Sacrament Talk about Hayden's Mission given by Mom

 Sacrament Talk about Hayden’s Mission 

In Romans the Apostle Paul asked, “how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent ?” (Romans 10:14-15)

After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we learn that Jesus called his apostles to serve missions, saying “go you therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them, in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 28). 

He said “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16)

He told Peter that if he loved him, “feed my sheep” meaning feed them the gospel – do missionary work!

Blessing at Home

What a great blessing it is to have a missionary. Our home feels different. Yes, it is a little quieter and our rooms are a little emptier, but it is filled with peace and a united purpose. Our thoughts are constantly on our missionary, his companion, the people he meets, and the friends he is teaching! 

Seeing the baby of our family get up early everyday, work from sun up to sun down, experience the more than occasional rejection, and still end the day excited to get up and do it all over again because he knows the purpose of his mission, has given our family a desire to follow his example. 

Having a missionary has brought a spirit to our home that has inspired our us to be a little better- a little better with our actions, a lot more focused with our prayers, and a little bolder with our testimonies. 

We have found ourselves drawing closer together as a family, united in our love for the Savior and our desire to share His message of hope and redemption. 

Mission Life

To give a quick update, Hayden is serving in the Florida Jacksonville mission. He has been serving for a little over five months and has spent the majority of his time in Tallahassee. Last week he was transferred to a small town near of Tifton Georgia called Alma. He is serving with his third companion, Elder Wengreen.  

He has experienced the highs and lows of missionary life. He’s had two companions crash their car. He’s spent a day stuck in a Nursing Home under a tornado watch. He showers with cockroaches and helps remove ticks from other missionaries. He enjoys the crazy rain storms of Florida and forgets that he has to wear sunscreen in March. He still flirts with everyone he meets and flexes when the lighting is good when we FaceTime. Some things will never change.

Mission Growth

But our Missionary is progressing, engaged and growing. The effort to find on a daily can be frustrating but he is prayerful and tries to never pass up an opportunity to share a message with someone. He enjoys his weekly service, being out and about, staying busy and loves to approach strangers.

In a conference talk about missionary work, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained  “The Lord has never required expert, flawless missionary efforts. Instead, “the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind”.  

Hayden is not a perfect missionary but he loves the challenge of missionary work and is constantly trying to get it right. 

Elder Uchtdorf continued saying, “You will eventually become better, happier, and more authentic. Talking with others about your faith will become normal and natural. In fact, the gospel will be such an essential, precious part of your lives that it would feel unnatural not to talk about it with others.” 

Over the last five months I have watched this happen with Hayden. He is becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. 

I love to hear the details of his daily efforts. He understands the need for check lists but recognizes the importance of having the spirit in his lessons. He sees little miracles in the day to day and knows the Lord is guiding the work. 

Hayden has found strength in prayers, comfort in the scriptures, and has tremendous faith in the work. Recently, after meeting a young girl, he regretted not getting her contact information. He wondered if they’d ever meet her again. A few weeks later, he had his companion pull into the local Circle K so he could use the restroom and to his surprise, this same young girl had just started a new job behind the counter at Circle K. 

Hayden has had the privilege to stand in a filled baptismal font twice in Tallahassee. He was asked to baptize Nevaeh who the sisters had taught. Knowing it was his first time baptizing someone, his mission president had him “practice” on him. Hayden hated every second of that but in the end, was grateful for the chance to get it right without an audience.  

A few weeks later, Debra, a lady Hayden and his companion had been teaching asked if they’d stay after church so she could talk to them.  Of course they assumed the worst. When they met her in a classroom she quietly asked if she could be baptized. Shocked they explained the few requirements she needed and set a date for her baptism. Unfortunately conflict in her home has prevented Debra from being able to be baptized.  

Hayden’s friend Eric comes to church each week. He loves the gospel and understands that through the atonement of Jesus Christ he can be forgiven of his past sins. On March 16, Eric chose to accept the invitation to follow the Savior and entered the waters of baptism. 

We have been blessed with a front row seat to witness firsthand the power of missionary service. The light of the gospel shines bright in missionaries.  Hayden has grown to love those he is serving. Perhaps even more profound is that our family has developed a love for these people whom we have never even met.

Conclusion

He also has a love for the Savior and His work. In a conversation I had with him a few weeks ago, he wrote, “I love how the gospel gives people hope for their future. I took it for granted because I have known it my whole life. It is amazing that some people have never known about the realm of possibilities in the afterlife and that there is always forgiveness. The gospel and the life of Jesus Christ didn't just HAPPEN. It is HAPPENING” 

He is right, It IS happening. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. God lives and loves every one of us. I Know this with all my heart. THAT is why I willingly sent my son to do His work. 

After the Apostle Paul asked “how shall they preach except they be sent ?” He said “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

I love my missionary. I am grateful he is willing to sacrifice two years of his life to “preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things.” I love missionary work. I know there is a work to do. There are many awaiting the message - I hope we will all take every opportunity we are given to declare it and share it.