ANNOUNCEMENT: This week Sister Young celebrates her ONE YEAR MARK in Poland. (As this is a big milestone, it would be TOTALLY appropriate for you all to cheer and be excited. You know. Whatever works.) This being the case, I've been reflecting again. I know. I keep doing that! Apparently I'm a reflective person in my old age. Who knew! But my reflections led me to think about ALL the things I've learned over the past year. Which is about a GAZILLION. But I was thinking about all the things I've learned, and that's what I want to talk about.
Lessons Learned.
Lesson One: Location Isn't Everything
You know, I thought I wanted to be in only the pretty cities. And it started off pretty good. I mean, come on. I was born in KRAKÓW. It does NOT get prettier than Kraków. That city - she's the city of dreams. I LOVE it there. I wanted to stay forever. And then guess what happened. I moved. To Łódź. Voted the Ugliest City In Poland.But you know what? Łódż is one of my favorite cities in the whole country. I love it. POSSIBLY more than Kraków. And Bydgoszcz? Everyone says B-Town isn't much to look at (I disagree, but that's fine), but that's one of my favorite cities. To be quite honest, I love all my cities. And when people ask which is my favorite, I really don't know how to answer. It's so much more about the experience than the location. So, while it's nice to be in a pretty city, it's not everything.
Lesson Two: God's The Boss
I always thought I would know exactly why I served where and with whom I did. I thought there'd be a specific experience or investigator or member that would be the reason for an entire transfer, and I would be aware of that. WRONG. That's not actually how it works. (I don't know - maybe it does for some people, but it doesn't for me.) That would be nice, wouldn't it? Unfortunately, I too often forget that God is the boss here, and that HE has the plan. I don't get to see that plan - He hasn't printed out a copy for me and sent it in a memo. I just have to go with the flow, do the best that I can, and trust that if I'm following the Spirit and doing my best, in whatever way His purposes are being completed. That's just the way it works. It isn't easy, but it's good! That's how we learn.
Lesson Three: We Can't Fix People's Problems For Them
Sometimes, people have trials. Fact of life. It's not my FAVORITE fact of life, but a fact it remains. And sometimes, we want to take people's problems away for them. We want to pick them up and take them ourselves, or throw them in the trash, or ... you know. DO something. We want to fix everything. But we can't. For a couple reasons. Reason one being, it's not physically possible for us to fix everyone's problems. Science will not allow that. And reason two, being that God's plan includes trials. That's how we learn! And as I think back on my life (pre and during mish), there's NO way I'd give up any of my trials. The hard times are when we learn the most! It's hard, and it's hurts like a mother, but that's the way it works! Learning isn't easy. Change and progress and improvement do NOT come easy. It takes work, and a little pain, and sometimes tears, but it's SO worth it. For fixing people's problems for them is really just robbing them of growth. And that's not fair! So we can't be doing that.
Lesson Four: Love Your Life Right Now
Life isn't always perfect. Sometimes you want to go back and have a redo, or skip some of the present to get to the future. Unfortunately, science hasn't caught up with us yet on that one. And until it does, you've just got to love where you are and what you're doing and who you're with! Because, chances are, someday you're going to want that time back. You're going to want to go back to that city, or companion, or just your mission in general. When we've got time travel, that'll be fine (or probably not because, let's be honest - this whole time travel thing isn't looking very promising). Until then. Live in the moment! It's beautiful!
Lesson Five: Trying New Things Isn't Always A Bad Thing
If you knew me for even a second pre-mish (or, for that matter, during the mish), you are WELL aware that trying new things is NOT my favorite activity. Because. Blech. I like what I like, and if I already like something, why would I try a new thing that I may not like? Nope. But guess what. Being a missionary does not allow for that. Sometimes, you just have to a try a new thing. And I'm learning to be more okay with that! So I guess this one is more of a Lesson In Progress than a Lesson Learned.
Lesson Six: Be Open To Other People's Opinions, But Make Opinions For Yourself
I can't count the number of times I've heard things about a city or a person and made a judgement based on that judgement, only to have my mind blown later in realizing that the person who told me whatever I heard must be crazy because they were dead wrong. Hello, worst written sentence of all time. But. You get the idea. It's good to be aware of the opinions of other, but don't just assume they know what they're talking about. You've got to make opinions for yourself, after you know enough to make an opinion. Usually this is a problem when people speak negatively about somebody or somewhere. And it's especially difficult when it comes from someone you trust and admire, because you want to believe them and be on their side. But don't do it! Wait until you're well informed, and then make your own opinion. And love everyone! The good news is, we don't even HAVE to pick sides! Just love everyone and say nice things!
Lesson Seven: Progress Is Hard To Measure
Sometimes, when you're thinking about life and the ways you've changed or improved, you get a little sad and think, "What? I'm still just me!" But don't worry, because sometime something's going to happen, and you're going to see the change, and you'll be amazed. So if you're not sure you're seeing results, it's okay! Keep trying, it's going to pay off! All of a sudden you're going to see it.
Lesson Eight: If You Have A Testimony, You Have Enough
Somedays you walk out the door with nothing but your testimony to keep you going. Somedays you're a little discouraged and life is hard and you don't know what to do. BUT if you've got a testimony, you're going to be okay. When things get hard, I think about why I'm here. And then I'm like, "Oh. Right. The GOSPEL! That's good stuff." And then I'm like, "Wow. I really love the Gospel. It's so good! It makes me so happy!" And then boom - things are already better! When all you have is your testimony, you're in PRETTY good shape.
Lesson Nine: When You're Lost Is The Best Time To Find Yourself
A mission is a REALLY good time to figure out who you really are - whether you like it or not. I've never felt so lost in my whole entire life as I have on my mission. Foreign country, no family, no friends, changing cities and companions like changing your socks - there's not really a place to drop anchor on a mission (except for anchoring yourself to the Gospel, but that's Lesson Eight). And so, I've spent a lot of time with me. Figuring out who I am, outside of my usual enviornment. Figuring out who I am when I'm all I've got. It's an interesting experience, you know? It's kinda fun though. I'm finding out what really matters to me, and what I want out of life. Self discovery is a beautiful thing.
Lesson Ten: Love Goes A Long Way
Being a missionary is so much easier when you love people. When you have true, genuine, sincere concern for them. And they can feel that. It's like how a dog can sense you're afraid (except that we're talking about humans, not dogs). When you show sincere interest in people, they can feel it. And they love it! Don't we all love to be loved and cared for and noticed? Good! Do that for others! They'll appreciate it, and you'll feel better, and you'll make friends forever! How cute is that? Those are some good things to do. Love the people! It rocks!
Well. I could probably right about 85 thousand other lessons that I've learned, but time is a-running, and I have a life to live outside of emailing, so I've gotta run. This has gotten way to long anyways!
But.
I LOVE YOU ALL!
BYE!
Siostra Young
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