Even the Flamingos

I had a chance to go to the Zoo with some friends a few weeks ago on our P-day.  While there, we saw a  flamingo who had wandered from the rest of the flamingo clan, just chillin in the pond.  He continued to stretch his neck down into the water, drinking and splashing himself over and over and over and over and over. 

Get the picture? 

  I thought to myself, "how could he be so thirsty when the water is right in front of him?"

As I thought of this thirsty flamingo, it reminded me of some past experiences. 

I grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  Also known as the Mormons.  During my early college years, I did not know I was thirsty for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I thought I could easily find happiness through friends, a good job, and a good education.  I searched and searched but still felt that there was something missing in my life.

Soon I found myself wandering from my daily habits of scripture study and prayer.  I also distanced myself from family members who I had been so close to for so long.  Most importantly, I distanced myself from my Savior, Jesus Christ and my Father in Heaven.

I was thirsty for spiritual water, but couldn't find the pond.

I started a new job, and made an incredible new friend.  Her name is Jenn.  She was actually my boss at work.  She began to invite me to events, and pretty soon we had grown close.  She set a great example for me.  I saw that she still had fun while living standards the Lord had set.  She was happy and thrived on teaching others about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ in her Sunday School class.

She told me that she had a desire to serve a mission, had prayed about it, and received the answer that now was not the time for her to serve a full time mission.  But she was a missionary to me.

She led me back to the water that had been sitting in front of my face!  She helped me regain my testimony through her example and friendship.

Jenn put her whole heart into our friendship and showed me where to find the living water of the gospel.  She taught me the importance of daily conversion and daily study.  Those habits are now ingrained in me and I will never again stray from the arms of my loving Heavenly Father.

I'm grateful for my dear Jenn!  I miss her and am so proud of all the wonderful things she has accomplished in her life. 

I hope you read this, and think of someone that you can help lead back to the water that "springs up unto everlasting life."  Even if that person is yourself!

Day #9: I hate bad news

So, this post is one day late. 

Yesterday, I received a phone call from our Mission President.  He asked to speak with me alone.  That's never a phone call you want to get out in the mission field.

My heart started racing as I walked into the other room and closed the door. 

"Sister Valentine, I'm calling because there's been a tragedy.  Someone you were close to has passed away."

My mind began scrolling through all my friends and family that I love.  

"Your mother called today and asked me to call you so you didn't hear about it over facebook.  Deb passed away late last night."

He went on to explain what happened. 

Deb was wonderful.  She was a second mother to anyone that knew her.

One of my first bonding experiences with Deb, was at a Church Young Women's Girls Camp.  I had just finished my junior year of high school.  Deb had been called to be the camp cook for our Ward.  I didn't know her that well.  But her food was delicious!  We never went hungry. 

At the end of our Thursday evening, we had a testimony meeting in which every girl was given the opportunity to share their feelings about the Savior.  I only remember a couple of these testimonies that have been shared over the years, and Deb's was one of them. 

She talked about her gratitude to the Savior.  And then, before she closed, she said this, "We want everyone who enters our home, to feel like it's their home."  It stuck with me.

Years later, when I became close friends with her son, Jason, I understood what Deb meant.  She really made you feel at home there, and she had instilled this motto into her children.  I remember late one night I was visiting with Jason, and I shared this experience I had remembered with Deb.  I told him how much it meant to me that when I was here, I felt like family. 

I will miss Deb.  I wish I could be with her family now to comfort them.  However, I am so grateful for the perspective the gospel brings-that through Temple Blessings, their family will be together again. 

Because of Deb, I learned how to make others feel at home.  Through her countless examples of service, she taught me a lot about charity.  She constantly gave and gave, until she could give no more. 

I hope I can exemplify her example of sincere love and concern for all around me!