Retrospective Learning

This week was absolutely amazing. I have been thinking this week about

retrospective learning. On my mission, there are so many lessons I did not

learn in the midst of the trials, or right during the teaching,

mistake-making, or happy moments. It is days later, moments later, even

months later that they come full circle and I realize how much Heavenly

Father is orchestrating the details of my life. I am so thankful for this

pattern of learning, because my experiences have two-fold blessings and

lessons, and my progression is dynamic and meaningful and helps me have an

eternal perspective. Sure, sometimes it is frustrating because I am such an

impatient person and I want to learn, become, and know right NOW! But, He

knows how much I need to learn patience, and hope, and faith. Transfers

came and went with quite a few changes, but none in our apartment here in

West Point. I am staying in Pok Fu Lam, with Sister Gomez, and our

apartment mates are staying too. Our mission is unique in that it has 9

week transfers, but they are working to line them up so they will change to

6 week ones like the rest of the world. So they had to make this transfer

11 weeks, to coordinate with the MTC schedule and such. So I will be in my

area at least 7 months, and probably longer, because Sister Gomez has

already been here 8 months, and when she leaves, I'll lead the area. Pok Fu

Lam is an amazing place, and I'm grateful to serve here in an absolutely

amazing ward. Yesterday we went to a camp an hour from our church and it

was so fun! We did archery, pool, Squash ball, and had lunch together. It

was an awesome opportunity to get to know the members better and just have

fun with them! They really take care of their missionaries.

Yesterday was my favorite part of the week. We were doing some calls from

people who had given us their numbers with an interest in learning more,

and I scheduled a man two other missionaries had met a few months ago. We

taught him last night and it went so well. He lost his wife a few years

ago, and he was still really sad about it. He went through a really hard

time, but he said one of his friends said a prayer with him. After the

prayer he said he saw his wife in his mind, coming out of darkness and just

looking at him, then walking away. So he said he knows God lives because of

that experience. Then we were able to teach him the Plan of Salvation. It

was personally so meaningful to me that after hearing of his deeply sad and

difficult trial, we could tell him about God's truths and give him

specific, hopeful answers. When we told him he would see his wife again, I

could see a spark of faith and hope light up in him. He was so accepting of

the whole Plan of Salvation and he gave a very heartfelt prayer at the end

of the lesson. I know that we lived with God before this life, that Christ

helps us conquer sin and death and have joy, and that everyone will have

the opportunity to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and someday we can

live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and our families again. I know

God's love is infinite and enough. It can answer the deepest questions of

the soul and help us get through any trial or heartache. How grateful I am

that we have all we need to prepare to return to our Heavenly Father's

presence and have happiness in this life as well.

Christ lives. I love my mission.

-- 

*Sister Dopp*