MARCH 26, 2018

WEEK 43

BUGS, KETCHUP AND GROWTH!

"Education is the difference between wishing 
you could help other people and being able to help them.

-President Russell M. Nelson

After 1 year on a mission in Tahiti where I sweat 24/7, I wear a bike helmet every day, I don't wear makeup EVER, and the lighting is AWFUL.. I just gotta take a minute to appreciate that I've literally lived in PARADISE where the people are more loving and welcoming than ever, I'm never hungry because literally EVERYONE gives me food, Missionaries are loved by EVERYONE (yes, I mean everyone), I have the most LEGIT tan lines on my feet, and I haven't had to worry about getting ready for the day in who knows how long because people just love me for me, and I am doing the most MARVELOUS work known to man -- Sharing the light and love of my Savior and Redeemer! I couldn't have asked to be doing anything better! ♥ 

I love that Mickey focused (above) on some of the most positive things from her mission. 

However, as I have kept in constant contact with Mickey, 

I know her mission hasn't always been that of sweet smelling roses. 

She sent me some thoughts this week that she didn't want me sharing with everyone, 

but I really think it adds to the Spirit of what she is doing and who she is becoming. 

Missionary (Member or Full-time!) work does not always come easy!! 

It is challenging and Mickey has had her fair share of trials, we know. 

I feel the desire to share a few things she shared with me in a personal email. 

Know that these thoughts are HER experiences 

and are the situations in her life that ARE allowing her to grow into who the Lord wants her to be. 

These are VERY PERSONAL to her, and ultimately, she did give me permission to share what I'd like. 

I share these, because I feel when we see what is REAL for her, we see the Lord is molding her 

- and through example - 

her experiences have the ability to touch our hearts and mold us as well. 

.... Last week, Mickey felt a bit disappointed in herself. 

(Now, please know I say this with a mindful heart that at times, we ALL feel a bit of disappointment in ourselves....not so we can make that feeling worse for her. Trust me, she was hard enough on herself!) Mickey felt that last week she didn't have a positive attitude in doing her work with exact obedience 

- which she felt really guilty about. 

(Again, isn't this like ALL of us at times?!) 

Mickey decided to speak to her companion about it and TOGETHER they were able to re-adjust goals and go about their days with a positive outlook and give all their effort to the work at hand. 

Guess what?! 

Mickey said, "It WORKED!! 

Starting Tuesday, our schedules were filled to the brim! Just the little change in attitude made all the difference. We were so busy helping ward members and being with Ami's that we didn't even have time to get all our studies done every day because by the time we arrived home, 

we were so exhausted, that we just went to bed." 

Also, with hitting her one year mark, 

Mickey did a lot of reflecting on the things she has learned. 

She said, "The natural man in me may have compared myself to others in seeing if I've learned what other returned missionaries have said they've learned. 

I couldn't help but feel good for the efforts that I have put into the travail missionnaire 

but I also couldn't help but be a little disappointed in myself for all of my faults. 

I thought back to every moment where I learned something from someone else and where I really LOVED my mission and I will have to say that in every one of those moments, no matter how amazing or how hard, 

I can truly say that I was giving my ALL. 

Now that I have been out for one year, I know that I cannot get lazy." 

You may remember last week where Mickey described a prayer that was given by her Mission President. 

She described it as sounding more like a blessing. 

He mentioned there were still many souls who were waiting for Mickey to share the gospel with. 

She has a deep desire to continue with the work and even go on with a little more "pep" in her step to share the gospel and grand, glorious message. 

"I need to do it with ALL of my heart!" 

She doesn't want to regret the last few months of her mission because 

the one thing she would regret is not giving the mission her all. 

"I WILL give my all!" she said. 

Perhaps the most important lesson Mickey told about was the following:

"I learned this week the importance of not focusing on me. 

Actually, I was complaining about something last night and Elder Bayart said, 

'Maybe if you're unhappy it's because you're focusing more about yourself than you are on others.' 

...it hit me right to the core, but he's right. 

I need to stop focusing so much on me, maybe then I'll be more happy."

She was going to try that this week.

...now, if you are like me, 

you see a lot of learned messages and wise counsel within Mickey's vulnerable moments.  

...and really, isn't that what this life is ALL about? 

Learning. 

Growing. 

Forgiving ourselves. 

Serving others.

Moving forward despite our weaknesses.

and

Learning to give our all in becoming like the Savior? 

No one ever said we had to be perfect...but, we are required to do our best. 

I LOVE this girl for her passion in finding ways to become better. 

