Christmas Letter

Jake was asked to write a letter home to the Graham Oaks ward that Ty was able to read in our ward Sacrament Meeting:

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A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year from Spain! I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this wonderful season of reflection and renewal. After spending 3 months in Cáceres, I am now in the beautiful beach city of Málaga. I am currently companions with Elder Peredo from Bolivia and I'm learning lots of Spanish! It has already been 6 months since I left and time is flying! I am always out of my comfort zone, which means I am growing in ways I didn't think were possible. As I missionary my perspective has become more magnified. Things going on in the world or at home begin to lose focus, as I begin to zoom in on the personal conversions of others. Let me share one experience that demostrates that very conversion and Lord's part in it. 

One Sunday in early November, we began our walk to church. We made our way from the metro, passed the cafe, rounded the corner, and to the right of the sushi buffet stood our little church. As we stood at the door greeting people, a man named Antonio introduced himself in broken Spanish. He told us he was a member from Brazil and had only been in Spain for 4 days. We introduced him to the ward, and even some Portuguese speaking members. The next Tuesday, he came to an activity, met new friends, and was given a Book of Mormon in his native language. This past Fast Sunday he shared his testimony. 

He said,

"A few Sundays ago I had prayed for the first time in years. I had been in Spain for 4 days and was lost, maybe physically as well as certainly spiritual. I saw an answer to my prayer as I saw 2 missionaries walk pass the cafe where I was sitting. I followed them, rounded the corner, and entered the church to the right of the sushi bar."

He finished his testimony by saying that now he is finally at home. What does being at home feel like? Home for me is a family, it is being loved, being known, flaws and all, but accepted nonetheless. Now, how can it be that a man that has so little time in a foreign country, with neither friends nor family can feel that he is at home?

Although far from his native country, he was loved, he was known, he was accepted. Christ promises us that we may always be at home, no matter where we are located. 

May I share the words from one of the new hymns:

"An open door, a warm embrace 

Call us to worship and share God’s grace. 

All can gather safely here, 

Partake of emblems, feel Jesus near.

As weary trav’lers on life’s road,  

When the world is dark and cold,  

Where’er we wander, where’er we roam,  

We’re always welcome, welcome home."

A church can be a home. A place where family, children of God gather and participate together, building relationships with each other as well as God. A relationshipship with God means we are no longer strangers nor foreigners as strange as we may feel. We are made recognized, found, and brought home. Is it a coincidence that those who have found their home in the church often begin their story by being "found" by the missionaries. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, it describes this process of finding home. As the son makes his humble return to his father's house, no doubt fearing he would be rejected and scorned, he is greeted by these words of his father

"It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

This Christmas season and always, may we make merry and be glad. Let us seek those that are lost, and find them! With our friend Antonio, it may have been the Lord that did the first step, but after, we invited, we connected, we supported. We can always seek to find those that only need an invitation. If you feel that you are still searching for home, even within a faithful church community, I would invite you to turn your vision outward and look for others. Our Heavenly Home will not feel like home, with others still wanting and waiting. This is a work of joy. There is nothing more important than helping other find their home. Be kind, invite, connect, love, listen, and watch as the Lord works miracles through you. 

Allow me to finish with a description of The Good Shepherd as he finds his lost sheep. 

Luke 15:

5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

Elder Dougall