We didn't have much of a letter this day as we had Skyped for quite awhile on Mother's Day. It was amazing!! It was fun to laugh together as a family. He told us some great stories including one about a scary looking man pointing a big gun at him, saying, "Darn Mormons! Git off my lawn!" It was so nice to connect with him this way. I am so grateful to a wonderful family who would share their home & internet on a holiday. He did give me permission to share a story he sent to a friend:
You are never alone. That's the first thing I felt inspired to say to you. I also feel inspired to share a story:
"Once upon a time, there was a little missionary named Elder Joshie... He had been at the Missionary Training Center for almost a week, and he was starting to miss his family and friends. Some of his friends were already on their own missions, and some were becoming fantastic people at college.
One day Elder Joshie was feeling really sad, he could barely talk to his companion. One of the sisters in the District, Sister H, noticed that Elder Joshie wasn't being his normal goofball self. She told him, 'If you're having trouble, ask God for help.'
Later that day, Elder Joshie knelt down in an empty classroom and prayed. He prayed for comfort, and he prayed for guidance. He finished his prayer, and instantly felt his Heavenly Father's embrace. The little Elder wept, but the tears were joyful. He knew that everything was going to be okay, and never to feel like he was alone."
God is our Heavenly Father, and he loves us so very dearly. He cries when we cry and he wants to comfort us. But we can only gain that comfort if we ask with a sincere heart and a contrite spirit. Our Heavenly Father has an inestimable amount of love for you. He is with you through all your trials and tears. Always remember who is able to give you relief when you need strength.
I just want you to know that I care about you deeply, and I will always be here for you. It's a little harder from this distance, but I want to help you in any way I can. I pray that you will have the strength to make it through all the obstacles in your path.
President Uchtdorf told us a Parable when I was at the MTC. He said, "Imagine a Ferrari. Sleek, fast, majestic. It's driving down a long highway, and a tumbleweed blows into the Ferrari's lane. The Ferrari hits its brakes and swerves around the tumbleweed. Now, down the highway comes a big truck- big, heavy, and going fast. The driver sees the tumbleweed and puts the pedal to the floor. He plows into the tumbleweed, and it is destroyed. Too often in life, we slow down and swerve away from our trials. When we should plow right through them."
I know that whatever is going on in your life, you will always have enough strength to overcome anything. I wish you the best in all the fantastic things you plan to do. Don't let anyone tell you who you are, or what you should be. Because you will always be a Beautiful Daughter or Son of God. I know that You can accomplish anything you set your heart to.
***
After that serious story, I must tell you a silly story.
My new nickname is, Elder "Spill-saver"
I obtained this ridiculous nickname by spilling everything I came in contact with for an entire day... It was an off day for me...
Made breakfast: dropped it
got milk out of the fridge: dropped it
sat in my desk chair: promptly fell out of it
grabbed a pencil out of my cute bucket: knocked the bucket off my desk and pencils were everywhere
got in the car: knocked over a garbage can
went to an investigator's house: knocked over a bowl of dogfood
got a sno-cone: spilled it on the ground
had dinner at a member's house: dropped a glass of ice water on their marble floor
went and got another sno-cone (I even got a spill-saver for it): I LOST THE ENTIRE THING AS I TURNED AWAY FROM THE SNO CONE SHACK!!!!
As you can see, I was having a clumsy day.
Love you all!
Elder Joshie Hegsted
You are never alone. That's the first thing I felt inspired to say to you. I also feel inspired to share a story:
"Once upon a time, there was a little missionary named Elder Joshie... He had been at the Missionary Training Center for almost a week, and he was starting to miss his family and friends. Some of his friends were already on their own missions, and some were becoming fantastic people at college.
One day Elder Joshie was feeling really sad, he could barely talk to his companion. One of the sisters in the District, Sister H, noticed that Elder Joshie wasn't being his normal goofball self. She told him, 'If you're having trouble, ask God for help.'
Later that day, Elder Joshie knelt down in an empty classroom and prayed. He prayed for comfort, and he prayed for guidance. He finished his prayer, and instantly felt his Heavenly Father's embrace. The little Elder wept, but the tears were joyful. He knew that everything was going to be okay, and never to feel like he was alone."
God is our Heavenly Father, and he loves us so very dearly. He cries when we cry and he wants to comfort us. But we can only gain that comfort if we ask with a sincere heart and a contrite spirit. Our Heavenly Father has an inestimable amount of love for you. He is with you through all your trials and tears. Always remember who is able to give you relief when you need strength.
I just want you to know that I care about you deeply, and I will always be here for you. It's a little harder from this distance, but I want to help you in any way I can. I pray that you will have the strength to make it through all the obstacles in your path.
President Uchtdorf told us a Parable when I was at the MTC. He said, "Imagine a Ferrari. Sleek, fast, majestic. It's driving down a long highway, and a tumbleweed blows into the Ferrari's lane. The Ferrari hits its brakes and swerves around the tumbleweed. Now, down the highway comes a big truck- big, heavy, and going fast. The driver sees the tumbleweed and puts the pedal to the floor. He plows into the tumbleweed, and it is destroyed. Too often in life, we slow down and swerve away from our trials. When we should plow right through them."
I know that whatever is going on in your life, you will always have enough strength to overcome anything. I wish you the best in all the fantastic things you plan to do. Don't let anyone tell you who you are, or what you should be. Because you will always be a Beautiful Daughter or Son of God. I know that You can accomplish anything you set your heart to.
***
After that serious story, I must tell you a silly story.
My new nickname is, Elder "Spill-saver"
I obtained this ridiculous nickname by spilling everything I came in contact with for an entire day... It was an off day for me...
Made breakfast: dropped it
got milk out of the fridge: dropped it
sat in my desk chair: promptly fell out of it
grabbed a pencil out of my cute bucket: knocked the bucket off my desk and pencils were everywhere
got in the car: knocked over a garbage can
went to an investigator's house: knocked over a bowl of dogfood
got a sno-cone: spilled it on the ground
had dinner at a member's house: dropped a glass of ice water on their marble floor
went and got another sno-cone (I even got a spill-saver for it): I LOST THE ENTIRE THING AS I TURNED AWAY FROM THE SNO CONE SHACK!!!!
As you can see, I was having a clumsy day.
Love you all!
Elder Joshie Hegsted