The Process of Service

First, take off the cap, and then grab a scrub brush; Fill a bucket with water.... Well, I actually doubt that service has a process, but I do know that service has a purpose. When I placed the title ''The Process of Service,'' I planned to refer to what makes up service. The Christmas stories go that children never see Santa's elves because after all the hard work they do all year they stay at the workshop on Christmas. In memory of Santa's elves I have a term called ''Elfing,'' which I use when I am going to do some small act of service in secret. For this present circumstance, ''Elfing" will also act as an acronym to describe what service includes.
1) E- Easy. Surely service includes donating large sums of money to charities, right? No. Although it is a great idea to donate money, service is much simpler. Most mothers and wives would be just as happy with the dishes washed than to receive several roses (and it is less expensive). Most individuals would appreciate even the smallest act of service; I know I would. Service ideas can be as simple as writing a note of encouragement, cleaning off driveways, walkways, or cars during the snowy season, or even being a friend. The truth is that whether large or small, serving will brighten your day.

2)L- Love. Today in the home wards (I had to give a talk in one) the high councilmen spoke about women using the book Daughters of My Kingdom. I started reading it and came across a section titled ''Charity never faileth,'' which happens to be the LDS Relief Society motto. Under this section I found a quote by Emmeline B. Wells:
''It is my strongest desire that our young women of today be made to comprehend the work of the early members who, without the facilities of the present time, comforted the sad and distressed, visited the widow and fatherless, and were like ministering angels."
If we serve we can be like 'ministering angels'. This definitely testifies how important service really is. In the Book of Mormon, in Alma 7:24, a prophet teaches, "And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always about in good works." When we serve with charity, or rather a pure love like Christ's, we too can be 'ministering angels' and servants of God.

3) F- Faith. Remember that scripture I used from Alma 7:24? Faith is one of the requirements of true service. We must have faith to serve with the assurance that although no one sees us serving we will receive the blessings anyway. In addition, I at least find that sometimes if I want to do something discretely for someone else, I need faith that they will not see me in the process.

4) I- Individual Spiritual Growth. Are we serving for praise or as a selfless act? Elder V. Dallas Merrell of the Seventy said, "Service involves us in a process of growth. We learn how to be effective servants step by step over time, even as the mortal Savior's youthful development was described as grace upon grace. My own very first memory is of imperfectly helping my mother by taking her a fresh diaper to use with our new baby. That was a beginning, although I can see now that I was outrunning my brother, Max, to get the diaper first and win Mother's praise. My early home teaching was with my uncle, Charles Lybbert; we did it regularly, but I suspect I sometimes went to avoid embarrassment from failing to do my duty. Learning to serve for the right reason is a vital part of our individual spiritual progress." We can build our testimony of the Savior's gospel and strengthen our own spirits as we serve.

5) N- Nothing-get-back. It is a lengthy name, but as we serve we should expect nothing in return for what we give of our time, talents, and resources. However, as we serve selflessly and willingly we benefit, though as little as a feeling of peace and lack of regret. I read a poem that states:
"I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody's need made me blind;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind." (Anonymous)

6) G- Gratitude. When we serve we show God how grateful we are for what He has given us. Mosiah 2:17 in the Book of Mormon says (if I can go so far as to say it 'says'), "And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." This means that when we serve others we are serving God!
I find that when I serve others I fill a void in my life. I love serving others, and I especially love doing it when others cannot see that I am doing it because it leaves them surprised and I have to be sneaky doing it. So my challenge for all those that read my posts is to go out and do a little more service, and make at least one of those an ''elfing'' service project.

Finish

Recently I heard a poem that reminded me of my mission. It is one of my favorite poems because it can apply to each one of us so well. Have you ever felt like a failure, or felt like giving up because you are behind a little? I have. I often ponder 'What if I had tried? What if I had continued? Where would I be now?' Many of us have that question pass through our heads time and time again, 'What if?'

Something I have learned within the last two years is to never give up and never quit. The poem that I heard is called "The Race'' by D. H. Groberg.

''Quit!" "Give up, you're beaten!" they shout at me and plead,
"There's just too much against you now, this time you can't succeed."
And as I started to hang my head in front of failure's face,
My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene.
For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.
A children's race, young boys, young men; now I remember well.
Excitement, sure, but also fear; it wasn't hard to tell.

