Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Final Week - June 9, 2014


I haven`t been able to think of anything to write for these last 15 minutes, so I`m going to copy what I wrote to my mission president: 

 

What could I possibly write that would capture how I feel about these last 18 months of my life? How could I possibly put into words the miracle that my life has become? How could I even begin to say what this time means to me? 

 

When I was preparing to leave in the mission, everyone told me what a sacrifice I was going to be making. They told me not to drop out of school; they told me not to leave my jobs; they told me not to leave my life; they warned me of danger, of trials, of long days in the hot sun. Then I came to the mission and people kept telling me how grateful they were for my sacrifice, for my service. They spoke as if I had traded something great for something of lesser value.

 

In those moments, I listened and agreed. I thought of all the things I was giving up, all of the opportunities that I will never have again. But President, with time I have learned that the mission is not a sacrifice. Not even a small sacrifice. The mission is a privilege and a blessing. It is my sacred time. It is my greatest joy. It is a small moment that God has given me to be able to experience a portion of the joy that He feels in bringing His children home, and for that I will praise His name forever. My joy is complete in His service.

 

The sacrifice was never the mission. The sacrifice was myself. And now, the Lord is asking me to sacrifice another sliver of myself in leaving behind what took me 18 months to become. But President, I think we both know by now, I`ll go where He wants me to go, I`ll do what He wants me to do, I`ll say what He wants me to say, and I`ll be who He wants me to be. I was called to serve, and even though I will no longer be serving as a full-time missionary, I believe the Lord has much need of me yet. I`m answering that call to serve yet again by packing my bags and setting off for whatever He has in store. 

 

...

 

Well, family, I sure do love you all. If you remember nothing else, remember that I know these things are true. That this is the greatest and most important truth of all time. I know it, and I invite you to come to know it too. 

I love the Lord. This is His work. There is none greater. 

 

 I`ll see you all soon. 

 

For one last time, 

Hermana Bayles

 

He aqui, soy un discipulo de Jesucristo, el Hijo d Dios. He sido llamado por El para declarar Su palabra entre los de Su pueblo, al fin de que alcancen la vida eterna. 

 

Si, yo se que nada soy. En cuanto a mi fuerza, soy debil. Entonces no me jactare de mi mismo, sino que me gloriare en mi Dios porque con su fuerza puedo hacer todas las cosas.

 

Sunday, June 8, 2014

June 2, 2014


Ooooooiiiii!

Hola familia mía. Ésta semana yo prometí a mi compañera q íbamos a tener tiempo para escribir, porque en estas ultimas semanas… pues ya saben muy bien q no nos ha dado chance escribir. Bueno pues.

 

This week I complete 18 months as a missionary. For those of you who aren`t familiar with the wonderful world of missionaries, that means 549 days of serving, loving, teaching, finding, and saving. It also means that my time as a missionary is coming to a rapid close. You see, I will finish my time having worn that beautiful black nametag a total of 556 days. And oh, what I wouldn`t give for one day more.

 

I have now been looking at those last few lines for several minutes, wondering what I could possibly write that would let you all understand how I feel, and I`ve come to the abrupt conclusion that words cannot describe my feelings. I can`t show you who I`ve met, what`s happened, what I`ve seen and heard. But I close my eyes and there they are, looking at me for something more than I am, seeing me for what I can become. They don`t see little old Hermana Bayles who`s sometimes a little bit too goofy for her own good. They see a disciple and representative of Christ, something that has taken 546 days of my life to achieve. They see hope and truth and light, and it`s not because they see Hermana Bayles. It`s because they see what Hermana Bayles represents, or, better said, Who Hermana Bayles represents. I wish you could see those eyes, the way they look at me, the way they look through me to see something more than me. They`re the eyes of someone who sees a bit of what they once knew and begins to remember long-forgotten truths. I wish I could show you all what it means to be a missionary. Oh how I wish that you could see what I see.  

 

This last week was spent mostly in hospitals and dr`s offices, with the remaining time dedicated to preparing a baptism that fell through in the very last hour. In other words, it`s been a frustrating week, but in the end, I`m still inexplicably happy, and I know it`s because it`s no longer so much about me; rather, it is about the Lord and His work. That`s I think the greatest lesson we can ever learn: that happiness is not a result of what happens to us or what we do; it is a result of the active choice we make to be happy and forget about ourselves. In 2 Nefi  2:27-29, we are invited to ^choose eternal life,^ eternal life being living in a never-ending state of happiness with those who make us happy. Happiness is not a consequence but a choice, and it`s the choice that God hopes we will take. It`s the choice that is inevitable as we accept and act upon the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

I don`t know what else to say except to say that I know these things are true. I did not give up 556 days of my life for a lie, a joke, or a game. I`ve given up 18 months for the one and only thing that brings us happiness, the one great and everlasting truth, the hope of all mankind, the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

If this is what you`re looking for, come unto Christ. If this is what you seek, let Him in. ^Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you.^ Come unto Christ and you too will find everlasting happiness. I invite you: come unto Christ. 

 

Take care of yourselves and have a lovely week. I love you all oodles. 

Love, 

Sometimes you`ve just gotta grab a chicken. Cheers.
Hermana Bayles

Memorial Day 2014 May 26


Once again, I´m a failure at writing, but just so yáll know, I love you guys. I´ll write next week probably. I´ll have lots of cool stories to tell when I get back. Anyway, take care and have a great week!

Hna Bayles