Challenges*

So as most of you know, I've been working on my mission papers for quite some time now. For those of you who are special enough to know me personally (Lol), you would know that I had this timeline in my head of when my papers were supposed to be done & when I was supposed to be out by. Well recently nothing was falling into place. If it was not one thing then it was something else. I started to get discouraged...totally thought Satan would forget about me and let me sly on by but nope, he remembered me & worked hard on my heart.

After moving wards, stakes, hospitals losing documents, miscommunication and nearly 3 months later of my papers being completed I was finally able to sit down with my Stake President.

We spoke and he gave me a lot of readings to do to help me understand how I can be a powerful missionary. Then he gave me 3 challenges:

• Pray & fast that whereever you are called to that you will know without a shadow of a doubt that thats where our Heavenly Father needs you to be <3
• Pray & fast that you will immediately L O V E the people you serve <3
• Pray & fast that before you enter the MTC, you will know that you were instrumental in bringing someone into the waters of baptism<3

I thought to myself, Yeah I can totally do this, piece of cake. Then he hit me with the question: "Sister Matagi-Magalei, have you read the Book Of Mormon?" He could tell I didn't, even before I answered "Not cover to cover."Then he smiled at me and said "I can't send you on your mission until you finish the Book of Mormon. I have faith that it will be done by the final interview we have...which will be a week from today."

I could've been mad, given up, trashed my papers, done everything negative. But for some reason, the spirit filled my heart and humbled it <3 All this time I was discouraged because things weren't going the way that I planned and according to MY time when really it was never up to me. Its up to my Heavenly Father & everything that happens is for a purpose & only a purpose that only HE can see <3 How selfish was I to be upset about things :/

I love this gospel and the lessons it teaches me everyday <3 I am grateful for the trials, hardships and challenges, I have to go through because I know its only to help shape me into the person my Heavenly Father needs me to be <3 Only God knows what we need and I am soooooo grateful to have Him on my side as I take on these challenges one at a time <3

If there is one thing I know, its this: I Was Born To Make Mistakes, Not Fake Perfection <3

I Can Do All Things Through Him Who Strengthens Me <3