Keepin It Real In McAllen: The Kids Aren't Alright

where to begin..
had an exchange in Sinton.
got crazy bashed by this man at walmart with his friend. the things they said were just so awful and ive never heard or seen anything like it. i know is this church is true and everything i represent. even Jesus Christ himself. we've been going hard on genealogy. its been a blast i want to do it all day.
Everything ive been hearing or seeing lately is all about fortifying families and just how to make them spiritually strong. family council is very important, idk my eyes are opening to a lot of things since ive been out here. like i actually understand what a blessing is now. crazy right. children are the future and its important to teach them early on the principals in the church, like tithing. using the scriptures to teach. pray for things that are in Gods will, dont be afraid to be scolded. remember the lord chastens those he loves. This life can be hard but we know who is going to win this battle in the end and we know where we can go after this life? so whats it going to be? sin, laziness and sadness or exaltation? with effort the outcome can be far greater than we can imagine. we always meet people that are sad and lie about it and say they are good. they are just pushing through mud thats up to their neck. they say "well i dont want to burden anyone, i know what i need to do. read, pray and go to church" wow you say it so easily but yet its so hard for you to do. we are to help one another and most of all the Lord is there too. (mosiah 24:13-15) having an eternal perspective has helped me greatly on my mission so far. I KNOW it will change your life. if you just remember there is something far more greater and wonderful that we are working towards. humble yourself before the Lord. the gospel has forever change my life and continues to change it. my heart is full and im hungry for more as the days go on. "it beginneth to be delicious to me" Alma 32:28 idk my world changes a little more each day. we went to the aquarium yesterday in corpus and that was awesome!! so sick!! alsooo last night we came across the sisters about 3 blocks from the house on our way home and they were on bikes and we were walking and we decided to race them! well yesterday marked the first for something in my life, we were just a fence away from home and my compa run up and hopped over, and i was right behind him but as i put my legs over, my pants ripped..:| but we won! so thats all that matters haha. theres been a quote that has been helping me a lot.
"do or do not, there is no try." - Yoda
idk man all i know is true peace is possible, dont lose faith and just have fun. I probably sound crazy but hey thats okay i guess. also brother muhammad is getting sealed next saturday!!:) there was this cool story shared with me and i want to share it with you guys.

The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet

I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets

A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise? It seems like just a second ago, I was able to shut my eyes The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such When it’s time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven’t accomplished much

“We have a super day planned,”My comp. says with a grin lowly utter a faithless breath,“Yeah, if anyone lets us in.”

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street prepared to Face another day of humidity and heatIt’s 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through My champion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate “air Box ”We go up to our apartment, the day is now completeThe only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It’s past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weepIn the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray I need to talk to father, but I’m not sure what to say

“Oh, Father” I begin, “What happened to us today? I thought we’d teach somebody, but everyone was away My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat;If our area was any smaller, we’d have knocked every street”

“Why on missions are the days so much alike?The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it’s very hard to see”

“Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn’t your protection enough? People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back”

“And what about my family: They don’t have much to say I’m sick of not hearing from home day after day after dayOh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time? Sometimes I just want to go home, I’m sorry but that’s on my mind”

“My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?”The way he rides his bicycle, I don’t think he can see Now you have it, I can’t go on, I don’t know what to do That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you”

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead Sleep start to overtake me, I seem to drift away Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I’m standing alone on the hill. The view is very niceA man walks towards me and says, “My name is Jesus Christ”Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet“Arise,” He states, “Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak”

My attention’s towards my Savior, total and completeHe says, “Your mission is similar of what happened to meI understand how you feel, I know what you’re going throughIn fact, it would be fair to say I’ve felt the same as you”

“I even know how you felt when no one listened to youAt times I felt not quite sure what else I could doI know you don’t like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweetJust remember the donkey I rode wasn’t equipped with 21 speeds”

“I understand you don’t like sweating, in fact it’s something you hateI remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!I see you don’t like your companion- you’d rather have someone else-I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth”

“It’s hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of youI remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the JewsSo you feel burdened down by the weight of your packI recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back”

“Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all dayI guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar wayIt’s hard not to hear from home when your family’s not there to seeI lost communication on the cross and cried, “Father, why hast Thou forsaken me?”

“We have a lot in common, but there’s a difference between us you seeI endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me”He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His loveWith tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my headI listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed My companion let out a groan, “6:30 already, no way!”I sat up and said, “Come on, I’ll even carry your scriptures today!”

No matter what we go through,When we feel we can’t take moreJust stop and think of Jesus Christ,He has been there before

i love you guys, thanks for all the encouragement and support. i honestly cant believe that im on a mission. its a blessing to be here.