Week 5: "He has been there before"

Hello family and friends!!!! Another week has gone by and I find myself loving being a missionary more and more each day.   It is hard... I think it will always be hard, but the one thing Im learning is that it's up to me whether I am happy or not...even during the hard times.   It was another busy week.   We didn't get to teach a lot of lessons, and a lot of people cancelled appointments, but that didn't stop us from biking all over the place trying to share the gospel with everyone we saw. The people of Hemet, CA are not good at keeping commitments, and they are really bad at remembering things... this can make things very difficult. They are amazing people though, and I do not love them less because of this.  It just makes me try harder every day to figure out ways that I can help them!  The one thing I love about everyday is being able to feel the spirit more, and recognize it better. It truly is the greatest feeling. Nothing beats that super happy, warm feeling that gives you the chills.  It's so peaceful, and I always feel very calm when I get on my knees and pray.  Well I don't have much to say this week about lessons taught, or baptisms we have set up... cause we haven't had success yet in those areas... so please prayer for me and Elder Steed that we will be able to have more success!!!  I want to share a poem I came across that was very very eye opening to me, and I really loved it! 

  "He has been there before"

         By: Elder Troy Whittle

The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet.  I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets. 

A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise? 

It seems like just a second ago, I was able to shut my eyes. 

The morning activities follow study, prayer and such.  When its time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much.  

"We have a super day planned".  My comp says with a grin.  

I lowly utter a faithless breath, "yeah, if anyone lets us in".  

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street, 

Prepared to face another day of humidity and heat.  

Its 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through.  

My companion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do.  

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot.  

Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air box".  

We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete.  The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet.  

Its past 10:30 pm.  My companion is fast asleep.  

Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep. 

In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray.  

I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say.   

"Oh, Father" I begin, "What happened to us today?  I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away.  

My hands, my aching hands-worn, hurt and beat; 

if our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked the doors on every street.  

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?  The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike.  

Will you send some cooler weather?  The heat is killing me. 

I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, its very hard to see.

"Why do i have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough? 

 People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff.  

Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack.  

I want to give them Books Of Mormons, the weight of them hurts my back.  

"And what about my family, they don't have much to say.  I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day.  

Oh father, why am I here?  Am i just wasting time? 

 Sometimes I just want to go home, i'm sorry but that's on my mind".  

My companion, heavenly father, what are you giving me?  The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see.  

My prayer now finished, i stand up, then jump right into bed.  

I need my rest tomorrow, we have another long day ahead.  

Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away

Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I’m standing alone on the hill, The view is very nice

A man walks towards me and says, “My name is Jesus Christ”

Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet

“Arise,” He states, “Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak”

My attention’s towards my Savior, total and complete

He says, “Your mission is similar of what happened to me

I understand how you feel, I know what you’re going through

In fact, it would be fair to say I’ve felt the same as you”

“I even know how you felt when no one listened to you

At times I felt not quite sure what else that I could do

I know you don’t like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet

Just remember the donkey I rode wasn’t equipped with 21 speeds”

“I understand you don’t like sweating, in fact it’s something you hate

I remember when I sweat blood from every pore, oh the agony was great!

I see you don’t like your companion, you’d rather have someone else

I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth”

“It’s hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you

Much like when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews

So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack

I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back”

“Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day

I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way

It’s hard not to hear from home when your family’s not there to see

I lost communication on the cross and cried, “Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

“We have a lot in common, but there’s a difference between us you see

I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me”

He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love

With tears in my eyes I watched as He ascended back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head

Listening I heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed

My companion let out a groan, “it’s 6:30 already, no way!”

I sat up and said, “Come on, I’ll even carry your scriptures today!”

No matter what we go through,

When we feel we can’t take more

Just stop and think about Jesus Christ,

He’s been there before!”

I love you all so much and hope you have a great week!!  I love being a missionary, and I know this church is true!!!  

With much love 

     -Elder Jorgensen