I have discovered that each of us are given opportunities to have Mary moments. Moments when we can just sit at the feet of our Savior and soak in the beauty of Him. I had one of those moments on a pretty Friday morning here in Deming. When I got home from Peru, I always found hope in the coming summer. I remember asking my dear mother when I was encompassed with fear to tell me that we were going to plant a garden when summer came. I remember my soul being filled with such a sweet peace as she assured me of the garden we were going to plant. This past Friday morning I found myself picking sweet beans next to my father here in Deming, Hermano Quintana. The sun warming my skin creating my Hubert freckles, dirty sneakers, blue capris, and an old tshirt, with my favorite plack over my heart. Hermano Quintana spoke in his soothing spanish as he gave me treasurable counsel for my adventures ahead of me, just like my dad. As the cool breeze came through my cap, I remembered all those times with my mom. When I asked her to give me hope through the knowledge of the coming summer. I think that back then, my spirit knew of what was to come. I think my spirit knew that one day just around the corner, I would find myself in the garden of the Quintanas. In my muddy jeans, tshirt, dirty sneakers, and of course my plack that says Hermana Hubert right over my heart. I love Mary moments. Time stops. My challenge to you my beautiful family is to find your Mary moments this week.
To be honest, this week was a hard one. And that is how the mission is, right? But something that I have learned lately is how much the Lord truly loves us. He knows how weak and incapable we are without him, yet he loves us so much. He sees our efforts. He knows our desires, even when our spirits and desires are greater than the capabilities of our mortal bodies here. I think our Older Brother spoke it better as he suffered alone in Gethsemane, "The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak." This week I found myself on my knees, asking the Lord if I had done enough. I felt a little discouraged for what I have done here, hoping that I had done the Lord's will and haven't disappointed him. I sat quietly until a memory came to my mind. I remembered one of the most special moments of my life. It was the day of State my senior year. I will never forget that moment when I looked up at Coach Dee after swimming the 500. I saw him hold up his hand, forming a very special, "I love you sign." He was proud of me. I had come back, even though I wasn't expected to. And like with swimming, I came back to the mission.
Heavenly Father is always proud of us, and I know he is especially proud of every single one of his missionaries. Regardless of the form of fruit that they produce. I had a very special moment this past weekend sitting in a district meeting. My companion and I, with 4 other elders: Tired eyes, hanging hands, and humble hearts- Or in other words, broken hearts and contrite spirits. In that district meeting I was able to hear one of the most humble and powerful testimonies I have ever heard an elder give. His vocabulary wasn't large, just simple. And you saw that his desires were pure, and that he understood his purpose as a missionary. Right before the end, I asked to share my testimony. I decided to share the testimony of one of my greatest heroes, my dad. My dad is (other than my mom of course) my greatest hero. He has changed the lives of numberless people. His quiet confidence and Christlike charity has made an impact in my life that words can't describe. Yet, like me and like all the other missionaries sitting in that room, we weren't filling the baptismal font every Saturday. And even though it's hard, it's really hard, I know that this literal refiners fire that we are in (literally hottest mission in the world ha) is refining us to be better disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. who suffered for us more than we can imagine. And I am completely honored to be able to share 1/100 of a tear that he shed while he was in Gethsemane.
I know the atonement is real. I know our Savior lives, and without him we can't do anything.
I love you all so so much,
Hermana Hubert
To be honest, this week was a hard one. And that is how the mission is, right? But something that I have learned lately is how much the Lord truly loves us. He knows how weak and incapable we are without him, yet he loves us so much. He sees our efforts. He knows our desires, even when our spirits and desires are greater than the capabilities of our mortal bodies here. I think our Older Brother spoke it better as he suffered alone in Gethsemane, "The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak." This week I found myself on my knees, asking the Lord if I had done enough. I felt a little discouraged for what I have done here, hoping that I had done the Lord's will and haven't disappointed him. I sat quietly until a memory came to my mind. I remembered one of the most special moments of my life. It was the day of State my senior year. I will never forget that moment when I looked up at Coach Dee after swimming the 500. I saw him hold up his hand, forming a very special, "I love you sign." He was proud of me. I had come back, even though I wasn't expected to. And like with swimming, I came back to the mission.
Heavenly Father is always proud of us, and I know he is especially proud of every single one of his missionaries. Regardless of the form of fruit that they produce. I had a very special moment this past weekend sitting in a district meeting. My companion and I, with 4 other elders: Tired eyes, hanging hands, and humble hearts- Or in other words, broken hearts and contrite spirits. In that district meeting I was able to hear one of the most humble and powerful testimonies I have ever heard an elder give. His vocabulary wasn't large, just simple. And you saw that his desires were pure, and that he understood his purpose as a missionary. Right before the end, I asked to share my testimony. I decided to share the testimony of one of my greatest heroes, my dad. My dad is (other than my mom of course) my greatest hero. He has changed the lives of numberless people. His quiet confidence and Christlike charity has made an impact in my life that words can't describe. Yet, like me and like all the other missionaries sitting in that room, we weren't filling the baptismal font every Saturday. And even though it's hard, it's really hard, I know that this literal refiners fire that we are in (literally hottest mission in the world ha) is refining us to be better disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. who suffered for us more than we can imagine. And I am completely honored to be able to share 1/100 of a tear that he shed while he was in Gethsemane.
I know the atonement is real. I know our Savior lives, and without him we can't do anything.
I love you all so so much,
Hermana Hubert