They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win the race
Or tie for first, if not that, at least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son,
And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.

The whistle blew and off they sped, as if they were on fire
To win, to be the hero there, was each boy's desire.
And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,
Was running near the lead and thought, "My dad will be so proud."

But as he speeded down the field, across the shallow dip,
The little boy who thought to win lost his step and slipped.
Trying hard to catch himself, his arm flew out to brace,
And 'mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.
So, down he fell, and with him, hope. He couldn't win it now.

Embarrassed, sad, he only wished he'd disappear somehow.
But, as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,
Which to the boy so clearly said, "Get up and win the race!"
He quickly rose, no damage done, behind a bit, that's all.
And ran with all his mind and might to make up for the fall.
So anxious to restore himself, to catch up and to win,
His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.
He wished he had quit before with only one disgrace.
"I'm hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn't try to race."
But, in the laughing crowd he searched and found his father's face.
That steady look that said again, "Get up and win the race!"

So, he jumped up to try again, ten yards behind the last;
"If I'm to gain those yards," he thought, "I've got to run real fast!"
Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,
But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.
Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.
"There's no sense running more. Three strikes, I'm out... why try?"

The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away.
So far behind, so error-prone, a loser all the way.
"I've lost, so what's the use?" he thought, ''I'll live with my disgrace."
But, then he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to face.
"Get up," an echo sounded low, "get up and take your place.
You weren't meant for failure here; get up and win the race."
With borrowed will, "Get up," it said, "You haven't lost at all,
For winning is no more than this- to rise each time you fall."

So up he rose to win once more. And with a new commit,
He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn't quit.
So far behind the others now, the most he'd ever been.
Still, he gave it all he had, and ran as though to win.
Three times he fallen, stumbling, three times he rose again.
Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.
They cheered the winning runner, as he crossed the line, first place,
Head high and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace.
But, when the fallen crossed the finish line, last place,
The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.
And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud,
You would have thought he won the race, to listen to the crowd.

And to his dad, he sadly said, "I didn't do so well."
"To me you won," his father said, "You rose each time you fell."
And now when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,
The memory of that little boy helps me in my race.
For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all.
And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall.
"Quit!" "Give up, you're beaten!" They still shout in my face,
But another voice within me says, "Get up and win the race!"

When I heard this poem, I was reminded of a poem I wrote in the mission field that described my own personal mission experiences. Sometimes I felt like the narrator of the poem by D. H. Groberg. I believe each of us feels like this often nearly each day of our lives.

They told me that I'd never be great, but I took the climb.
They told me I'd never reach the top, but I made it up just fine.
I grew breathless at a couple of points, but I enjoyed the sights.
At times it rained until I was soaked and I didn't sleep well each night.
My muscles were sore and I felt ill. I nearly wished to give in.
And it made me discouraged to think about how their faces would each have a grin.
Their mocking and laughter would bring me to tears
As they tell me I shouldn't have tried,
And they'd point and laugh at my attempt as I stood there and cried.

With a prayer in my heart I remembered what God wanted me to be.
I put one foot in front of the other and ignored all that could happen to me.
And with a smile on my face I kept walking,
Determination played in my mind.
Though it was painful I kept hiking, and I continued trying to make the climb.
I honestly tell you that it was hard; I wanted to give up many times.
But though they said I couldn't do it, I indeed made the climb.

Our Heavenly Father wants us all to finish, but He does not give us a deadline. In the end the question will not be, "When did you finish? Did you finish first? Did you finish last?" The question most likely will be, "Did you finish?" If we keep pressing forward, doing all we can do, we will be able to finish and reach the greatest goal and prize: Eternal life.

''My face is set, my gait is fast..."

''My face is set, my gait is fast, and my goal is Heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mssion is clear! I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up of the cause of Christ.'' Author unknown (As quoted by Henry B. Eyring)

Why would I put a quote such as this here?

As I sat in the Institute class tonight I realized that everything that I have been learning, hearing, and experimenting recently ties together. It sums up to Obedience. In Institute we discussed the various reasons we have rules, laws, and guidelines. Although rules and laws appear to prohibit growth and freedom, they are really in place to protect us. The instructor gave the example of barriers alongside the road. As she traveled to pick up her son in Sundance, the rain that night acted as only an annoyance. However, too soon the rain turned into snow and blocked the view throughout the canyon. The barriers and reflectors along the road provided a means of protection from the dangerous falls and kept her from driving into oncoming traffic. Standards really let us have control over our life.

