Chinatown & Charity

  

Chinatown & Charity


We went to Chinatown and ate Chinese food. What a life right? 

On Preparation day we also went to the Botanical Gardens on the mall and took some pretty swe(awkward)et pics. There was a man on the metro singing "I Need Thee Every Hour" to everyone. It was kinda sad because nobody was even phased.  They just kept scrolling through their phones. It was pretty darn great though.

Tuesday afternoon we taught our Zone about Accountability. I think it went well but then again you'll have to ask the Zone.  Not me. I think it's funny the things you have to do to get people to participate in a lesson. Why can't everyone just share their stinkin ideas! That's what brains are for. Not that they didn't... but I was just thinking about that the other day. Anyways.

We went on Exchange number #one with Sister Kennedy and Malufau. I went to Kingstown with Sister Kennedy. She's pretty awesome. She lived in St George for a while and knows everybody there. She is cousins to the Cummings boys that I went to high school with and cousins with Carter Taysom who always hung out with Spence. AND she hung out with Elder Tanner Day, who is one of Spencer's mission friends in Indiana. So we took a couple selfies to send to all of them... and others. It was fun reminiscing with her. She's pretty darn cool.

We have been teaching a lot of less active, recent converts and part member families. It's nice because we went through our Ward list and are visiting everyone we don't know. So it's changed up our schedule quite a bit but we have enjoyed it a lot. We have some busy weeks ahead of us. Plus this next week is TRANSFERS. I'm pretty sure Sister Eddy and I are both staying here. We are praying for that anyhow. It is her last transfer so I don't think either of us will leave. I CAN'T BELIEVE SHE GOES HOME IN SIX WEEKS. We are still going to the transfer meeting though because we are Sister Training Leaders. Woop woop. Props. 

We went on another exchange with Sister Hill and Sister Dallon. I went to Alexandria with Sister Hill. We all went and ate at this most amazing place ever called la Madeleine. It's delicious and there is free bread and jam so I died and went to heaven. Love love love. We have to go there when we come back out here.

It's been freezing cold here because the wind is blowing like "60 mph" Apparently and the wind gets YA. We are hoping March will start to warm up a little bit and start off spring. I'm excited because then I can send all my winter clothes home. 

And shave my legs again.
Hey.

I've been having some pretty wild dreams lately. I don't know why. But it's lame because dreams actually take an immense toll on me throughout my day. I JUST WANT TO SLEEP. For Valentines we made these cute decoration things to hang out on investigators doors. We also began a weekly newsletter that we are sending to our Sisters by mail about Mlc, Mlc Phone calls and etc. It is pretty stinkin' awesome.

Plus, everyone loves mail. I don't think I have much to say. I feel like I haven't been on my area all week because of the double exchange thing. But I'm alive and well and excited for winter to end :)

Dad shared a very interesting perspective on charity with me the past two weeks so I think he's pretty obsessed with it. But I've been sharing it with sisters on exchanges and I had a dream that I shared it with a class of students and everybody was like "ohhhhh dannnggg wassuppp" in a good way so I think I'll just go ahead and uh share it with all y'all bloggies.

Especially because VALENTINES
was Saturday
So here's a late valentine schpeel 
About love.

We seem drawn to those that are like us.

People who have similar styles, beliefs, likes, interests and etc. right? We hang around and befriend those who are like ourselves. In the scriptures it says...

 ..For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence, wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth, virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth his course and claimeth its own." Even the best attributes we can gain seem to seek their own. Like things attract like things.

Except for love (charity)

Charity seeketh NOT her own
(1 Corinthians 13 / Moroni 7)


Charity, is the pure love of Christ. And charity doesn't seek her own like other attributes do. True love, or charity, doesn't only love those who love them back. Charity loves all.

It's easy to be nice to someone who is nice to you.
It's easy to to show mercy on someone who is merciful to you.
It's easy to share wisdom with someone who shares wisdom with you.
And vise versa
It's easy to be mean to someone who is mean to you.
It's easy to discourage someone who discourages you.
It's easy to dislike someone who dislikes you.

