A Different Call

Well I’ve been home for almost two months now and things are going great!  I’ve been improving quite a bit and I am happy to report that treatment is going well.  (I’ve got a pretty good support team here at home to help me out).  It isn’t exactly what I wanted, but it’s what the Lord wants and I would rather follow His game plan than mine.  He’s a much better coach.

As I’ve been home the reality of my situation has become a little clearer to me.  Unfortunately my back problems are a bit worse than I originally thought.  I had hoped to be a little less broken and battered than my x-rays suggest, but the good news is that I will make a full and complete recovery all in good time.  I should be up and running within the next few of months and any additional care after that will be to maintain the work I’ve already done.

I’ve given a lot of thought as to how I am going to finish my mission.  As much as I would love to return to the field as a full-time missionary, I am reminded of this scripture: “And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength” (Mosiah 4:27).  I unfortunately do not have the needed strength to be a full time missionary at this time.  But I am also reminded of another scripture, “I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).  The Lord knows what I need and He gives me strength when I am weak.  I am really grateful for this opportunity I have had to learn and I know that this is what the Lord wants for me.

With that being said, I’ve got some other plans!  There are lots of things to be done in the church and if I can’t work in Chile I will do something else!  So starting in November I will begin serving part-time as an online Family Search missionary from home while I finish up my treatment.  I am so excited to be able to finish my mission and I am grateful to know that the gospel is for both the living and the dead.  Truthfully, it isn’t what I imagined a year ago when I turned in my mission papers and it certainly isn’t what I wanted, but this must be what I needed.  The Lord has blessed me so much more than I deserve.  I am so grateful and humbled to serve Him in his glorious work for his eternal purposes, whatever that service may be.

“It may not be on the mountain height

Or over the stormy sea,

It may not be at the battle’s front

My Lord will have need of me.”

I know that is true, and I will go where He wants me to go because this church is true and the work is His.

Lots of love!

Lexie