Later I read in the Book of Mormon, in Mosiah 2:36-37, 41, which says,

''And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved-

I say unto you, that the man that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness...

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.''

We are taught what we should do or not do, but then it is our duty to choose to follow those counsels. If we fail to follow the guidelines given to us, if we reject the counsels of leaders and parents, if we place our own wills above their wisdom, we will fall. We have been promised that if we keep the commandments of God and obey, we will be as those that are ''blessed in all things.''

Now why did I place that quote at the beginning? If we press forward without fear, and we remain on the narrow and straight path, meaning that we will have to keep the correct standards to do so, we will have a clear mission. We will know what we do and why we are here.

Rules are there not to keep us in but to keep all that is bad out. I truly know that the rules are in place to protect us because I have had mine own personal experiences. One experience I will most likely always remember is from my mission. In the mission field we were told to be in our house at 9 PM, unless we were in a very important appointment. One night in particular, we decided to be in our house earlier than 9 PM, although we would be with someone that we were teaching. To us all seemed normal and we reached our house in time and without problem, but to our surprise we discovered the next day that in that very area where we had been the night before, a gang fight broke out at 9:00 PM. If we are obedient to the rules given to us, God will protect us.

Valentine's Day Dedication

As we approach this upcoming holiday celebrating what we would call ''love'', I am reminded most about true love. My older brother likes a movie called 'Princess Bride', from which there is a famous line, ''Mawage is what bwings us together today. And wuv, twu wuv, will fowow you fowever.'' Then in another part of the movie one of the main characters says, ''Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for a while.''

Furthermore, President Spencer W. Kimball in a devotional to young adults related, ''For many years I saw a strong man carry his tiny, emaciated, arthritic wife to meetings and wherever she could go. There could be no sexual expresion... I think that is pure love. I saw a kindly woman wait on her husband for many years as he deteriorated with muscular dystrophy. She waited on him hand and foot, night and day, when all he could do was blink his eyes in thanks. I believe that was love. I knew a woman who carried her little unfortunate child until the body was too heavy to carry, and then she pushed her in a wheelchair for the following years until her death. The deprived child could never express appreciation. It seems to me that might be love. Another mother visited regularly her son who was in the penitentiary. She could receive nothing from him. She gave much, all she had... If this beautiful body... suddenly became deformed or paralyzed, would my reactions be the same? If this lovely face were scarred by flames... would I be such an ardent lover? If senility or any of its approaches suddenly fell upon my sweetheart, what would my attitude be? The answer to these questions might test one to see if he is really in love or if it is only physical attraction."

Of course, Valentine's day is a day for romance and for celebrating the love we have for our loved ones, but I believe we should remember also that it is a time to remember sacrifice because that is what love is about. And hopefully we never forget the greatest act of sacrifice and love done for us: ''For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).''

He who receiveth, receiveth more

There are a few verses from the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 28, that remind me of several mission experiences. Those we found to teach from other religions would receive us and then tell us that we were wrong for introducing something such as the Book of Mormon to them. Why? Because the Book of Mormon is a second set of scripture. The verses I like most are as follows:

"And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;

Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work.

Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!'' (2 Nephi 28:5-6, 29)

What I like to compare these verses to are my experiences of which the people would let us in and would tell us that there is no need to have a prophet on the earth today or the Book of Mormon as another testament of Christ because God has told us everything we need to know in the Bible. Then they usually told us about how their priest or preacher had healed them by the power of God. If God does not work through men any longer by guiding us, He cannot work through men to heal us either.
However, I testify that God does work through men and the power of his holy priesthood, that there is a prophet to guide us even today, and that the Book of Mormon has been and is given to us to guide us and to prove as a second witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ. God will continue to give us more ''line upon line, precept upon precept.''

''The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.'' D&C 18:10

Each and every individual has trials in their life and many times we lose the hope that can help us us through theose trials. Sunday, after having some minor trials of my own during the week, I pondered the question, ''How do we have faith and maintain hope when faced with adversity?"