Like things attract like things.

It's super easy to replicate what people do to us, back to them. But true love, is Christlike love, which is charity. Christ loved everyone, even those who disliked, discouraged and were absolutely terrible to him. He loved them anyway. 

Real love not only loves those who love them back, real love loves all.


Sometimes in life we will be put into situations where we have to face this predicament. You know, loving somebody who is not exactly easy to love. Where we have to show charity no matter how we are being treated or how we may feel. Because charity seeketh not her own. It's easy to love those who love us back. But the real lesson is learned, and we truly gain charity when we love somebody who has absolutely nothing in common with and who may not show that love in return.

"If you really want to know what love is, and if you have Christlike Love (Charity), God will allow you to be placed in those places where your true feelings can be tested. Even the most extreme acts of service will profit us little unless that service is motivated by the pure love of God.  If our service is to be of most worth, it must be out of love for God and His children. No matter which child it is.  Charity seeketh not her own." (Dad)

In second grade, I remember there was this specific girl I would always see around my elementary school. For privacy reasons we will call her Annie. (although this is not her real name) Annie was nothing like me. In fact I didn't really know Annie's story but I imagined it was a bit more difficult than my own at the time. We were both eight years old, so pretty young children.

I don't think Annie knew who I was but I knew who she was. She had raggedy long black hair and a white face. She always looked tired, and sad. And she was always alone. At recess time all the kids would go run around and play. Everyone had friends. Except for Annie. She would go sit on the jungle gym and want to get involved but kids would run past her, look at her and run away. Nobody talked to Annie. And as most eight year old kids are, they didn't quite notice how sad and lonely she was, or recognize how she felt.

Annie also had a speech impediment. She was always being pulled out of class to go to speech therapy or something. She was always super embarrassed by it. But what do you do? Because she was embarrassed she didn't talk. Ever. Which made it all the more difficult to make friends.

One day my friend that I hung out with at recess recognized this. And we talked about it. We watched as Annie sat on the playground alone as all the other kids played freeze tag. They paid no attention to Annie. My friend, as awesome and courageous as she was decided "Hey! We should ask Annie to play tag with us and see what she says!" So she did! She marched right up to Annie and said "hey! Wanna play freeze tag with us?"

I have literally never forgotten her reaction. Nor the look on her face. 

I honestly think for that whole school year, and maybe years previous, 
NOBODY
EVER
talked to Annie.

And why would they right? Because like things attract like things. Annie didn't wear the trendy neon colors that all the other girls wore. She didn't talk and scream and giggle like all the other eight year old girls. She was incredibly shy and sad and lonely, and nobody else in our class felt that way. They were simply different. So what attracted my friend to her? They were different people all around.

The one thing that drew my friend to talk to her was charity. Or Christlike love. Because charity seeketh not her own. She recognized Annie was lonely, and wanted to help. She recognized how she felt and wanted to share her love with Annie.

And when she did, Annie looked up, shocked! And SMILED. and not only did she smile but she SAID yes! She actually talked, despite the fact that she was shy and embarrassed and had struggles speaking. And that smile, despite the fact she was terribly sad and lonely.

As I watched this all play out I felt something different in side of me. That night I went home and I laid in bed. I could not fall asleep because the only image in my mind was Annie's smile that day at recess. And it's stuck with me ever since. I'll never forget Annie.


Looking back on my mission I've realized I've met lots of people that I've had little to nothing in common with. Even people I've lived with and companions I've had. And sometimes it was not easy to get along with them. And sometimes I did a terrible job at showing charity! But in order to know what true love is... that is what we must strive to do.

To be a disciple of Christ, we should be striving to become like Christ.

And charity is the catalyst of all Christlike attributes. So try to show a bit more love today. Try to become a bit more charitable. Charity not only blesses yourself but those around you. Because yes... like things attract like things, but charity seeketh not her own.  


