The Saratov Approach

Yesterday, our entire mission was called to a last minute conference.
Our mission president had seen a new movie, and wanted all of his missionaries to see it as well. We were able to watch a brand new movie, that was just premiered called "The Saratov Approach."

This was a story of Two Elders, in 1998, who were called to be missionaries in Russia. In the middle of their service, they were kidnapped, and held hostage by two men.

These men, held them at ransom and asked the church and US to give them 300,000 dollars in return for their lives.

These two, young elders, were not expecting this experience in the least. Neither were they expecting to live when they found themselves in the situation.

The movie was very emotional for me, being a missionary myself.

These missionaries suffered all kind of pain. Physical, emotional, and spiritual. But throughout the entire thing, they remained faithful.

"God doesn't control what happens to us. We control our own actions."

They didn't expect to live. As they were preparing to depart for their death, One said to the other,
"How do you feel?"
"Calm."

The captor's heart was softened and in the midst of carrying out their murder, they were released and abandoned.

I learned so much from the movie. In a difficult and almost impossible situation, these missionaries made the most of what they could. They found love in their hearts, even for their captors. They read their scriptures, and prayed everyday. They prayed for their families. They prayed for those that held them hostage.

I am so touched by the examples of these two elders.
Even after their release, both boys wanted to continue serving and finish their mission.

Never ever give up. There is a plan for our lives. There is a plan for everybody.

I am so grateful for our Heavenly Father. All of us of Children of God. ALL OF US.

 

 

Lessons I have learned

Believe it or not...I was an extremely stubborn little girl.

My poor, sweet mother did everything she could each Sunday, to get all four of her children dressed up and in our Sunday best, for Church.

When I was about 6 years old, I was completely convinced that I could curl my own hair. I spent a good chunk of time trying to convince my own Mom that I was entirely able to do it.

After pestering my mom enough, she gave in, and let me do my own hair.

As I looked in the mirror, I clamped the curling iron down on a section of hair, and I twisted the curling iron up to create the ultimate curl. I did it just the way I had seen my Mom do it, hundreds of times.

When I decided that the iron was in for a sufficient amount of time, I started to twist the iron to unwind it from its clasp in my hair.

But being the idiotic and ignorant 6 year old that I was, the reflection of the mirror confused to me. I began to twist the iron UP towards my head, rather than DOWN away from my head.  

Within seconds I felt the singe of the iron against my scalp.

The more I twisted it, the more it burned.  

I began to panic and scream. My Mom came rushing to my aid. I went to church that Sunday with a giant burn on my forehead, and an Icepack firmly pressed to it. Not the most classy appearance.

As a result, I still have a small, almost unnoticeable, but present, bald spot in my hair.

This was a lesson, I would never forget.

I compare it to our Heavenly Father and us, and our almost, childlike view of our lives. At times, we think we know best. We think that we can do it on our own. And perhaps, one day we can. But in this life, we simply do not have a perfect view or understanding of our abilities. We are imperfect mortal beings, with an unclear view. But with the assistance of our Heavenly Father,  practice, and learning, we can grow to become more like him.

 

We simply cannot go through this world, this life, without the assistance of our Heavenly Father.

In the Book of Mormon, there is a scripture in Alma 26:12

“ I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in HIS strength I can do all things.”

Without God, we are literally nothing. But with God we can be EVERYTHING.

We have the potential to be like God, but until them, we have to rely on him.

My Mom knew that I could not sufficiently curl my own hair and have it look presentable. But I insisted on my independency. 
 
I learned this lesson the hard way with a curling iron and a bad burn. But I will always remember this lesson and what I learned from it. I needed the assistance of my Mom. I could not do it alone, yet. 

Unfortunately, sometimes we walk away from these learning experiences with a few scars….and maybe even a bald spot.