When God Paints

HOLA A TODOS [Hello all], 

Sometimes I take for granted, the simple things. 

Every single day on the mission has brought experiences that are shaping who I become. Many of those things are small and simple. "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass", but we have to recognize them. Miracles can be a result of many things, but two things are absolutely necessary to recognize and receive more of them: gratitude and humility. I'm still working on both 😅 nevertheless I am very very grateful for my family, present and future. Especially my parents, I shudder to think of things that I have said and done to them. I cry when I recognize how consistent they are in their love for me and my siblings. I know it isn't easy to love us. :)) They have taught me more than I could ever express with words, much less in an email. Love you mom y dad! 🫶 

 Esta semana [this week]: 

 ◇ I have been practicing my pickleball skills. Watch out, I'm coming for you 😤

 ◇ Participated in exchanges with E.Christensen 🐐 

 ◇ We did stopbys in the pouring rain, twice. It was awesome 👌

 ◇ We got free pizza and cake from the Relief Society 🎂 

 ◇ District Council training was given by the ZL's about humility and coordination meetings 📝 

 ◇ I had a bloody nose for 40 minutes 😑 

This week we found 11/5 new people to teach and we had 4/6 friends at church. Didn't quite reach our goal there but our hope is high for Easter Sunday. Dina and Julio are continuing to progress slowly. Victor and Maribel got married! Baptismal date coming soon. Tina has a baptismal date for the 28th of April! Devon also has a baptismal date for the 21st of April! We are excited to keep teaching them and watch the Atonement change their lives. 

While in Elders Quorum yesterday, we discussed the story of the prodigal son. In many ways, I feel like him. The mission has been my way of getting back on the path that leads to eternal life. I have met many people on the mission that have cheered me on and shared with me, the light they had already received. It frightens me to think about where I would be without them and without this time serving the Lord. 

The mission is hard no doubt, but it will always be worth it. 

Don't be afraid, only have faith in the future that he holds for us. ✨️

*peep the slick back👇, you will see it again after the mission 🤭* 

Love y'all Elder Stockett 

Alma 36:3 "What fills me with the most light is wanting to be an instrument in God's hands. I worry about being changed, if I really got where God wanted me to be. But of course I did and I will. The problem is me making up the measure for myself. He will take me where I need to go and make me who I need to be." [another missionary] 

"Average is the enemy of excellence, and average commitment will prevent you from enduring to the end." [Kevin W Pearson]

Waiting on the Lord

Hola a todos [Hello all],

I really enjoy this talk because it helps me focus on trusting the timing of God. As humans, we want what we want and we want it now. Sometimes His will is otherwise. Have faith and believe that he will bless you in the future. 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2020/10/57holland?lang=eng

Esta semana [This week]:

♡ Exchanges this week w/E.Miller. He is a legend.  

♡ We had interviews w/President Brough this week and he helped me to recognize that a mission is to teach me skills for the rest of eternity; not to "bring me to a certain level of righteousness". 

♡ The weather is warming up! We did weekly planning outside while throwing a Frisbee while riding a ripstick.  

♡ DC training was given on sacrifice and consecration.  

♡ I got to watch a 9 yr old friend from Hartford, his name is Kenneth, get baptized! I'm so proud of him. 

We found two people this week! We had 10 friends at sacrament meeting! Which is a new record (half of them were at the Groton Ward). That was really cool. Three of our friends: Tina, Devon and Victor are all telling us they want to be baptized so please pray that we can put them on date. We had a lot of member visits this weekend. In one of them, their 3 yr old daughter would not stop crying but when I offered her a balloon, she instantly stopped. Thanks mama y papa. 

Not too long ago a friend wrote me a letter about faith. Specifically faith in God and that he can do all things. She basically called me out for not having enough faith. That caused me to seriously reflect on my faith and my standing before my Heavenly Father. That letter helped me to recognize that I need to be more specific in my prayers and that I need to believe and hope in Him. She also shared a scripture from Genesis: "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" Thank you for the loving correction. 

Send me a message if there is anything or anyone that I can pray for!  

Love y'all

Elder Stockett

Joshua 1:9

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace."

Generosity can replace animosity. Reflection can bring perception. But reflection and introspection require time. So many spiritual outcomes require saving truths to be mixed with time, forming the elixir of experience, that sovereign remedy for so many things.

Believing is seeing.

It has been said that a patriarchal blessing is a [paragraph] from the book of your possibilities.

The spirit of the gospel is optimistic; it trusts in God and looks on the bright side of things.

 

 

The Right Person

Holaaa mi gente [Hello my people],

The right person. In the right time. At the right place.

These three things were talked about at Zone Conference (a meetiing of 30-50 missionaries) his past week and it cause me to reflect on what that means. How this applies in my life right now, as a missionary. And how it will apply to my life down the road. 

Esta semana [this week]:

■ You know you are getting old when your sister asks when you are getting married so that she can have a sister. 

■ There is a former sister missionary in my ward that served with my dad in Uruguay so that was so cool.  

■ We explored our first "new York style" apartment.  

■ Crossed a bridge while it was raining. A lot.  

■ Zone Conference was so much fun. Transfer focus is humility and Pres Brough gave a great talk about following the prophet.  

■ Another partial "Luces de Lynn" reunión and almost the whole district from North Shore was there too! I got to see 2/3 of my children (new missionaries that were companions with Caden).️ 

■ I had the privilege of meeting the legend, Charlie.  

We had 6 friends at church and found 7/10 people this week. However the weather is warming up so that means good things for us. Ferdinand and Miguel are progressing steadily and they are really well fellowshipped by the members. Devon is also pretty promising... although sometimes he is sus. Julio and Dina are doing great too! We are going to have a lot of friends with baptismal dates next week or we are going to have a lot less friends jaja [haha]. 

I am recognizing how incredibly selfish I am. To be honest, it's really frustrating. I try and try to be better, try to look to the needs of others. I know it's supposed to be a fight and I'm glad because that's how I'm growing but I don't think anyone enjoys it when they recognize that they do things for themselves and for nobody else. Basically, the humility focus is going to be fuego. 

Love y'all

Elder Stockett

"To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else." I read this quote by Bednar and realized that my parents have taught me this my whole life. Shoutout to them for being the bestest. 

"Sometimes as members of the Church we segment, separate, and apply the gospel in our lives by creating lengthy checklists of individual topics to study and tasks to accomplish; super easy to do as a missionary. But such an approach potentially can constrain our understanding and vision. We must be careful because pharisaical focus upon checklists can divert us from drawing closer to the Lord."

Guilt is a warning of danger. 

Doctrine and Covenants 123:17

"We have moral agency as a gift of God. Rather than the right to choose to be free of influence, it is the inalienable right to submit ourselves to whichever of those powers we choose." For good or for bad.