I love you guys!
Sister Madison Stucki
Sent from my iPad

It's not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves...

Merry Christmas - Call home.

#spoiled



so long burkians.

oh yeah guys we found sister Sydney wathen at the DC VC
dhhs sistas.



#CATLADY shout out to @madiwoahh

(we are the cat ladies)

(but not really)

(but the door signifies so)



Christmas caroling

hi Christmas

todds camera does cool things



in action.

2013Christmas Card

THE DC VC



HEY GUYS

I know there are a lot of readers of this blog from all walks of life and different backgrounds with different stories. If you have a particular topic or subject or question or interest you would like to read more about, shoot me an email at

madison.stucki@myldsmail.net

I would love to elaborate on the matter. I have gotten several emails about
WHY I DECIDED TO SERVE (type of questions)
I will share that story and post it in two weeks from today(ish). If you have any further questions or ideas arise shoot me an email and I will get on it.

As for this week,
Holy. Shnikey.
We got spoiled.

I'll give you the rundown because I know you all wanna know what the missionaries did for Christmas. ;)

Monday:
We went on a mini exchange with the Sisters. In the apartment complex we live in.  There are six of us English Sisters. The YSA Ward Sister Training Leaders, Us and Rolling Valley. We all met up at Target and switched companions so we could buy a gift for our current companion. We had a time limit and a budget. It was fun. Besides the fact that I had a manic coughing fit. THIS COLD. We also bought white elephant gifts for our District. Monday night we went to the DC temple with a family in the ward. We were supposed to have four investigators meet us there. But there was a crazy bad wreck on 495 so they turned around and went home. BUT since we were already there we watched the show. It was Todd Thatcher performing.  His family lived in my first area. So I got to see the Thatcher family and give them all hugs which was a fun time. It took us forever to drive home.

Tuesday:
District meeting. During District meeting we played a white elephant game and exchanged gifts. We also had a Facebook training that morning which was neat. For District meeting we all meet up at a church building as a zone. So there was probably about thirty plus missionaries gathered to have a meeting. Tuesday evening we went BACK up to the Washington DC Temple lights and watched another performance. It was a saxophone quartet. We went with another family in the ward and W. it was fun. The visitor center at the DC temple is so high tech. There are iPads and touch screen tv’s everywhere and its huge. They have a really cool Nativity display with over 90 different nativities from different countries. And Christmas trees everywhere. Then you go down to this huge auditorium and watch live performances. Outside you can see the temple and over 900 thousand Christmas lights.  It’s pretty. W. enjoyed it. On our way home he gave us these really kind Christmas cards.

Wednesday:
Christmas Eve! We went to lunch with the G. family. They took us to this authentic Latin American restaurant and had us try a little bit of everything. We had papusas, which is this popular El Salvador food that looks like a pancake but has cheese and sometimes pork in it with salsa. Yuka, which is a root of some sort, it looks and tastes like a giant, tough French fry with ultra spicy ranch or something. Plantanes, which is this fruit that looks like a giant banana cooked with those Spanish homemade runny beans on it. And then this other dish......which had all kinds of sea food I don't know what to describe it as. And horchatas.

FELIZ NAVIDAD AMIGOS. WELCOME TO THE DISTRICT of COLUMBIA

We went to a couple different members homes for treats, gifts and dinner.  Then we went Christmas caroling with our District. After that the Sisters met up at the Sister training leaders apartment and ate pizza, opened a present and reenacted the Nativity which was great.

Thursday:
CHRISTMAS DAY. We had a Sisters breakfast at our apartment.  It was cute. We opened presents, showered, wrote thank you cards, skyped home, ate at the G.'s home.  We played catch phrase with their family. Watched He is the Gift.  Went to a different church and socialized and fed homeless people for the rest of the night. It was quite the epic day.

thanks to the membs for the overlarge contribution of fruit.

notice how all they eat is bacon and cin. rolls.

the struggle

The rest of the weekend was average. Except we did have a Mission conference on Friday and we found out who the New Mission President is going to be! President David (and his wife Michelle) Huntsman. Like the guy who ran for Presidents brother. He comes in June. I actually leave the same transfer the Riggs do. So I won't have him for a Mission President but he sounds like a boss!

