3/23/2016 2 Comments Let It Shine!My Dear Family and Friends,
I would like to share a few thoughts with you that I have felt prompted to write. I am sure that by now you have all heard about the attacks here in my mission. I want you to know that despite the recent attacks, I know that this is exactly where I need to be. Faithfully serving the Lord and his people in their desperate time of need. I recall many of the things people said to me when I received my call to Paris, France. Most of them along the lines of..."Wow! You should enter the lottery!" or "What on Earth did you put on your papers to get sent there!?!" I would agree that being called to the Paris, France mission felt like I had won the lottery. It was a dream that I never dared to dream. If I had, any other mission call would have been utterly disappointing. Though, over the short 6 months that I have been out, I have realized... a mission call is not a matter of winning or losing the lottery. Though some may seem more lottery worthy than others. Each area is different, with different challenges, and different perks. Though all things considered, we have the same mission: To Invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Making the decision to serve a mission wasn't an easy one. I haven't lived very many years, but, It was the toughest decision I have made in the 19 and a half years that I have been on this Earth. I knew that as soon as I made the decision to serve a mission, I would be giving my whole heart and will to The Lord for the next 18 months of my life. Going home was never an option. If I chose to go, it meant, I was choosing to stay. The Lord doesn't send us out here for us to decide that it is "too hard", pack our bags, and go home. Of course it's hard. It is no secret that missions are a challenge. I also knew that in making the decision to serve, I would have to trust in the Lord enough to know that wherever he sent me was exactly where he needed me. I trust in the Lord with my whole being. I know he protects his missionaries. We can feel his protecting power. That doesn't mean that bad things don't happen. As you may have heard, 3 missionaries were seriously injured in the attacks... So how can we say the Lord protects his missionaries when things like this happen? One of the hospitalized missionaries is a good friend of mine. When we received the update on him, it was that, his body is covered with awful burns and his legs filled with shrapnel. Yet, the thing that he said to tell us was that he was determined to finish out his mission. Many might wonder why on Earth he wouldn't just go home after all he had been through; they simply don't understand the mighty cause for which we are serving. I admire this elder because even through the pain he must be in, he understands that burns to our physical body, no matter how awful, are nothing compared to the spiritual burns that are caused by the bombs going on around us every single day. We were already at war. It is my testimony to you that Christ is the light and life of the world and that he, Our Lord and Savior, is our only source of healing and protection. Without him, we cannot be healed from our spiritual burns and we cannot be protected from Satan's threats. "Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up--that which ye have seen me do..." (3 Nephi 18:24) Through these dark times, we have the power to hold up our lights so that they might shine unto the world and dispel the darkness. We have the light for which these people are searching..."Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." (3 Nephi 12:16) My wish is that you will make the decision to always hold up your light. Because no matter how dark the world gets, we do not have to live in darkness. This is my testimony to you in the name of our Savior--our light--Jesus Christ. Amen. Love, Sister Tracie Laina Wyson
2 Comments
David Camp
3/23/2016 02:36:07 pm
Tracie,
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Dana Griffin
3/24/2016 07:10:17 am
Sister Wyson, my daughter speaks French and is planning to serve a mission 8 months from now. I have been so worried about her call since these attacks. Thank you for sharing your testimony. Your peace has given me peace. Bless you and your whole mission in your effort to spread the beautiful message of love and peace through our savior Jesus Christ!
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Tracie WysonI feel very honored to have had the opportunity to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the France, Paris Mission. Archives
April 2017
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