an overwhelming amount of love and peace swell my heart. The words of The Child's Prayer came to mind. "Heavenly Father are you really there? And do you hear and answer every child's prayer? Some say that heaven is far away but I feel it close around me as I pray. Heavenly Father, I remember now something that Jesus told disciples long ago. Suffer the children to come unto me. Father in prayer I am coming now to thee.
Oh how I love my Island home. I love my mission. To leave these beautiful people early would have broken my heart. The Lord healed me!
My thoughts can only be summarized by the scriptures Alma 36: 27 and Alma 26: 35-37.
Alma 36:
27 And I have healed supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me
Alma 26:
35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehended all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.
36 Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.
37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.
Through the righteous prayers, patience attitude from my parents, and through their faith I was healed. Through my own Faith and diligence to stay close to the powers of Heaven, even when it was hard I was healed! I am so so blessed and grateful this trial has taught me better how to rely on a Father in Heaven whom will never turn His back on us. Who will forever teach and love us. I testify of His reality and Love. This is a miracle. And they are around us everyday. Because God is a God of Miracles.
I am so grateful again, for my two parents whom freely gave me up to The Lord that I might learn. Mom and Dad. I Love You. Thank you. You will be blessed Sorry! Long email! Probably the longest I have written. Ever! But The Lord has us go through hard times and difficulties that we may stand as a witness for him. I would not be doing this, I feel, unless I shared my story (Mosiah 24:14)
14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions
We had a miracle this week! We invited this Mamma along with several pikinini to come to church.... They all came... Except for the Mamma. All the Pikinini's parents let them come! Most of them are over the age of nine and could be great candidates for families we could teach and help towards baptism. Not to mention we have a small girl of a part member family who looks like she will be baptized on August 11th! So many blessings raining down from Heaven. We are excited!! We even attended primary with them and helped them stay somewhat quiet and attentive during church. It must have been quite the funny sight to see Elder Hable and I acting like two white moms to all of those wonderful adorable black pikininis of ours. Parenting is hard. Credit again to all of you parents whom battle kids all the time to help them come to church you will be blessed and they will thank you one day.
To close, we sang I am A Child of God with our new friends at church. And I couldn't help get emotional as I saw the smiles appear on their face. Tears fell from eyes as The spirit was so strong and I get emotional when I feel the spirit. I can never deny my testimony. Our God Lives. He is a Loving Father in Heaven. We are His children. He does hear even the most quiet prayer spoken from the deepest and saddest parts of our broken heart. He prepared the way through His Perfectly Obedient and Loving Son who knows what is hurting that broken heart and will gather us like a hen with her Chicks. The Father then sends the Holy Ghost to allow us to feel only a portion of this love (which WILL heal us through the Atonement of Christ) which we can't even comprehend.
He hears our prayers during the happy times too. And is ever thankful when we thank and love Him by keeping His Commandments. Glory be To the Father! I will stand as a witness for Him even with my final breath in this life and for eternity.
My Love Goes Out to All of You. Thank you for listening to my story. I know it is true. I lived through it and can never deny what God The Father Has done for me. I'll keep wearing put those knees in your behalf and going to work the best I can... Until we meet face-to-face again in no time:) Love you all.
Love,
Elder LaMont/ The Comeback Kid/ Shark Bait/ Whitest Elder and Child of God in Vanuatu/ Your Alekken Ty
All Our Kids! They grow up so fast!;)
Missing World Cup!!
We had MLC Missionary Leadership Training and we got a good laugh of taking a selfie with all of The Sister Training Leaders to make fun of all the photos they were taking together. The Leadership in this mission is awesome! Nothing can stop the great and everlasting work of Our God! Go Team Heaven!!!
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