She continually teaches me and I am SO grateful I can learn WITH her! 

Thank you, Mickey for your continued example - even when we are oceans apart. 

YOU ARE DOING AN AMAZING JOB AND ARE TOUCHING HEARTS! 

...Both in Tahiti and in the states! 

Be proud of your efforts, Sister! ♥♥ 

Luckily,

Mickey is in a wonderful ward with members who are really involved with the missionaries.

If you would like to pray for Mickey -

She and her companion are working on finding the people who are really ready for baptism.

You can pray for them to find those who are prepared in their hearts for the gospel.

"-Hey, I learned this week that my companion doesn't like Coconut water! Wanna know how?!?! Well, an ami of ours gave us a Coconut fresh off the Tree but I didn't want to drink it so I gave it to her.. WELL - Bad idea because she didn't want it either. HA It's a little hard to hide from the amis if BOTH of you don't like what they are giving you! (:  Pretty much a good companionship consists of two people who give the other the food they don't like! (: Haha"   

Mickey expressed gratitude for her companion and said they get along very well. 

 "Sr. O'Hara may or may not believe it, but in the last two weeks she's taught me a lot about being "calm".  She's definitely not a stress filled person and she's helped me 

stay calm with all of the unplanned speed-bumps we've come across these past few weeks. 

She's a good missionary. -I've been blessed in that aspect of having obedient companions!"

"Elder Bayart (from France) made my companion and me steak and pasta for my one year mark! (: The poor guy kept asking me if I wanted Ketchup because it was made in America. I finally said "Yes, But Elder Bayart, I AM made in AMERICA!" We all laughed. So he pulled out the Pesto and said I could just eat like Sr Battezatto (Itialian)."

"I was kneeling down to begin a fast when a tear fell, You all know me, I get distracted easily so I looked down to see the tear on my bed and saw maybe 15 little tiny things MOVING. YES. BUGS. I Thought for a second that I was just paranoid so I looked at the res of my bed and saw over 150 of these little tiny worm looking things!!! AHHHHHH My companion took my mattresses outside and she switched it for the other one in our house and I washed the sheets. I felt good until Sunday morning came around and there were MORE!!!!!!! WWWHAT?!?!? NO WAY. Needless it say I didn't actually start my fast.. I may or may not have had an emotional panic attack. -Luckily the elders came over to help out with a different mattress from their house. They said the bugs normally come from dust and humidity (which we have a lot of) -- I took down the curtains that were above my bed and this morning I was relieved to see NO bugs in my bed! I am pretty sure that is where they were coming from." 

"--On the bright side, we are supposed to be moving this week! So Hopefully we'll be in a newer house with OUT bugs and with air conditioning!" 

"Raniha et Ranitea - They are 8 year old Twins who have more energy than I know how to deal with. Haha I LOVE going to visit them though, even if all we do with them is sing a primary hymn." 

"​I FINALLY finished le Livre de Mormon! -It only took me 5 months but I DID accomplish it! I'd even be willing to say that the rumors are true! When you're on a mission learning a language, by the time you finish reading the Book of Mormon, you should be fluent! VOILA! Je parle le Français!! ​I don't love any book any more in the world. Honestly, my testimony of Jesus Christ has grown more in reading it in French than in my native tongue! One verse that really struck me is found in 2 Nephi 4:34. In French is tells us not to place our confidence in la chair and to continually place our confidence in Christ. I've really had to do that this last year, so it's been a GREAT motto! 

I finally arrived at Moroni 10 where Moroni invites everyone, (yes, even missionaries) to pray and ask if the words in the Book of Mormon are not true, and instantly I felt a bunch of warm fuzzies in my heart and said "Of course it's true!" and my testimony grew right then and there. I KNOW the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That is why I am here! I invite you all to do the same. Even if it takes years to get it done, read the Book of Mormon with ALL your heart and pray to God to know if the words it contains are not true! I TESTIFY that God WILL respond!" 

Below: "​Pretty much, there is no way this is real."

Below is Mickey's ward building. 

Below: A very common picture of an iconic piece of art - seen EVERYWHERE in Tahiti.

"Hinano" is actually the name of a white, tropical flower that is indigenous to the South Pacific. 

It's also the name of a beer (hence the bottle cap) and even has a theme song dedicated to the brand. 

It's a complete lifestyle brand in Tahiti and is VERY much integrated into the everyday life and culture of French Polynesia. 

(When we were there, Brad even had to pose with a cardboard cutout of "Hinano" - it was that big!) ;)

"I LOVE YOU!"