Chapter 33: In Scotland
- Elder Jonas Childers
- May 3, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 31, 2024
"...forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 3:13-14
Hello from Edinburgh, Scotland! It is very surreal to be here but I am overjoyed about it all except for the fact that I am in a mandatory, ten day self-isolation. That has not been the most fun. It feels like this past week has lasted a year.
It's been a crazy week!
On Thursday evening I left the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mission (PPM), which was honestly a lot different than I thought it would be. I've obviously been anticipating this change for quite some time now, but one thing happened that made the transition completely different than what I expected:
I got wrecked by poison ivy.
Apparently, somehow Elder Rich and I got into some during our service one day, which is just a classic thing for us to have done, and so all of this past week I have been taking medication that makes me pretty tired. With that said, my last couple of days in the PPM were really just physically uncomfortable and exhausting. I luckily was able to push through and have some great goodbyes to very dear friends.
The journey overseas was also very physically uncomfortable and exhausting, but also very exciting! After saying goodbye and talking one last time with my dear Mission President, President Dunnigan, I flew out of Philadelphia Thursday evening to the London, Heathrow Airport where I met up with some other missionaries traveling to Scotland. We all flew into Edinburgh together. My new Mission President, President Macdonald, picked us up and took us to our flats. I really love him and am excited to work with him!
And well, now I'm here! I'm really far away from home, I am in a completely new place with no one that I know or am comfortable with around, and I'm stuck inside. Oh, and I'm still dealing with poison ivy. You would probably assume that because of all these things, I'm not doing so great.
Wrong! I am so full of joy and gratitude! It is impossible to explain the goodness of God and how miraculous this whole experience has played out for me. I can say that it has been perfect.
Simply perfect.
I've reflected a lot this week on the words of Paul quoted previously, and I truly feel that now is the time to reach "forth unto those things which are before" and forget "those things which are behind." Now is an opportunity for me to grow, to accept the changes I'm facing and meet them head-on with faith and a zeal to press forward toward the mark. There is much good to be done here, and I am excited to do all I can to be all I can be.
I invite you all to ponder those words of Paul. What things must we leave behind and forget in order to help us focus on what is before us? For me, I must not dwell on what my mission used to be, or who I used to be, but only focus on what my mission is now and who I want to be now.
There is great power in righteous direction and focus.
Life is good.
God is wise.
Don't give up.
Elder Childers
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