Called to Serve: It's Competition and Passion for the Love of the Game, Not the Love of Winning

We had an awesome service project this week. There is a family here that dies in their sleep from a carbon monoxide leak in their home. They had two missionaries out serving. In memory of them, the rest of their family is starting an annual tradition of an outdoor 3-on-3 basketball tournament because the Parish family loved basketball. They asked us missionaries to be the refs and score keepers. It was so much fun and it was also good to get our faces out in the community. We got to shoot a little bit too..my kind of service project :)

Something said in sacrament meeting yesterday really hit home with me. "I am a competitor. I want to do my best and I want my competitors to do their best." This statement stuck with me. We all know that I am a competitive person. I like to win, yeah. Recently though, I've realized that it's not wanting me to win so that I can say i'm better than someone else. It's more so, I want to win but I want my fellow man to be right there with me at the finish line, finishing as strong as they can. When they compete at their peak level, it pushes me to perform at my peak level. It's taken me a while to view competition this way, and I'm still working on it, but I think the best way this change has come to me is through missionary work.

I want to return to my Heavenly Father. I want to be the best I can be for him. I want my family and friends to be with me and Heavenly Father as well. I know that by pushing myself, doing my best, and reaching higher and higher to attain a new level of performance, that I can help others more. I do this for others now. No longer for myself. I slip up sometimes and become selfish, but I want my fellow men or "competitors" to finish just as strong as me. I would say now, it's competition and passion for the love of the game, not the love of winning.

Christ is the perfect example. One thing that has recently stood out to me is the act of him being baptized. Christ didn't need to be cleansed of sin and iniquity, Christ had already chosen to walk the path of discipleship, yet one thing lacked...doing the will of His father. He was baptized to help us. He was baptized to show us the way. It was for us, it is always for us.

I'm grateful for his love and constant hand reaching out to pick me up. I can't wait to see him again. I love you all. I love the hard work and dedication you have to serve the Lord. Every act goes noticed. I invite us all to continue to view our fellow men as our beloved brothers and sisters and that we can desire to help each other to the finish line. I know that this is what brings lasting happiness. Try it out :)

Love,
Sister Fredrick

President,

First off, I want to say sorry for not emailing you last week! For some reason I could not access my missionary portal. I'll try to make up for it this week :)

As the start of school comes around, we have been meeting more potential investigators. The members in our wards are having new room mates move in, some members, some not. With many opportunities to share the gospel to new classmates and room mates, we thought it would be a good idea to have some training with our wards on how to go about sharing the gospel in a non-threatening and completely normal way (some people view that as a paradox).

We thought we would start with the ward that has the least amount of work going on. In ward council we discuss every week how we can get the members more motivated to invite friends to activities. Brother Hobbs threw an idea on the table to have the book "The Power of Every Day Missionaries" circulating throughout the ward. After a member would read it, they would write their thoughts and experiences in the back cover and then pass it to someone else in the ward. Sister Jacobson and I thought this was GRAND idea. Not only does that book have really funny stories, but it shines a different light on the definition of a missionary.

We have started circulating the book around, starting with each auxiliary leader. Yesterday, we had a third hour combined meeting where we discussed the book and what we can learn from it. At the end of the meeting, Sister Shumate and I ran a couple role-plays for situations that the YSA will be in. We did an example and then turned it over to them to pair up and try out a real-life experience they have had/will have. After that, we came back together and discussed what was awkward and hard to teach and how we can counteract the feelings of the adversary pushing us not to share our beliefs. The members really got into it and had great comments and concerns. We helped them with their stumbling points and then promised that NO MATTER WHAT they have on their plate this coming semester, when we put the Lord's work first, EVERYTHING will work out to our benefit.

We're going to make this a continuous thing. I'm a firm believer in role-playing! I know revelation comes as we put ourselves in other's shoes, as well.

A few quick miracles:

-Caleb(former investigator) called us and said he wanted to discuss some chapters in the Book of Mormon. We went over and discussed his great questions. He told us that he has committed to himself that he will read a chapter a day until he finishes it. He also promised us that he would pray every day. He's a goodn :)

-Justin(investigator who moved in from another area) texted us and told us that he doesn't want to go to church or be baptized. We went over to his house and told him that all we seek to do is strengthen his relationship with Jesus Christ, and baptism is a natural result of that relationship strengthening. He accepted to meet with us the following day. We had a very spirit-lead lesson on the Atonement. We asked him at the end why he didn't want to be baptized. He told us he didn't see the reason for it, that if he was being a good person, he didn't need to prove to any church that he was a disciple of Christ. We gave him a few chapters in the Bible and Book of Mormon to read and ponder the reasons for baptism and that we would as well and then come back together and discuss what we learned. He agreed. Two day later we had a lesson at the stake center in front of the baptismal font. We discussed what the chapters taught us. Justin said he read, then prayed, and he felt like he should be baptized, especially since Christ was. We took him to the chapel and talked about the sacrament, the renewal of our baptismal covenant. He said he felt the spirit bring peace to his heart. We invited him to be baptized on September 20th and he accepted immediately. We closed with a kneeling prayer, in which he offered. Since then, Bishop has contacted him and has set up a time to meet him today! Miracle? YEAH.

-We were able to meet with all of our sisters this week and give them help with their specific needs. With Sister Leguizamon and Etsitty going home and a bun ch of companionship changes, we feel like they are all ready!

Thanks for all yo do for this mission. I appreciate you and Sister Brinkerhoff's leadership and love.

Love,
Sister Fredrick