From: Braydon Carter <braydon.carter@missionary.org>
Date: Sun, Sep 8, 2019 at 7:08 PM
Subject: Around the world for a friend
Date: Sun, Sep 8, 2019 at 7:08 PM
Subject: Around the world for a friend
Dearest Friends and Family,
I have realized something huge in my short 14 months here in Malaysia. Let me begin to share with a story.
Before this life, we lived in a place called the Pre-Earth life. We did not have a body of flesh and bone. We were spirits that lived with our Heavenly Father. Someone took the pre-earth life and illustrated this idea. He said:
"In the pre earth life picture that you had a best friend. You did everything together, you sang songs, played sports, talked with each others for hours about how excited you were to go to earth and get a mortal body and an experience. Well soon enough the day arrived to find out how you were going to go to earth. Your names were called and you sprinted to the spiritual office to grab your 'life package'. Which included where you would be born and in what circumstance, as well as some things you may face in life. Both you and your friend ripped open your package excited to see what was in store for you. You read yours aloud. It said that you would be born into a faithful family that loved you and would teach you good things about God and raise you near the gospel. You were so excited. Then you quickly realized your friend has not shared with you what kind of life they will receive. They opened their package and had a much different story. In their package it said that they would be born in a country that has very little, that life would be really kind of a struggle as they grew up. Then your friend gasps and starts to sob when he finds out he will be born in a family that doesn't know much about Jesus Christ or His gospel. As your best friend reads this line, He/She looks up to you with tear filled eyes and says. " What ever you have to do, please come find me, come remind me and my family of the Gospel of our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ."
I can't explain how true this story feels to me right now. There are so many people that I have run into, and you can just feel an absolute love for them. You look into their eyes and know there is something special about them. For me this week I was able to have this overwhelming spiritual feeling for a couple of reason.
The first is Elder Blackwelder and I were able to go to the beautiful Island of Penang to do Exchanges with some of the Missionaries there! As we did I was able to reunite with someone that I found and taught in Penang! Chris.
As we talked and met once again you could literally see his glow. He was able to get baptized a little while ago and since then he has been called to teach the young men, and he will be baptizing one of his friend this upcoming week! It was so special being able to see him again and feeling that same spirit we probably felt in the life before this one.
The second story is this super awesome man! His name is Abraham! He is just a hoot and a half, but just has an absolute desire to follow Jesus Christ and get close to him.
The last one is the most beautiful family in the world. Seriously I feel like I would give anything for them. I honestly feel like Nemo could be one of my best friends. We have been able to meet with his family and it has been some of the most spiritual meetings I have ever been a part of. We were able to just share a simple message of God loves us and He listens to our prayers, then we invited them to pray. As they did they were overcome with emotions and said they felt an overwhelming amount of peace and that they new that God was listening. I know for a fact God listens.
So many may ask me, "Why did you leave everything? Wasn't it hard to live your family? Don't you miss them? How could you possibly leave school? Is it even worth it?" My answer is, "Yes! It is worth it." If they ask why, I would happily say, "Because I promised my friends that I would come all around the world for a friend."
I know that this gospel and the message of the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ is real. It has changed me as a person. I hope and pray that I can continue to be that same friend that promised the people around him that he would help and love them. The mission is incredible, and it really is a trip around the world for a friend. I love you all so so much, I can't wait to be back with you, but I couldn't be happier that I left you for this short time.
Love,
Elder Carter
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From Ranes
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