But are ya happy?

The end of Monday was the best thing that could ever happen to me. We had just gotten out of a teaching appointment with one of our friends of the church, and were starving. We had enough time to go into a bakery and grab something quick to then catch our bus. We get into this bakery and right as we're about to get a piece of bread, one of the ladies there approaches us and asks us if we knew about their happy hour special. Apparently after a certain hour, you can fill a medium sized bag with whatever bread you want... for only 4€! I was so happy. In that moment I knew God really does love me.

I've encountered moments on my mission where missionary work can appear to be burden, if chosen to look at it in that way. 3-4 hours of finding every day, hearing "ich habe kein Zeit," "ich habe kein Interesse dafür," and "Nein" on a daily basis, and being rained on and cold can break motivation and purpose faster than anything I can think of. And although some days are rougher than others, I've noticed that at the end of the day, I'm happy.

Regardless of whether you're a missionary or not, life throws obstacles your way. It's the nature of this life,  "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so,... righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad" (2 Nephi 2:11). We will always encounter rainy days, but the question we should be asking ourselves is, Am I happy? 

I read a general conference talk on this subject just the other day, and my eyes were opened just a little bit more to understand what happiness means. We are all in the persuit of happiness in one way or another. That could be through profession, education, or life. We believe that through these we are able to obtain happiness. What we fail to realize is that we could have a 'perfect life,' but still find ourselves without happiness. There are 2 points that Elder Jack H. Goaslind brought up that I really liked. He said that we look and look for happiness, yet we don't realize happiness is within us. He then said that if we are searching for happiness, we must lose ourselves in a noble cause.

Luke 9:24 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." I have experienced the most happiness on my mission. Sacrificing every thing I have to be where I am has ironically brought me the most happiness. Living the gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing it with others helps my happiness continue to grow. It is within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that all my doubts, fears, pains, scars, sadness, and emptiness have been taken away and replaced with love, grace, happiness, worth, and purpose.

I know the purpose of life is that we might have joy. And I know it is through Jesus Christ that we are able to feel that joy every day.

Liebe Grüße,

Sister Quintana 

P.s. A boy we were teaching in my last area was baptized this past weekend, and although I couldn't be there I could not feel any happier that he's come a step closer to God

 

Flensburg is beautiful!!!