I had only been a missionary for 6 weeks when I was asked to be the trainer for a new missionary, to show him the ropes and get him acclimated to the new lifestyle. It was incredibly rainy and I had no idea where I was going as we ventured from Vallejo, CA to Santa Rosa (about a 90 minute drive, give or take). As my previous companion and I drove up to Santa Rosa, I tried my best to remember where everything was at and how to get back, but I was really unsure and the rain-washed landscape made it even more difficult.
Later that afternoon as I left Santa Rosa, I asked a more experienced missionary if I could follow him most of the way back; he was going to nearby Fairfield and it would be easy to find my way from there. Or so I thought. After winding through the back roads of Sonoma for a good hour or two, we found the freeway but missed the exit and had to circle back around until we finally got headed in the right direction just as the rain started really coming down--I mean really coming down, I could hardly see three feet ahead of me! I was pretty nervous that we were going the wrong way or that we were going to get hit or something, so I said a silent prayer and asked God to help me find my way back to Vallejo. I remember feeling or hearing or both, as I strained my weary eyes to see the road ahead, the words Hold on. And I did. Reassurance replaced my fear and we made it home alright. Soaking, but alright.
Sometimes in life that's all we can do. We can't see ahead of us, we aren't exactly sure if we're headed in the right direction or what that "right direction" is... all we can do is hold on. It's hard to have that kind of faith, that trust in God that it will be OK in the end, but just hold on. Stick with what you know, follow your heart, and hold on for dear life. You'll make it!
Much Love,
Elder Spendlove
There was a period of a few weeks (about this time last year) when I really had to put my trust in the Lord. Within just a few weeks of each other, my best friend married my brother, my grandmother passed away, and I was in a car accident that left me physically aching. (I was away from my family for all of these events). I seriously had no idea what was going on around me. I felt like my world was crashing down on me. I have never depended on the Saviour more than I did at that time. I had to hold on for dear life. And I'm a much better person because of it.
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