Chapter 80: The North

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into many afflictions; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."

James 1:2-4

A week full of exciting adventures all over the northern parts of the mission, even the northern-most Isle of Shetland! We had another Zone Conference in Aberdeen along with exchanges followed up shortly after with a twelve-hour, overnight ferry to Lerwick where we spent the weekend with the branch there who are just the loveliest people. I saw a lot and learned even more and really enjoyed the time I had with my companions.

Being back in Aberdeen felt really good; we got in Wednesday evening and I just couldn't sleep at all that night because of how excited I was. It's been almost a year since I came here to Scotland and was assigned to serve in Aberdeen; it was fun to reminisce on those times and the lessons I learned. It was a very happy time in my mission.

Since then, it seems that I have been a lot of places with a lot of different people doing many different things. Being in Shetland was especially a great experience; it's been over three years since any missionaries have been to the island. We were greeted very warmly by the Branch President who welcomed us into his home to feed us breakfast. It was great to spend the day doing missionary work around the island and meeting some of the members; everyone we met was so kind and even a few people were interested in coming to sacrament meeting with us!

We spent a couple nights on the island staying at the Shetland Hotel where we would get most of our meals and where we also met Curtis, our very devoted waiter. It was great to get to know him a bit and build a friendship; he's around our age and is actually saving up to leave Shetland and begin his life. Before we left to come back to Edinburgh, we invited him to read the Book of Mormon and had such a great chat with him. I can't wait to see where that goes!

In all the travels and good times, what I learned the most this week is that even when we are doing incredible things and meeting wonderful people, there are still challenges we must face. There were times when I felt on top of the world, and times when I felt pretty low, but, in it all I felt God teach me about my capacity for patience.

Mortality will always have affliction and adversity, and as this scripture teaches, we should respond to this with joy because it is an opportunity to learn patience through faith. When our response is faith, or confidence in God's plan followed by righteous action, then regardless of any outcome, we will be content and cheerfully wait for all things to work together for our good. We really will want nothing. This gives us power through Christ.

I am trying to respond to my afflictions with joy and with this perspective, and I've found that slowly I am growing in my love for my companions, myself, and ultimately my Saviour and my Father in Heaven who support me and provide me that peace which comes from ultimate trust. I hope that I can continue to strive for patience in all things.

As we walked around St. Ninians beach, I was just overcome with the reality of all things. It was so beautiful, and so is my life. God has supported me through so much, and has allowed me to grow in so many ways despite my endless weakness. He has lended me breath that I've wasted, and gratefully some that I've used to be an instrument in His hands. I know that God is real, and that I am His son. I know that because of the experiences I am having here, I am becoming someone more, and as my mission gets closer to ending I anxiously await to see what he wishes to have me do. Whatever it is, I will do it imperfectly, but I will do it; unceasingly striving to follow the will of my Father in Heaven and the example of my Saviour, Jesus Christ.

I invite you all to do the same.

Life is good.

God is wise.

Never give up.

Elder Childers

Zone Conference

Us with the Edinburgh zone leaders before we left to the north. Some of my greatest friends

Lunch with Emily

Me and Andrew

Aberdeen Skyline at Sunset from the Ferry

On board the ferry in the fog

Our cabin

The Lerwick Branch

All of us missionaries, including Elder and Sister Williamson, a Family History couple, and Elder Barlow, a service Elder

Welcome to Shetland and Clickimin Broch with Marc, an amazing recent convert in Shetland.

Pictures from St. Ninians Beach!