Week 53: Momentum at the half

1 Year!!

Buckle up.

Happy 4th of July! Easily the best holiday but I lowkey totally forgot about it😅

Somehow, I completed one year of service as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this week. I have no idea how 1 year has already passed. The fastest, best year of my life.

This week was also arguably the fastest, best week of my mission. There were miracles, tender mercies, and really difficult aspects of the week that taught me a lot and that is why it was the best.

This week, there was a major conflict in one of the companionships in my zone. In this type of situation, my first reaction to solving the problem has always been a very direct, not-so-loving way. However, in recent conversations with my mission president, he taught me the importance of establishing a base of love with the people we need to help and help them realize that true happiness and peace only come from obedience and trying to be like Christ. With this in mind as we navigated the situation, it was difficult, but everything is okay now. I learned a lot about leadership, love, forgiveness, and the importance of communication (mixed with empathy for others) in any sort of relationship.

Miracle time. The most elect/prepared people I have ever met on my mission put themselves into our teaching pool this week. Sonia and Samuel, a mother and son, filled out a form online to receive visits from the missionaries and now have a baptismal date for the 28th of July. They complete every invitation we offer and ask questions to understand. It has been a privilege to participate in some of the most spiritually-powerful lessons of my mission with them. Yesterday, we invited them to be baptized this month and Sonia expressed her thoughts that they have only been meeting with us for one week and how maybe they want more time to prepare, but then the bishop who was with us shared something that changed my life. He explained how the process of preparation for baptism, or to receive any sort of blessing or make any covenant, started a long time ago— maybe with a question, doubt, desire, or important decision. He explained how the Lord prepared the path and opened the door for this mother and son a long time ago so that they could step through the threshold with confidence, now. Sonia then expressed how 46 years ago she came in contact with the Church and grew to absolutely love it and its teachings and values. Due to conflicting views on religion from her parents, she stopped going to church but always remembered these fond feelings. Now, 46 years later, the Lord has prepared their path and they are experiencing the reality of the Spirit and the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. I may not be here to see the baptism with transfers coming next week but that's not what's important. Please keep them in your prayers so they can continue to have faith that drowns out all influence of the adversary.

Dope things:

● Had the most spiritual Sacrament Meeting ever this Sunday and every single person testified of Jesus Christ and temples 🤍

● Visited the Stake Patriarch and he proceeded to unload his wisdom and experience upon our ignorant souls. I highly recommend 👌

● Made sushi with Yuk Shan and watched her become integrated with more and more members. She has such a strong desire to fully embrace life as a member of the Church 🥹

● Celebrated one year on the mission in exchanges and working. But I had a really awesome experience teaching my companion for the day (a newer convert to the church) more about repentance and the mercy of Christ.

● The hurricane did not hit Honduras and we only had constant rain. In turn, cooler temperatures outside 🙏

I am halfway done with my time as a full-time missionary. Here are some of the biggest things I have learned in this year of dedication to my Savior.

● Jesus Christ is a living being who has a complete capacity to love, heal, and strengthen us.

● Understanding doctrine is having faith.

● If we truly understand the doctrine, it is easy to be obedient.

● Actions speak louder than words and service heals hearts.

● “Sometimes the Lord withholds blessings from us to eventually deliver undeniably discernable miracles”. -Steven J. Lund

● Have your head where your feet are.

● Spanish.

● I love Honduras.

● Learning to rejoice in other's successes is hard but sooo rewarding.

● Having blind faith makes life simple and a lot more exciting.

● “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted” D&C 90:24. There is always an optimistic outlook.

● The Lord is unjustifiably merciful.

● Hard work builds character and consistency changes nature.

● Expect miracles, with patience.

● “For of him unto whom much is given, much is required” D&C 82:3.

● Consecration is a joy.

● If you're trying your best to do what is right, trust that you are living in the guidance of the Spirit.

● God gives us special opportunities not because we are qualified, but because he wants us to learn something.

● Sometimes, it's not worth “being right.”

● It's not about me.

● Be 100% responsible, even when you have valid excuses.

● The Book of Mormon guides us to Christ and trains us against the tactics of Satan.

● Temples are salvation.

Jesus is the Christ. This is his true church. Obedience and covenants are the only way to have true hope and to receive salvation. The Lord is actively preparing his children for His Second Coming. I testify that He lives and I will testify of this as much as I possibly can for the next year and for the rest of my life.

With so much love,

Élder Snyder