First of all I want to thank all of you who have wished me a happy birthday! It is weird to think that I am no longer a teenager. Then again, I still think I'm 18 and new on mission with each new experience that comes.
This past year has been phenomenal in regards to how much has happened and the lessons that I have learned from it. In the last month we have seen many blessings, some miracles, and an abundance of divine guidance in our lives as well as in our work. I personally have seen hearts softened towards the Church as two new missionaries spoke a common language with someone we met. Previously, he would not let his wife come to the Church due to not knowing anything about it in addition to not wanting to change beliefs. However, as these new elders bore powerful testimony in French and Swahili, this man's countenance changes to gladness as they told him how our beliefs would not take away from what he knew but would actually add to it! We now are teaching them and they are excited about learning what we have to offer.
In my own life I have seen the hand of the Lord as my companions, Elder Abeka and Elder Corbridge, and I counsel together in how we can effectively do the will of the Lord. Just yesterday we had a companionship planning session and Elder Abeka was prompted to tell us what we could each do to improve our work and our lives. I was surprised as to how accurate it was and how it even confirmed my own feelings about what I needed to improve. This lead me to pinpoint my greatest weakness and to begin strengthening it. I'd like to share with you what that is.
In my own life I have allowed a subtle fear to guide decision making and action taking that has hindered me to some degree. That fear is that of being alone. I feel that this is a pretty common one that we all have. For myself I have always wanted to be like others and to be accepted by them. Sometimes it has meant holding back my opinion or it has withheld talents that I could have grown. At other points in my life it has come in the form of wanting to avoid alienation or contention through the topic of beliefs, whether they be religious or not. In Elder Abeka's counsel, he encouraged me to not fear and to do what my heart tells me to do. After all, that is how the Spirit speaks to us; through our hearts.
With this experience I want to invite you to take a look into your lives and see what is keeping you from being the best person you can be. If you are religious, turn to Christ and seek divine teaching through the Holy Spirit. As Christ teaches in the Book of Mormon, "If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humbles themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27) I do not yet know what will come this year, but I am excited to see what will come as I turn to Christ to make my weakness my strength. I hope and pray that each of you will be able to do the same.
I love you all and I hope you have a great month and an even better year!
-Elder O'Hagan
Photos courtesy of Elder Corbridge
Photos courtesy of Elder Corbridge
