Shaylee's Mission March 17th -24th

CHAPTER 37: Gateway YSA/ Downtown Edmonton 

WEATHER: Don't worry yall were still getting snow over here in Canada

HIGHLIGHTS: 

♡ We had St. Patrick's day dinner (all green)

♡ Got to go to the temple 

♡ Went shopping in 5 minutes and still managed to want to buy the entire store

♡ Found out our most progressing friend who actually lives in our area is moving  #storyofmylife

♡ Got another stomach ulcer, the other sister in my quad got a kidney stone, and the other one is gluten free and accidently got gluten poisoned and was throwing up so the quad was out 

♡ Baylie got put on date 

♡ One of my members made me a dirty soda because i'm from Utah  (he stereotyped me real fast)

♡ Had a mini golf activity with our ward! We had to putt with anything but a club and it was fun but difficult! 

♡ Went to wing snob with the district 

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT: 

I love to type out my thoughts in almost a story form while im studying or thinking about different gospel points, it helps me understand and retain concepts better! So i thought i would share something i was thinking about due to some readings and another spiritual thought that was given to me this week! So here's a spill of my thoughts along with some others in a story form(I David Butlered the format of this thought so hopefully it makes sense) 

I didn't pay much attention to it

I grew up hearing it being said

Often times by the older people who every fast sunday would get up and bare their testimony on things that i could hardly understand

Reconcile

"Reconcile yourself to God"

That's what they often said

So i guess in a way, i grew up with the idea that the word could and would be used only in that context

That is till i came out here

"How do you reconcile that?" 

I remember my first time getting asked that

The question was asked quickly, almost with desperation to find an answer or prove me wrong... (i can never tell these days) 

"How do you reconcile that?"

He didn't know it

But the word he used

Was not only a word i grew up hearing

But a word i have used countless times during my walk with Jesus

I have asked myself how I can reconcile a handful of things;

Broken friendships

Wounded testimony 

Relational tensions

Loss

Hurt

Temptation

Trial

Unanswered prayers

Sickness

Pain

The list could go on and on

Its the human in us really

We always find a way to reconcile the things around us

Its human nature in a way

To find an answer

Because answers help us feel like were in control again

I find myself doing it time and time again

"How do you reconcile that?"

It was a trick question in a way

A question to prove me wrong or test my knowledge

I knew what he was really asking

Yet i didnt have an answer

He was asking how do I reconcile the existence of God

How do I reconcile worshiping a God that allows bad things to happen to good people?

Why does God let others do things to hurt people?

It was a good question 

The number one atheist approach and question that many priests and pastors cant answer

I scrambled for a bit knowing that my answer wouldn't suffice the way i would like it to

And than in the midst of struggling to find a answer, i just said the first thing that came to my mind

And in one simple answer i responded 

"I can reconcile it because I know Jesus and I know God"

I saw the surprise on his face

The answer was not what he was expecting considering how our conversation was going prior to that moment

I continued to say that because i've taken time to get to know God and Jesus I know that that's how we can reconcile all things

We aren't perfect. Humans mess up. But God is perfect and so is his son. And through them all things can be reconciled

Now it might not have been the answer he was looking for, nor the answer he wanted

I can definitely say it wasn't the answer he wanted considering how the rest of our conversation went

But for me it was the answer i had found

How do you reconcile all the crazy things happening around us?

How could you reconcile the people who hurt you?

How could you reconcile war and tensions?

How could you reconcile hurt and loss?

The best answer i've found (and maybe not the one you were looking for or wanted to hear either)

We can reconcile it all with Jesus

We offer forgiveness to those that hurt us

Love to those that have used us

Service to all those in need

"How do you reconcile that?"

We can reconcile it all with Jesus.

I love and miss you all! I hope you all have a great week! 

 Sis. Monson