I have written this "Pt.1" to be full of all the sappy stuff I have thought of saying. "Pt. 2" is my normal letter, and is VERY much better, but this still has some good stuff. Read both at your own pleasure.
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Family and friends,
"These were days never to be forgotten" (Oliver Cowdery).
"The time passed away with [me], and also [my life] passed away like as it were unto [me] a dream" (Jac. 7:26).
"And
we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught
them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills;
and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and
taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked... and stoned... and
through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again. And we
have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we
might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy
would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. Now
behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they
few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of
their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also
towards us" (Alma 26:29-31).
I
have had His name over my heart for two years, but now it is written in
my heart, so I can take the tag off without shame. I failed when I came
home before, and I easily went back to my old ways, ducking out of the
extra mile; but this time I have regrouped my strength, and I will not
fall back to the lower roads. God be praised for what He has done for me, and even more so for what He will still do for me.
I
testify of what is called the Gospel of Christ, which details the
importance and function of faith. True faith, undefiled by fear, will
always lead to true repentance, and the striving for perfection that
Jesus speaks of in His "Sermon on the Mount" (Matt. 5:48). That striving
for perfection through the grace of Christ and the mercy of God will
always lead to baptism, as Jesus said that no man can even see Heaven
without being baptized by water and by the Spirit (that is, baptism, and
receiving the Holy Ghost, both of which can only be done for eternity
by those who have authority given them to do so; see John 3:5 and Heb.
5:4). After that, true faith will still drive one to improve his life
forever, learning constantly to trust better in his God, learning "line
upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, and
blessed are those who hearken unto [His] precepts... for unto him that
recieveth [He] will give more" (2 Ne. 28:30). I tell you that I know,
without doubt, that this is true, because I have truly been born of the
Spirit, and I can see now as never before. He has shown me the meaning
of faith; and I am eternally grateful to God for His being One who is so
constant and unwavering that I CAN have faith in Him! God is so good to
me.
I
testify of the power of sacrifice. I have sacrificed so many parts of
my life that are not in alignment with God's plan for me, and I feel
better than I ever have before. The Gospel of Christ is saving me, bit
by bit, from a lower life, and I fully trust that He will continue to
raise me as I trust in Him. There's a very "long, long way to go, but
what are miles across the ocean to the heart that's coming home?" ("Long
Long Journey", Enya).
I
also testify of the power of charity, without which I am nothing (1
Cor. 13:1-3). Granted, that means I am extremely often nothing, which
I'm trying to improve in; but every time I feel God's love flowing
through me, it feels like light filling my soul. It is pure. If you want
to know one of the deepest doctrines I have learned in these two years,
it is this: we are all children of God, and He loves us all infinitely.
Yep, that's it, the deepest doctrine I know. If I understood it
perfectly, I would never sin again, for love of my Father, who first
loved me (1 Jn. 4:19).
And
now, after the many testimonies which I have given of Christ, this is
my testimony, last of all, that I give of Him: that He lives! I have
spiritually seen Him, sitting on the right hand of God, and I know He is
the divine Messiah. (See D&C 76:22-23.) He
has redeemed me from ignorance, and will redeem me soon enough from all
sin and weakness, according to my faith and diligence. God is so good
to me.
It's
a quiet, misty morning, and the Moon has gone to bed. Now the sparrows
stopped their singing, and the sky is clear and red; now the summer's
ceased its gleaning, now the corn is past its prime; now adventure's
lost its meaning, and I'm homeward bound: it is time. [Lyrics to "Homeward Bound" by Peter Hollens]
I know God has a plan for me, and that I will do great things for His children as I remain close to Him. A
greater thing I will now do, than I ever have done; and a greater Rest I
will eventually go to, than I ever have known - thanks to Christ. God
is so good to me. I hope that when I am released from being a full-time
missionary, God tells me, "No, it's okay, keep the change."
"And
again, verily thus saith the Lord: Let... all the works which I have
appointed unto you, be continued on and not cease; and let your
diligence, and your perseverance, and patience, and your works be
redoubled, and you shall in nowise lose your reward, saith the Lord of
Hosts... For all this there is a reward in heaven" (D&C 127:4).
Thank you all for joining me on this wonderful journey. Ladies and gentlemen, it has been a good start.
Love,
Elder Hill the Elder
P.S. Don't cry for me, Argentina. The truth is, I never left you.
Fotos: la primera foto de mi misión, y luego la foto que saqué al llegar al CCM; y las últimas fotos de mi misión.
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| The last picture of Ben's mission |
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| The first picture Ben took on his mission |
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| Taken when Ben had just arrived in the CCM (Missionary Training Center in Mexico) |
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