Things are pretty much back to the way they were before now.  The Holidays are dispersing.


...well....yeah...PRETTY much.

This next week is New Years! And with New Years comes NEW Resolutions. RIGHT? Remember when we would set New Years goals in elementary school? Do people still do that? I believe setting goals is important.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS HAVE A BIG, HAIRY, AUDACIOUS GOAL. AND BELIEVE IN THAT GOAL. AND IN THE FACT THAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE THAT GOAL. -Jack Canfield


My companion said that was a gross quote. But a quote is a quote and that's all I have to work with so excuse the hairy part. Srry. Not srry. Blame Jack.

What's the point of a goal?

I don't think I did much goal setting back at home. But I have learned if you don't have a goal to work for you are just air balling it in any direction. Even if you don't end up accomplishing your goal, its better to be working towards something rather than nothing. If life takes you a different direction, so be it. I found a quote in a little book a friend sent me for Christmas by Earl Nightingale that fits perfectly, he says

"all you have to do is know where you are going. .

The answers will come to you of their own accord." 

So even you FREE SPIRIT HIPPIES can set goals and still be a free spirit. It's good to always have a plan formulated, to constantly be striving for something. To constantly be changing and improving.

So my conclusion is the reason to set goals, is to improve upon,
To NOT become a fence sitter.
To drop being 'mediocre'
To shoot for the stars!
To have a plan or idea
To try a little harder, to be a little better
To push ourselves, to stretch ourselves
And to experience and accomplish things we otherwise might not have thought we could accomplish beforehand.

At the Mission Conference this weekend, President Riggs was talking about "Becoming." Our ultimate 'goal' is to become more like our Savior, and to return to live with God. He shared this quote about a young man who wished to Receive his fathers inheritance. His father wanted to give him all that he had too. Not only his possessions but his stance, and what he had become. And he read a quote that stuck out to me, it was the father saying..

"What I have I can easily give you. 

What I am you must acquire for yourself."

It's very fitting in the context of our Heavenly Father. He can easily bless us with whatever he wants whether it be riches or our burdens lifted or whatever. But who we are, what we become here, what we do with the blessings we have been given is up to us. We acquire and choose the type of person we eventually become. This also relates back to goal setting because "Becoming" happens one step at a time. One goal at a time.

Preach My Gospel says:
"Goals reflect the desires of our hearts and our vision of what we can accomplish. Through goals and plans our hopes are transformed into action. Do everything you can within your power to achieve your goals while respecting others. The ultimate measure of success is not in achieving your goals alone. It is in the service you render and the progress you make."

Or as sir Edmund Hillary puts it
"It's not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves."

goals = to change, to progress, to become.
It's not necessarily the fact that we can check a box on our goal list and say we did it, but it's what we have incorporated into our life and the experiences that came along with it.
It's about conquering ourselves
Not just the mountain.

I have lots of goals for twenty fifteen believe me. Something tells me this year is going to be a year I won't ever forget. Lots of CHANGE but also lots of progression and learning experiences and beautiful memories. I'm ecstatic for what 2015 will bring! Last year at the beginning of 2014 and beginning of my mission, Sister Riggs gave a talk about having a one word goal. Meaning you pick one word you want to become. Rather than having a million things you want to try and change and improve on, to just pick one and really focus on it. Last year I chose the word

Discipline

I knew 2014 would be the bulk of my mission.  The full year that I would be out here serving. Before I came out and when I first became a missionary I felt discipline was something I struggled with. In every aspect I didn't like to be disciplined or particularly understand the purpose of it. But as I was listening to Sister Riggs one word talk this specific word kept popping into my head.

