A Little Blog of Miracles.: Lessons from a missionary

Okay, okay. Can I start off by saying that being a missionary is THE BEST?

I should know, I've been one for a year now. Wait, WHAT? How did that happen?!

There are all sorts of parts of being a missionary, and they're all great (even when they're not).

There's the seeing-the-fruits-of-your-labor part. AKA, the part everyone thinks is a much larger part than it really is.

Sometimes you get to see baptisms. And when you talk to people they actually want to talk to you and are interested in learning more. Sometimes investigators actually show up to church. Sometimes your numbers look reeeeeeal good and match the effort level you put in. Okay, SOMETIMES.

Then there's the awkward part. AKA, the part everyone jokes about but is actually a real life struggle.

Sometimes you have to teach people about commandments that they're definitely not living. Sometimes you have to tell people things that you sure don't want to tell them. Sometimes you have to ride around with ridiculous sweat marks, helmets, and pictures of Jesus that you're trying to talk to people about and they straight ignore you. Sometimes you get asked out and creepy men fall in love with you. All in all, it can be quite uncomfortable.

Then there's the hard part. AKA, the part that probably definitely takes up the majority of the time.

Sometimes you get companions you don't jive with very well. Sometimes you're in a ward that just doesn't want to do missionary work so your area is completely dead, and sometimes your Ward just doesn't even like YOU. Sometimes you have days where you just walk and bike trying to find someone to teach for 9 hours. Sometimes you go days and days and days without teaching when others around you are baptizing. Sometimes you have to drop those you love because they're not progressing, or EVEN WORSE, they drop YOU when they are so close to getting it. Sometimes your faith is tested, hard. I didn't understand what 'hard' was before my mission.

Then there's the fun part. AKA the part everyone tells you about before your mission to get you all excited.

Sometimes you meet your absolute best friends. Sometimes the most ridiculous things happen to you and you get the best stories out of them. Sometimes you get completely soaked riding bikes in garbage bags and being complete dorks because there really is no avoiding that one. It's just FUN.

Then there's the miracle part. AKA the part that makes it all worth it.

Sometimes you see people literally changing their lives to be more like Jesus Christ. Sometimes you meet people who are LOOKING a for the truth, and you get to help them find it. Sometimes you meet people who you KNOW were placed in your path for a reason. Sometimes (all the time) Heavenly Father blesses you in the most unexpected ways.

And finally, there's the learning part. AKA the part that sticks with you for all eternity.

I am not who I was before, and I am never going to be her again.

I've learned more about myself and about my Savior in the last year than I have my ENTIRE life. I've never relied on Him more and I've never understood His love so much. Jesus Christ is truly my best friend.

This last year has been the best, most rewarding, hardest, awkward, most life-changing year of my life. And I'm grateful for every minute of it, even when I don't feel that way at the time. The tag I wear has become who I am, and I am so proud to represent the Lord.

Love you all, have the best week!

Sister Trebotich

God bless America.