Week 29 -- April 27, 220

Serve Someone

Hola hola hola!!

Mission time is very weird, I've been inside, without being able to leave for anything other than groceries every two weeks, for the past 43 days, and I can't decide if it has flown by or if it's felt like 443 days. I think both. I found myself every day this week really just counting down days until Preparation Day,  and now that it's here, I felt like the week FLEW by! 

I also did the math, 20 percent of my mission I have been inside this apartment without being able to leave, that's pretty cool that I have been able to have such a different opportunity than so many missionaries in the history of ever!!

 Everyone, here's something I've really learned during this time, and I've still got a whole long way to go before I'm perfect but here it is. This is freaking hard, for literally every person on the planet, idk if there's been a time quite like this in history where literally every person in the world is suffering. What I've learned is it's okay to acknowledge that, it doesn't do anyone any good to pretend that isn't what's happening, but now that we've accepted it we have to do something about it, either fix your problem or be sad. 

And I'm personally kinda sick of being sad and seeing everyone around me sad. So I'm gonna choose to be happy and fix the problem. How? Do I have the vaccine sitting on my desk?? Nah, that would be cool though. As most of you, I don't have an expert knowledge of biology and the virus structure, so what can I possibly do to help with this virus? Hmm there are a few sources I can go to to find some ideas, but I'm thinking the best ideas are probably going to be from the prophets of God, so let's see what they have to say!

President Nelson powerfully declares,  "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives."

That right there is the key, and If that isn't enough for ya, I'll throw another powerful idea at you from the great King Benjamin,  a well known scripture, Mosiah 2:17,

 "17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God." 

That is how to do it, that is the key to happiness, I will testify from the bottom of my heart that as I have gone out of my way to serve others in my life, God has wrought miracles, "by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass"

If you don't have a doctorate in micro science, don't worry, you can still help save the world. That is the key, those two things work together, as you serve someone, you change your perspective and your focus, you will personally be happier and see God's hand more present in your life,  and you'll be serving God, which gives Him every reason to bring miracles upon us. He knows a thing or two about science,  He created it.

Here's a personal example I'll give you all from this week. A few nights ago, I was just not having it, my day consisted of cancelled appointments, barely any conversation with my companion, and lots of sitting on the couch frustratingly trying to find people. I went to go to bed, and remembered my companion had washed his sheets and hadn't yet put them on his bed, so I made his bed for him. I got into bed with a big smile on my face and forgot everything that I'd been angry about all day. 

God loves us, He wants to help us, if we focus more on Him and the amazing blessings we have seen these past few months, and look how we can serve someone (because I guarantee everyone needs it right now), you will be happy, and yeah, God is a God of miracles, so I wouldn't be too surprised if you started to see some big blessings as you serve Him! 

I love you all! Sorry the tone of this was a little almost aggressive, my intention was an emphasis on just how important these simple truths are, because without them, there isn't much hope now, but with them, there isn't much to fear.

Have an amazing week!!

-Élder Boden

Pictures!!

1. Some awesome Salmon we had the other day!

2. Did the math to figure out how many times I have to run back and forth in this hallway to get a mile, (164), got just over half a mile before an angry neighbor came pounding on the door

3. Good people making the world a better place♥️

4-5. Very Spanish food that I decided I'd been here too long to not have made or tried.  The Spanish Tortilla de Patata was a lot better than the little baby eel things.

6. Facebook live with former 76ers player and BYU Basketball star, Brandon Davies and his wife, they live in the Barcelona ward 30 minutes away from me! My favorite quote from their little message, "I did my best to do everything I had promised The Lord to do."