The definition of discipline that I liked the most was
"activity or experience that provides mental and physical training;
of the mind and body to produce obedience and self control."

or in other words, President Riggs defines discipline as
"doing what you don't want to do, when you don't want to do it, because you know you should."

and that is something I struggled with.
example a: My alarm clock goes off in the morning. Do I get out of bed? Or hit snooze?
example b: I need to workout because I'm gaining weight. Do I sit there and think about it? Or do I do it?
example c: Grandma sends me twelve boxes of double stuff oreos. Do I stow them away and eat them all myself? Or leave them on the table where my companion will eat them and get fat rather than me?

DISCIPLINE
Among many other things there are some favorable examples I will claim. Over the past year I hung a big quote above my desk reminding me to be Disciplined. In my thoughts, actions, daily routine, schedule, performance, tasks, teaching, time, passions etc. It's something I have really strived for this entire year.
AND it has really worked.
Picking ONE thing to focus on, one thing to apply to MY life daily.

DISCLAIMER:
I am not perfect at Discipline. I still slip up and I still get lazy. I'm not perfect at anything. BUT I have gotten better. It is something I have learned and will keep with me for the rest of my life.  The power behind being disciplined. The amount of work you can get done if you are disciplined. The kinds of success you will have. in life, as a missionary, whatever it may be.

For more about discipline click here


But because I liked the idea so much I decided to use this one word Goal Challenge again this year.
This year my word is:
CHARITY.
You probably read my last post on charity two weeks ago, and the importance of it. That is what I have decided to take on this year. I have been so caught up in being disciplined I think it has had a reverse effect on me slowing down, chilling out, smelling the roses, and loving life. and others.

I have always been fast paced.

You know the kid in kindergarten who takes their coloring page and scribbles all over the entire paper in 35 seconds then slams the crayon on the table and proclaims BOOM DONE. While all the other five year old children are learning to color inside the lines. Ya. That was me.

I like things done quickly and promptly. My life has always become a big task list where I'm continuously adding more checks and more check boxes. I've always felt I needed to be accomplishing something to be successful. Lately I have felt the need to slow down and experience things... Rather than simply accomplishing them. And truly loving and enjoying it along the way.

President Riggs also read a quote about Charity at the Conference. He said,

"the reason charity never fails, is because charity is not a single act, it is a state of being... 

a succession. something one becomes."

So in order to work on CHARITY this year.  I am gonna be toning it down a notch. Slowing down. Living and loving and enjoying the beauty around me. To not just Conquer a mountain by doing something charitable.  Rather my aim is to Conquer myself and BECOME a charitable person. To reach that state of being, or living, where charity is what I truly believe and live by.

Don't expect this to happen in a week. This is a year goal. Maybe a five year goal. SUCCESSION #chill

AND
With that I challenge you to find your own one word goal to improve on this year. Evaluate your life. Organize your priorities. Find something you can change and improve on. Don't worry about the impossible mountains to be conquered because that's besides the point.

It's not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves.
~Sir Edmund Hillary


As for next week, my Dad will be posting a little something about priorities, responsibilities and life lessons. So stay tuned for that.  You will hear from me in two! (weeks) If you have any preferences on what more you would like to read about on this blog.  Shoot me an email and I'll get back to ya!



love you!

Happy New Year
*horns & whistles*




s. stucki

Sent from my iPad

(12/29/2014)

Charity Never #FAIL(eth)

theuplift//reward//jerichoroad//charity

Mission Christmas Dinner

I ran into all my Manassas Friends at the Washington DC Temple Visitors

Sunday afternoon:
We waited in the parking lot for another set of missionaries we needed to take home. As I sat in the car I watched out the window as the YSA Ward was beginning to gather together for their Sunday meetings. Lots of people, from lots of different places all walking into the church building. And then I saw F.  In church pants with a button up shirt, a sweater, and a tie around his neck. Happy as ever. Chatting along with other YSA members, with new found
friends. He had his phone out, as always. Same old F. But here. I nearly jumped out of my seat.

