Chapter 56: Overcome

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

Revelation 3:20-21

The time ever passes by, and it's incredible to pause for a moment and think about all that has happened. As I think I've mentioned before, time works differently here. So much happens in a week in such a way that is just hard to explain to someone who hasn't experienced it. But what a wonderful time it is—truly unforgettable.

This week was full of the usual highs and lows. We had interviews with President McCrudden as a Zone which was incredible as it always is. It's remarkable to council with someone who is so in tune with the Lord's will and so willing to do anything and everything to be who he needs to be. When I am with President I've noticed that I feel very similar to how I feel when I am around my parents, my father especially. It's a mixture of incomparable respect and admiration, but also friendship and trust. It's a really neat feeling. He discussed with me quite a bit on multiple issues the mission is facing and gave me some counsel on how to address certain situations in the Zone.

Elder Danielson and I have been having a lot of good conversations recently. Missions aren't easy, and there are quite a few missionaries who are struggling in the mission right now. It's hard to see. It's been especially challenging to lead because you are put in this ironic situation where others see you as a source of strength and resilience when in reality you are facing your own battles that bring you to your own knees each night. However, as I've done my best to rely on Christ, I've found that opening up about the trials I face doesn't make me weak, it actually makes me strong.

It's really neat to see the ways in which I've grown regardless, and I might add because, of the hard things I've faced whilst on my mission. It's a microcosm for life: we leave what is comfortable to face the seemingly impossible and become something incomprehensible. We learn, as my father recently taught me, that each day we are chasing this "ideal": the perfect day so to say, where we do everything right and simply are everything you need to be. What I've come to learn however is that the chase is the ideal! The struggle is the ideal! We are here on earth to struggle, with the hope and reality that as we do so, suffer with Christ you could say, we can and will become better and prepared for what is to come (Romans 8:16-18, 28).

We overcome.

Well, Christ already overcame, and he helps us to overcome.

I had a good talk with Elder Klintworth today as well. I really look up to him, literally and figuratively. It's invaluable to have people in your life with whom you can talk with about what's going on. Please, seek to be that person to someone. It can change everything.

At the end of it all, I just am so grateful for my Saviour, Jesus Christ. He really does stand at the door and knock, waiting for us to open. He's eager to join us in our lives, to sup with us, to talk with us, to help us as we are overwhelmed with the cares of life.

He's felt it all.

He's carried it all.

He's overcame it all.

And all he wants is to help us overcome as well. I know it is possible because it's a process taking place in my life everyday. It's real. Christ truly lives and you can, in reality, have a relationship with him and The Father. Our Heavenly Parents and our Saviour are so eager to give us the counsel and support we need, and I promise that if you draw near unto them, they will draw near unto you (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63).

We can overcome. As I cried with my mom over a video call this morning, I was just so full of love for this life we have. To hear her say that she was proud of me meant the entire world to me. She knows I'm not perfect, but she knows I'm trying.

God is the same way, I promise.

Life is good.

God is wise.

Don't give up.

Elder Childers

Pretty church in the city centre

Pizza with Elder Danielson

Night sky

Elder Klintworth is a tree hugger

Pictures from our pday—such a beautiful part of the world.

Me and Sadie—goofballs forever. Fewer things make me happier in this life than my relationship with my little sister