Hope

I have been fascinated with the word hope lately and poetry. So here is a poem I wrote.

Hope's gentle light shines bright and true,
A beacon in darkness, guiding me to you.
A promise of better days to come,
Good blessings on their way, before too long.

May hope's sweet peace settle in my soul
And fill my heart with joy, making me whole.
For in the darkness, hope's light shines through,
Illuminating a brighter future, waiting for you.

"Hope for good things to come".
Elder Holland said that, and it really stuck with me.

I realized I have not been having Hope. I have been expecting the blessings/good days to come, but not in the right way. I was expecting it to come after I prayed or after a lesson. Elder Holland talked about it more when he said, "Quit looking into the past, the past is to be learned from, NOT lived in. Forgive and do what is harder, Forget and look to the future for the blessings that are yet to come".

I have been so focused on my past and what I left behind that I was not looking for the blessings that are yet to come, that have been promised to me for doing the work.
I have changed my focus and am now looking toward the future, when I will one day speak good Creole and teach, maybe even train a new missionary.

If I don't say something about biking my father would be upset. Haha
The weather is getting nicer, and all I think about is biking and racing. I realized how much biking is like missionary work. First and foremost, thank you, Dad, for preparing me, and I didn't even know it.

At the beginning of every season, I get excited to ride/race, so I jump on my bike expecting to have fun..... well the first weeks hurt so bad because my body or mind is not in biking mode, but after that time of pain and work, it gets a little easier. It does not go away. If I ever go for a ride and come home and say it was not hard, I had learned nothing. I should go ride farther, longer, harder.

The beginning is always the hardest part. Acting in faith, waking up early for church, starting a talk you have to write the night before, and so much more. But it always gets better. Your muscles always heal, but they can heal faster if you're following Christ and looking past the pain at the blessings that are yet to come, winning the races by riding faster, farther, and longer.

Have HOPE!!!! Hope that what you're doing is right and that the lord does promise blessings that he will give you.

You cannot drive a car looking in the rearview mirror; it's too dang small, you will crash over and over and over. Start looking forward to the open roads. (With no cops) 😉

I love you all and pray for you all individually often.

Stay strong, this world is so backwards

Challenge: Go smile at someone this week and drink some dlo (water)

Lapè soti (peace out)

Èlde Payne