We greeted, just small talk. I couldn't help but think only a year ago we were shoveling snow out of a dreary winter blizzard hit apartment complex. Digging F's car out of the snow. When he asked us who we were he had no idea what we were about. Months and months of
lessons and cookies and knocking on his door after his graveyard shift to wake him up for church. Teaching him how to tie a tie. Devotionals, Conferences. Teaching him what Cafe Rio was. General conference at the B's House. The day we sat in the clubhouse behind the VRE train and he told us he wanted to be baptized.

...And almost a year later, we just run into each other at the YSA Ward church building. And we have a nice conversation, cut short because he had to "get to church on time."  
But what better reason to cut a conversation short?


Tuesday evening:
At the Temple Lights walking through a room full of Nativity's. I turned around and saw a familiar face. A youth member from my very first ward and area in Manassas. Only to be followed by another familiar Manassas face. And then another's.  Soon I realized the entire youth group from my first ward family was piling into the Washington, D.C. Temple visitors center.  Bundled up in winter coats. It only took seconds before the hugs exploded. Families who took us in during Christmas, Valentines and New Year's Eve. Countless hours of service, and church and Preparation day activities. Lessons and exchanges. Smiles and tears. All these wonderful memories of my first five months in the mission field came flooding into the room. "Hello Sister Stucki's!" Followed by pictures and hand shakes and hugs and high fives.

And then Sister Schramm. Who taught me so much. How to be a missionary. How to be confident.  She showed me the ropes and set the bar high. So many laughs and learning experiences. 
All came rushing back.

I logged onto Facebook and received a message from D. My ASL friend. Several silly pictures of the new deaf branch ward president and his son goofing around at the church in Silver Springs. D. finally began attending the ASL branch and blessing the lives there after his baptism a few short months ago. I couldn't hold a smile back as I saw him there at church learning and growing and fellow shipping. Even without the missionaries texting him MEOWS! (Inside joke sorry) to come to church. It is just a lifestyle now. 
It is part of him. And he loves it.

We visited Cafe Rio Wednesday evening with a lady and introduced her to K.  Who works at Cafe Rio. Who this past summer ran up to the missionaries asking "How do I become a missionary? You're all so happy!" Months later, she was baptized. As she found truth and answers to her questions and concerns. Nothing better than seeing her smiling face + delicious sweet pork salads. Getting to converse about Christmas festivities and celebrating the birth of Christ. 
Seeing a glow in her eyes and she told us about simply... Life.:)

Friday evening:
I got a phone call... some sisters in Arlington ran into N. & N. two girls I was great friends with in Manassas. They asked to have the lessons again. They were living with there mom again and wanted to be baptized. They remembered vividly all the many lessons Sister Schramm and I had taught them nearly a year ago. I remember when they knew very little about the love that God had for them individually.  
Their worth as a Daughter of God, and Christ's for them.

Yesterday D. messaged me on Facebook telling me he set a baptism date for this month. Almost six months ago we started chatting on Facebook. Then Skyping. Talking about the goodness of God in our lives. I remember him taking notes, his pencil flying at hundred mile speeds trying to take in all the inspiration he was receiving. Months later missionaries in his area down south were able to begin teaching him the discussions. What a joy it was to see not only his face via Skype but two elders in white shirts and ties sitting on his couch. 
And now here he is.

These are the rewards of our service as missionaries.

 
We don't get paid, or ranked higher or glorified. It's not about the activities or the decorations or the clothes or the name tag. It's not even the "east coast experience" or the games or the sights I get to see. The reward doesn't lie in the adventures of traveling the east coast and Virginia. 

The reward is so much greater 

than any worldly form of payment or recognition.

It's the friendships built, the lives changed.

This blog doesn't do the work any justice at all. You see the fun pictures and read the silly stories. But I can't clearly relate to you the experiences I've had as a missionary. Not even a percentage of them. I don't want any young Sister, or soon to be Elder, or Missionary Mom, or any other reader to be fooled that this is a butterflies and rainbows experience where we come and we enjoy 1.5-2 years having a "Good Time" because it's not that at all. 
If that's the impression this blog leaves I've failed to explain my call correctly. I suppose service as a missionary isn't something I can describe in a blogpost. Or any post. Or speech. Or journal entry of any magnitude.