One of the ways we can have and maintain hope is to remember that when we are going through something that we think no one else would understand, Christ does understand. We will unfortunately make mistakes because we are imperfect and will remain imperfect until the next life, but even with our errors we should make each day the ''best today.''

President Hinckley said in his book 'Way to Be' that, ''You have to stay on your feet and keep moving if you are going to have light in your life. Nothing of real substance comes without work.''
This includes helping others to maintain hope in their life as well. When people lose hope they often begin to withdraw from the gospel and from our Heavenly Father. They become as the small sheep that had wandered from the comforting path. Each individual is uniquely important and deserves our love and care.
Elder Uchtorf said, ''Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself... Patience means accepting that which cannot be changed and facing it with courage, grace, and faith.''

Something more that I think can help is, ''Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope.''
It is satisfying to study and hear about subjects relevant to faith and hope because I realize that the darkest moments always come right before we reach either our goal or the end. For example, Lucifer attempted to kill Joseph Smith before he saw God and Jesus Christ; Christ was tempted right before he performed the atonement; Moses and the children of Israel were stuck between the Egyptian armies and the sea before the water opened before them; a runner feels faintest before finishing the race. I also experienced darkness and opposition, even from family members and friends, before I left to serve a mission. Each time we are about to do good, Lucifer tries to stop us, but if we have hope we can pull through.

No longer the mission life, but on to a greater mission

It is a little strange to write into a blog, especially when it still says ''sister destinee park'' in its title, considering I am no longer a full-time sister missionary. However, writing helps a person, in this case me, to clear out the mind and put it down for everyone else to read. I have found the changes from the mission life to the regular life unusual because I still feel that I have been placed in a different time zone. Many missionaries out in the field, as they are at the point of returning home, say that they are returning ''to real life''. The truth is that once someone has served a mission they realize that we do not live in the ''real life'' because the real life is out there, serving God and not focusing on yourself.
Since returning home I have had the opportunity to re-learn a few things, make new friends, and ponder about what I will continue doing in my life. Have you ever had the feeling that you want to do something fantastic but do not know what? I often feel like that. I can sense that I have the potential to do great things but I am still unsure about which path to choose.
The scriptures say that '' by small and simple things are great things brought to pass (Alma 37:6) and I know that with my Heavenly Father's help I will be able to reach my potential. Once I explained this to someone using the example of Indiana Jones. Most of the time we cannot see what is before us but we often have to take that leap of faith. In one of the Indiana Jones movies Jones had a deep, dark chasm before him but he needed to cross to the other side. Although he saw nothing he jumped and as he landed a block lit up. He took another step and another, lighting up a path as he went.
When we cannot see what is before us we just simply have to walk forward and God will light the way. I know that He does light the way for us and prepares our way for us. I know that He will guide my future, though sometimes it is difficult to believe, but He does not forsake His children.

El Regreso

Family,

As you all know I have finally returned from my mission to Guatemala City Central. I am grateful for the experiences I have had and I am grateful to be back. I would never trade my mission experiences for anything because it was one of the best things I have been able to do in my lifetime. I have learned much and know that the mission experiences have prepared me for life even more. Well, this past week on Wednesday we had a testimony meeting as the leaving group. The next day we had to arise really early so that we could be at the airport at 6 although our flight did not leave until 8:55 AM. We had started out as 5 sisters and 5 elders leaving, but 3 of the elders were from Guatemala and didn't have to travel by plane; one elder flew to Honduras and another flew to Panama. Hermana Benavides, one of the sisters stayed with her family who had come to pick her up, one sister left by bus to El Salvador, and one flew to Ecuador. Hermana Moeai and I flew to Dallas, Texas, but we were accompanied by six elders from the south mission. At Dallas, Hermana Moeai left to another plane and I continued on alone. I felt strange without a companion and without knowing really where to go. I tried waiting to see if the five elders who were continuing on to Utah would come, but I couldn't see them anywhere, so I prayed for guidance and was led to where I needed to go to wait for the plane. While I was waiting the elders came up and left their bags with me, I telling them that I was willing to watch the bags but if they were stolen it wasn't my fault. I was a little confused because my watch still had the time of Guatemala and I had forgotten that the states have Daylight savings time. However, I was fine and I finally arrived to the Salt Lake Valley, where the climate was much colder than what I am use to. I am thankful for the amazing journey I had these 18 and a half months. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the church of Christ that He had established on the earth while He walked in His ministry. We have a prophet to guide us today and we are guided by our Heavenly Father. I love you all. I definitely recommend serving a mission. It will change your life!

