Well it has been a while since I last did a full-out mass Email! I have really been having the time of my life being out here learning a lot and gaining a great perspective of the world. I have seen how Heavenly Father directs his work. He loves us so much. Heavenly father wants us to follow his commandments and serve others because he loves us like the scripture says "when we are in the service of our fellow beings we are only in the service of our God." When we serve others we are giving of ourselves and sacrificing our time and ourselves for knowledge and experience. When we serve God, we are helping ourselves. God wants us to be Happy and have peace and joy in this life. His commandments are there for this reason. When we follow them and follow him, he sees all things and knows what is best for us. Even when we think we know better, God has a plan for you.
Have faith in Jesus Christ and strive to serve others. Give of your time to others. When we give to others we receive a reward many times. Sometimes we may not even know we did. For example, sometimes we may receive a physical reward. You may have needed that physical item, but then don't need it after a while. That item can be given to someone else who needed it or you were placed in the circumstance to serve so that you could give that item to someone else. This same principle is with knowledge you gain from the expierience. You can share this with others.
One of the biggest things I learned this week is that God gives us trials and experiences not to become who WE want to be, but to become who we are. Also, success comes from within. We have gifts and abilities already. God gives us these experiences to use our talents and abilities for the better. Our talents and abilities allow us to become successful in our own way. When we seek to become or do the same things as someone else, we can never receive our full potential!
This week look to Heavenly Father. Ask him for help to see your abilities. As you begin to see what you can do (or if you know already certain skills etc even better ) try to apply them :)
Don't forget to serve others. This is when you will find yourself :) (Matt 25:16)
Love Elder Van Kammen
Below are pictures of this last week. One is of Elder Eto (my grandfather" in the mission. This means he trained my trainer. My trainer in mission terms is called my "dad" (since they are my first companion). He went back to Japan after finishing his two years in the mission. A picture of my fan with a hat on and the other is a picture of my companion.
Have faith in Jesus Christ and strive to serve others. Give of your time to others. When we give to others we receive a reward many times. Sometimes we may not even know we did. For example, sometimes we may receive a physical reward. You may have needed that physical item, but then don't need it after a while. That item can be given to someone else who needed it or you were placed in the circumstance to serve so that you could give that item to someone else. This same principle is with knowledge you gain from the expierience. You can share this with others.
One of the biggest things I learned this week is that God gives us trials and experiences not to become who WE want to be, but to become who we are. Also, success comes from within. We have gifts and abilities already. God gives us these experiences to use our talents and abilities for the better. Our talents and abilities allow us to become successful in our own way. When we seek to become or do the same things as someone else, we can never receive our full potential!
This week look to Heavenly Father. Ask him for help to see your abilities. As you begin to see what you can do (or if you know already certain skills etc even better ) try to apply them :)
Don't forget to serve others. This is when you will find yourself :) (Matt 25:16)
Love Elder Van Kammen
Below are pictures of this last week. One is of Elder Eto (my grandfather" in the mission. This means he trained my trainer. My trainer in mission terms is called my "dad" (since they are my first companion). He went back to Japan after finishing his two years in the mission. A picture of my fan with a hat on and the other is a picture of my companion.