I think it's one of those, "you have to feel it to explain it" types of things.

But... the reward of serving as a missionary is so great.

Growing to love people so much they become family.
In such a short amount of time. People who I would never have known. People who I never may have crossed paths with. Become friends. Laugh together, cry together. 
We grow together, we change together.

I can't say I'll miss the cold or the snow, or even the trees. I won't miss the traffic or the big city or the lights or the smells. There are lots of things that don't particularly interest me about the east coast, or things I don't quite fit into. My home will always be home and Virginia doesn't even begin to compare the home I have waiting for me in six months.

But a piece of my heart is already stuck here.

A part of who I am, and who I've become.

It's stuck with the people here. The experiences here. The memories here.

Home is Who I am.
But this is where I've truly become...
Someone a little bit better
Something a little more

When I look back on this year, I think Virginia will be a bit more difficult to let go of then I originally anticipated.

I read a book once that said something to the effect of how giving your whole heart, truly loving, only sets you at risk for becoming broken hearted.

But that's the risk we take when we love. We take the risk of a broken heart. 

But if we don't take the risk we will never love. And what's a life without loving?

I wish I could remember the reference. Probably The Great Gatsby. Or Farewell to Arms. Some classic novel I read at some point. Anyway. I think that's the Ultimate Reward.
Learning to love, so much.

So that's what I wanna tell y'all today.
I wanna spread some love.
WHAT DO U KNOW ABOUT LOVE?

....

CHARITY
Is the highest, noblest and strongest kind of LOVE.

Charity never faileth.
If we have ALL other characteristics, but not charity, we are nothing.
Charity is the MOTIVE BEHIND good
Charity is the pure love of Christ.

This is something we each need to be constantly striving to improve,
acquire and understand. Charity.

"Charity suffereth long,

and is kind,

and envieth not,

and is not puffed up,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil,

and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth,

beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things.

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are

nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity,

which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail--

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; 
and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, 
it shall be well with him."

Moroni 7:45-47

After reading that verse of scripture and rating myself on a one to
ten scale at how good I am of showing charity, I realized...


I fail.


It's come to my attention that I'm the least loving person on the planet.
K. maybe not on the planet.
But considering the fact I need a New goal for 2015....
I took this //constructive// criticism as a challenge.
#haters

Now hear me out!
Everyone's gotta struggle with something.
So there ya go
I struggle with Christlike love towards all people
It's easy to love those that love you
But not everyone.
Or those who annoy you
Or antagonize you
Or are rude and obnoxious or don't have social skills
It's my biggest downfall sometimes.
Something I want to improve on

Now don't get all giddy like you're the best at Christlike love and charity and you just one upped me on this one, because chances are you probably (fail) "aren't perfect" at it too my friend. JUST SAYING. #humilitycheck

The pure love of Christ literally is the definition of Charity. Christ showed charity and love toward all men, no matter the circumstance. And he meant it too, he really loved the people, all people. He didn't just put up a front, that's who he was.

No matter what front we put up on the outside people respond to what we are feeling. Are we really charitable people? Are we REALLY full of Christlike love, towards everyone?


This is a difficult task. I realize. In order to gain charity we must constantly be striving for it. Praying for it. Practicing patience, forgiveness, service and love. Being selfless... We have to get out of our box. To not see ourselves as the victim. To not see others problems or needs less significant than our own. To Regard people as a person with feelings, cares, dreams,
desires, struggles. Not just an object. Regarding people as problems or objects is distorted. We truly have to get out of our box.

We can't change other people.  We can only change ourselves.
By getting out of our box.