Love Hermana Destinee L Park (now a released missionary) 

 

 

Destinee's last email was all in Spanish because she said that is what she knows best. I loaded it into google translate, and read the translation. She said I could use someone else to translate and to "please not use google translate, because it lies". Oh well. :)

She talked about how this past Sunday people gathered all over Guatemala in Stake Centers to witness the dedication of the Temple in Quetzaltenango Guatemala by President Ucthdorf. She said, "To be there in a secluded part of the temple on Sunday was something I will never forget." She also said that 36 years or so ago, the people of Guatemala didn't think there would ever be a Temple in Guatemala.

She also said, "We can not have a complete testimony if you have not read the Book of Mormon. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church is complete and true, guided by a prophet of God"

My Last 30 days

Dear Family,

So now I am into my last 30 days of the mission. For these last 30 days I have some high goals that I want to achieve because I will not have the chance to do it again. First, I want to reach 210 contacts. I want to find 40 new investigators in a week. I want to put a baptismal date with a family because I will not be seeing the baptism of one. I plan to cast fire to the area and then to my old clothes, finishing it all with a huge fire (no worries because it isn`t literal. Others always say that I am casting fire). I love my mission with all I have because it is a time when I can serve my Heavenly Father, when I can be free from the worries of the world, and where I can change. 

 

As for this, I will tell you about my week because it was interesting. One of the days in the morning my companion was washing something outside. I was cooking breakfast, part of it included rice. I went outside to wash the rice and as I was by the pila (note that my companion was still outside) the door shut on us. I panicked a little because I left the stove on and we did not have the keys with us. The only thing we thought to do was to break the glass so that we could reach in and open the door, but as I reached for the broom by a larger window, I realized that we could lift up one of the slips of glass (the window was put together with several horizontal panes of glass) and stick our hand through it. So I began to do this instead. I was able to get my hand through and open the door, but in the process I broke a bit of the glass and cut myself on it. It wasn`t too bad but I was bleeding. It was a crazy experience. 

 

Thursday we had a super Christmas activity with President Brough and family, and the zones of Esquintla and our zone Villa Hermosa. It was fun because we played basketball, a soccer game that was like crocket, and a human bowling game with soccer balls. Later at night we watched a movie called ´´17 miracles´´ which I would highly suggest seeing. Part of what touched me most was that at the end of the movie the narrator stated how he felt many times like giving up while pulling his handcart, but each time he reached the ´´giving up´´ point he felt the cart pushing him. He said that he knew then that the angels of God were there helping him. My first few weeks in the mission field I received a letter from mom that had that quote on it. That is what has helped me to keep pressing forward each day of my mission. I have laminated that letter with tape and have posted it by my desk so that I can read it each day and remember again that the angels of God are with me and that I can do hard things. 

 

The next morning we had to wake up at 3, be at the stake center at 4, and we left at 4:30 AM for the temple. It was a fantastic experience because other missionaries always finish their mission going to the temple, but they always go alone. I had the blessing of going with all of my zone and with President and Sister Brough. We had a couple of experiences this week of contacting and after an hour or so of contacting we finally contact a door, even at the very end of the night, that opens to us. I have had a difficult week, but a week that was full of many blessings. I know that Heavenly Father watches over us and guides us, and that the angels of God surround us to help us keep going.

 

Finally, this morning as we left the house there was hardly anyone in the street but I said if I see someone in the street I am going to contact them. Well, out of who-knows-where a woman began walking toward us. Therefore, I contacted her and we placed an appointment with her. Sometimes we have to make promises before we receive, and God will not give us what we aren`t willing to keep. 

 

Well, that is probably it for this week. I know the gospel is what we need in our lives to be truly happy. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only completely true church although other churches have a little bit of truth. But this church is the true church of Christ. Our Heavenly Father answers our prayers even if it is not at the moment that we want because often we must prove ourselves first to show that we really want the answer. 

 

I love you all. Have a fantastic week. Don`t be baggy, and be happy. Take the ugly things and make them beautiful. And for ever and always, be True and have Faith. 

Love Hermana Destinee Leuana Park