Serendipity

Serendipity.

This has taken a theme this last transfer, particularly with Elder Fronk. Honestly though, as we have discussed it I have seen it throughout my mission.

My definition for it as we went around the table at the Fronk's after church was, "When something goes not as planned, but as it should."

In reality, and in a gospel sense, we've attributed it to the idea of trusting in God. trust in Him. Something we talked a lot about in my seminary class while I was in highschool was, "God can't steer a parked car." This idea related also to the idea that "Faith without works is dead."

Serendipity. It's all about this. What are you going to do with what you are given? Are you going to keep moving? What are you going to do?

"I don't know!"

Walk forward with one foot in front of another. You keep walking. You'll preform as well as you prepare.

"What do I even prepare for if I don't know what I'm doing?!"

It doesn't matter. With the spirit guiding your actions, you "cannot go amiss."

An emphasis that I would say for the entirety of my mission is, given this is probably my second to last email, stop worrying about it.

Slow down.

Do everything you can to be prepared. Plan the best way you can. The Lord will take care of it.

I used to think faith was simply believing that my own efforts would be sufficient to complete a task. But I've come to realize over the time of my mission, no matter what, I cannot do everything. When I struggled so much with Greek the first year of my mission, I questioned my own faith. What was I doing wrong? When the day would just not physically be possible, what do we do?

So my faith had to grow in a way I didn't realize was so important. I couldn't let it stay so simple. I realized faith needed to be sufficient to believe that my efforts would be used for the work of God. The more effort I would put in, the more I could be put to work by the Lord.

There's no bar you have to reach to be sufficient to God. There's no mandatory bar you have to hit to be capable of saying over the pulpit, "I was a good missionary!"

"Elder, you can't be suggesting lazy missionarys are still good missionaries..."

You are right, I am not suggesting this at all. What I am suggesting is lazy missionaries are not your concern. It's the mission president's. Leave it. You might help and encourage them to improve, but do not ruin your day because of it.

So if there is no bar to hit, what's the motivation of a missionary?

There are a couple types of motivation:

Fear. This is the simplest. Fear is basic, but it's never long lasting. If you ask me to go up the stairs when I'm tired, I'll be a lot more motivated if you scare me at the bottom wearing a gorilla costume. But chances are, I'll get used to that costume and it will not last.

Next is Reward. Reward only works if it's increased over time or the reward comes in certain time intervals. Again, you can't eat 3 cookies every hour to keep you doing your homework.

The next is Social. This is the one that might keep people going to social interactions. I like to think of when we were all wearing masks during Covid. It isn't socially acceptable to be making weird faces all the time but as soon as those masks were on our faces, it was totally fine. Because it was hidden.

Christ has asked us to go to the higher level.

Love.

You eat ice cream because you love it. Not because someone scared you into it. Not because you'll get to eat vegetables after as a treat. Not because your friends will think that you're weird if you don't.

You do it because you love it.

God didn't ask you to hit a certain bar during your missionary work. There is not set number of "baptisms" you're supposed to get to be considered successful.

God wants you to ascend to a higher level. Because you love it. Because you love Him.

You see why it matters so much if you love Him?

The first principal we teach as missionaries is, "God is our Loving Heavenly Father."

God loves you. Your Father in heaven knows you personally and wants everything for you to succeed. Because He loves you.

He created this world for you to learn and to grow, because he loved you so much he wanted you to become like him and have the fullness of joy.

He loves you so much, he didn't leave you alone. He sent down His prophets so you could learn of Him and how to tap into his peace; a peace only a loving father could give; peace and guidance.

He loves you so much, he sent his Only Begotten Son to atone and die for you.

He loves you so much that even as people began to change the gospel of His son, he called a prophet more knowledgeable to give you the chance to tap into that peace again that He offers.

He loves you so much, He will answer every single prayer you offer to him.

Why?

Love is a celestial trait we inherited from our Heavenly Parents. I truly believe that.

Learning to follow him because you love Him is the most powerful strength in your life.

How will you show your love to him? Through your works. Yes, they might not feel sufficient. But that's okay. God knows.

Trusting God is not only an external thought. It goes beyond and into the very way you view your surroundings. You can show your love to him by trusting him.

What are you willing to give to God? What are you willing to do to have Him in your life.

The piano lesson is paid for by your mother. Is she expecting you to pay her back in cash? Not at all. It's by practice you show your thanks to her. Using the lessons. Using her sacrifice.

Do you see how the Atonment in your life? It's more than just when you've done something wrong. It's the very action that propels us forward to love and improve.

I've thought a lot about having gone home as I'm about to do it again, for the second time.

I really remember thinking while I was home, "How much more interesting could my mission get? Why should I go back out?"

I remained obedient to the initial feeling I had but "not knowing before hand what should I do." Not knowing what was going on, but depending on serendipity.

I think about what I have gained since returning and how pivotal it has been in my life, but also so in others.

What would have happened if I gave into my fears or demotivation to not get moving?

How often do we ignore a prompting from the spirit?

I won't. Ever again.

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This week has been pretty crazy, as usual. We are just trying to roll with the punches and going with what God has handed us. Next Sunday, I will be going down to Athens. Elder Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve will be coming. We were originally planning on having the final meal with the mission president on this Friday and just leaving early to Athens, but our friend Dimitri is getting baptized that week.

I looked at Elder Morgan and said, "That baptism takes priority, right?"

"Of course," he replied. So I don't know when we will get our final dinner with the mission president, but we'll see!

I'm very excited for this baptism. He will the first baptism I will have been involved with that was Greek. It's super special, and I've felt super honored to be involved.

Elder Bonney's sister has been here this week, and it's been pretty funny to see him interact with his sibling. It's funny to see some twin things are universal.

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Well, I've got to get to bed. Could have bored you with the events of this week, but this is what I felt like talking about this week. I wish I had time to write more. But
I've been so blessed on my mission. I couldn't trade it for anything.

Be still, and know I am God.

I love you all, and hope the best for all of you.

Elder Dylan Hansen

P.S. The weather has been nice. The Greeks think it's cold. Funny lol.