This isn't particularly easy. Maybe it's easy to talk about. Or to do in specific circumstances. Like when you actually enjoy the person you're being charitable towards. But we weren't commanded to pick and choose when we will show charity and who we will show charity towards. Rather we were asked to be so full of charity and Christlike love that it flows out upon all who we meet. Even those who may have caused conflict in our life, or those we are not particularly fond of. This is definitely something I'm still learning.

But learning is the key right?

The more I learn about Charity the more I realize I have to work on. This entire past year my goal was to become DISCIPLINED. I worked really hard on being more disciplined. In 2015 my word, or my goal is CHARITY. My goal is to gain a more Christlike love for those around me. To become a person full of charity and love. And believe me this is a task! But it's all about that constant improvement right?

Christ was constantly teaching us to love more fully. And I thought I did pretty good at that. I mean I loved my family. I loved (some of) my friends. I loved my car.. .. ......... But hold up. Charity isn't just about picking and choosing what or whom you love.

"Charity suffereth long,

and is kind,

and envieth not,

and is not puffed up,

seeketh not her own,

is not easily provoked,

thinketh no evil,

and rejoiceth not in iniquity 

but rejoiceth in the truth,

beareth all things,

believeth all things,

hopeth all things,

endureth all things."

I'M AWFUL AT THAT.
For starters, 
I'm the most easily provoked human on the planet. 
You could say
A N Y T H I N G
to me and I will find a way to argue it. 
My goodness, that's not charity. 
Or love.
*not to mention all else on that list*

You know quite frankly, I believe we all have some sort of charity item to work on. But this New Year my word and my goal is CHARITY. To learn to love more fully. I think this is something we can each work on.  I personally challenge each of you to find a way to be more
charitable. Especially this Christmas Season where we are being constantly reminded of Christ's love. And especially in situations where it's most difficult to show charity towards someone / something.

One of my favorite examples of this is the Good Samaritan.

 Who was he?

"And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, 

and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, 

and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he

saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on

him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when

he saw him, he had compassion on him,

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and

set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of

him.

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave

them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever

thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that

fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him,

Go, and do thou likewise." -Luke 10:30-37

The good Samaritan had zero obligation to help the man lying on the roadside.
He had a life and needs too.
However
He put someone else's needs above his own,
It's our choice to act this way
Who needs you?


Each of us in our journey through mortality will travel our own Jericho road. 
What will be your experience? 
What will be mine? 
Will I fail to notice him who has fallen and requires my help? 
Will you? 
Will I be the one who sees the injured, hears his plea yet crosses to the other side? 
Will you? 
Or will I be the one who sees, hears, pauses and helps?.....
Will you?" 
-Thomas S Monson


This story is a parable.
It's not directly referring to helping people who have been mugged and are laying on the dirty roadside, beaten and bruised. Rather metaphorically speaking... Who do you know that is in need of help? Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually? Who is struggling? Who
needs a friend? How many times have you passed by the lonely kid between the lockers in middle school? How many times have you seen the kid being laughed at and made fun of at high school? How many times have you seen someone drop there 30 lbs of text books while running late to college? How many times have you passed the lady with two toddlers running around the parking lot and a screaming baby at the grocery store?

Everyone is walking down there own "Jericho Road"
As we travel, what kind of person are we? A charitable one?

No excuses. We are ALL busy. We ALL have needs. We ALL have somewhere else do be, something "better" to do.

The Good Samaritan had zero obligation to help the man lying on the roadside.
He had a life and needs too.
He put someone else's needs above his own,
It's our choice to act this way
Who needs you?

We each have a reason or a purpose everyday of our lives.
What purpose does God need us for today?
Who needs us, today?

Each of us in our journey through mortality will travel our own
Jericho road. What will be your experience? What will be mine?

How will you show Charity to those around you this month? This year?

Who needs you?
Get out of the box.

MYONEWORD{charity&love}2015

try it.
#sharegoodness

I love you guys!

Lets talk
Madison.stucki@myldsmail.net

S.stucki
(December 15, 2014)
Sent from my iPad