Another week just came and is gone.
We had a miracle filled week...that's for sure. On Wednesday, we were asked to do service at the Ronald McDonald house. Wow...the families that are there are so strong. We had the most amazing opportunities there. We were able to talk about the Gospel for an hour and a half (just so you know, this is not normal in Florida). We gave this lady a Book of Mormon...she started to cry she said, "I left my Bible at home and I have been really missing it. Thank you for giving me this book. I have been praying for this for weeks." This moment reassured me how important the books of scripture should be in our lives and most importantly the Book of Mormon. We should be heartbroken when we are away from it.
I have had a question racing through my mind the last couple of weeks...."Why does Lauren Copeland need to be on a mission?" If any of you know me, you know that I NEVER wanted to serve a mission. I did everything in my will power to avoid the thought of a mission. However, the second I received an email saying that the plans I had made fell through...I knew in that second that I needed to serve a mission. I immediately burst into tears...not because I was sad about my plans falling through...but I was scared for the plans that were soon to come.
I started my papers that next week. The only person I told was my dad. I wanted this decision to be between my Heavenly Father and me...with the support of my earthly father. I finished my papers in three quick days...and submitted them that next Sunday. After what seemed to be the slowest three weeks of waiting patiently to receive my call (btw I still kept my call in secret), I finally received my call. As my mom and I sat in her car one Friday morning...I could not get myself to read my call so I made my mom read it first. As I watched my mom's eyes glow as she was reading my call...still not knowing where I was going...I knew from my mom's expression that wherever I was going was perfect for me. After living in Florida for 6 months...I know this is where I need to be.
However, just because I know this is where I am supposed to be...doesn't mean I know why I need to be here.
Also...why is it that God send's 18-22 year old boys and girls to do his work here on earth? Why doesn't he ask the scholars and those who have more life experiences?
There was a talk given in October 2015 titled, "The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life." Elder Richard J. Maynes begins the talk with a story.
"Elder Taiichi Aoba of the Seventy, who resides in a small mountain village in Shikoku, Japan, was asked to teach a class at a youth conference. “Stand Ye in Holy Places” was selected as the theme of the conference. After considering the theme and what to teach, Elder Aoba decided to use his vocation as a teaching tool. His work is making pottery.
Elder Aoba relates that his classroom of youth really sprang to life when they saw how he was able to almost magically transform the shape of the clay in his hands to plates, bowls, and cups. After his demonstration, he asked them if any of them would like to give it a try. They all raised their hands.
Elder Aoba had several of the youth come forward to try out their new interest. They assumed, after watching him, that this would be quite simple. However, none of them were successful in their attempts to make even a simple bowl. They proclaimed: “I can’t do this!” “Why is this so hard?” “This is so difficult.” These comments took place as the clay flew all around the room.
He asked the youth why they were having such difficulty making pottery. They responded with various answers: “I don’t have any experience,” “I have never been trained,” or “I have no talent.” Based on the results, what they said was all true; however, the most important reason for their failure was due to the clay not being centered on the wheel. The youth thought that they had placed the clay in the center, but from a professional’s perspective, it wasn’t in the exact center. He then told them, “Let’s try this one more time.”
This time, Elder Aoba placed the clay in the exact center of the wheel and then started to turn the wheel, making a hole in the middle of the clay. Several of the youth tried again. This time everyone started clapping when they said: “Wow, it’s not shaking,” “I can do this,” or “I did it!” Of course, the shapes weren’t perfect, but the outcome was totally different from the first attempt. The reason for their success was because the clay was perfectly centered on the wheel."
I was struck by this story. At many times all of us may feel like these youth...struggling to accomplish the thing we have been told to do or shown to do. However, if we center our clay on the wheel and center our lives on Jesus Christ, we WILL accomplish the things we have been commanded.
I took this question with me into my interview with President Wood. I expressed my love for my mission...but frustrated as to why I did not understand the purpose of why I needed to go through it. He told me, "Sister Copeland, you are worrying too much about it. You will find your answer when you forget your question. Lose yourself in the work and one day soon you will know why you are here."
Both this story and my advice from President Wood made all the difference for me. My mind finally clicked together. God needs me here so you can form and shape me into the most beautiful mold of clay he intended me to be. My job is to center my life around Jesus Christ and fully immerse myself in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I invite y'all to do the same.
I am happy as ever...thank you for all the thoughts and prayers.
CTR
<3 Sister Lauren Copeland
Pic of the Week
1. Florida Sunset
2. Expectation of last day being on the bike
3. Reality of last day being on bike
4. Yummy treats.
