Whenever my kids have gone to any overnight camp, or conference or their humanitarian trip, I send along a note for everyday. Usually it’s some type of encouragement or a funny message or just a “I’m thinking of you” note.
Preparing for a mission was a bit of a challenge as that is A LOT of notes, lol. But instead, I created a journal that Zach could use with some quotes, saying and messages in it. I also created an envelope with some “real notes” for days when he was feeling low. He laughed when he saw it as he thought there were a lot of notes – so I expected him to feel bad quite a few times.
Based on his first email after week 1 in Tahiti, and our first video chat, he’s focused in on a few of the quotes, message and notes. You can read his email here (and see a very raw, but real picture of what his homesickness looks like) .
In his email, he shares a scripture that has helped and become a favourite:
Alma 26:27 “Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: “Go… and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success”.
Before he left we watched one of the last scenes from the movie Brooklyn and I included it in his journal – not for right away – but for a bit down the road; he had found it in his journal:
“You’ll feel so homesick that you’ll want to die, and there’s nothing you can do about it apart from endure it. But you will, and it won’t kill you. And one day the sun will come out – you might even not notice straight away – it’ll be that faint. And then you’ll catch yourself thinking about something or someone who has no connection with the past. Someone who’s only yours. And you’ll realize … that this is where your life is.” (Ellis, Brooklyn movie)
Finally, Zach shared with us on our video call that this quote by Jeffrey R. Holland had also brought him some peace. This is taken from a talk (here) where Elder Holland tells a story about his young self and then he shares his words of wisdom now to that younger self:
“Don’t give up, boy. Don’t you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead—a lot of it—(30 years of it now, and still counting.) You keep your chin up. It will be all right in the end….Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.”
You can watch an awesome little video telling the inspiring story here.
