Look Around

I'm definitely continually humbled by the circumstances of my mission.

You wouldn't think it. 
I've lived in some of the richest counties in America. I didn't get sent to some third world country suffering from plagues and starvation and malnutrition. Without technology and fancy gadgets and things like some missionaries. 
Yet I'm still humbled.

I sat in the back row of the church pews and looked over the people I've met and the stories I've heard them tell. Their hurts, trials, pains, sorrows and griefs. I looked around me and saw red cheeks, shadowed eyes. Jeans and baseball tee shirts. Different ethnicity's, races, backgrounds. Split families, no families, part families, full families. Some were there alone, some were there with groups. Some had been coming for years, some for the first time. Some people covered up there heartache, some made it very apparent.

Everyone facing their own challenges. Everyone fighting their own, personal battles. 


I looked around at so many humbled people. Worn out, broken spirited. Sitting in the pews. Many of them looked like they barely made it here at all. And I wondered what brought them here? 


I remembered back going to church at home. I like many others would wake up early and take my sweet time in a nice hot bathtub, curling my hair, plastering makeup on my face, sorting through hundreds of dollars of clothing and pretty dresses. I would find the biggest heels I could manage and walk into the church ready for a fashion show. As I looked around I would check out everyone's latest styles. Many people did the same thing... came to Sunday services for a social event.  Not prepared in the least for a spiritual uplift or renewal. I remember looking around at church and wondering what brought them here? What brought me here?


As I made the two comparisons this week I was completely humbled. For nineteen years I've got up in the morning annoyed and inconvenienced at the thought of church. Now I look around and just watch people in awe. I know so many of them and how they got here and why they are choosing to spend their time here. They come ready, prepared to find something more. To feel at peace. To reconcile themselves with God. To mend their broken spirits. To take something away to get them through the rest of the week. 
What on earth was I doing at church for nineteen years?


Don't take your church experience for granted.  
Make it what it's supposed to be.

Something we have been challenging people to do lately is to take an index card. And write down three prompts. 

One... What did you do good this week. 
Think back on your week and find something you did good, and keep doing it! Just one thing. 

Two.... What do you need to improve this week? 
Think about one thing you... yourself feel you need improvement on.  Whether it's a Christlike attribute like being patient, virtuous, charitable or something like reading scriptures, saying prayers etc. Just one thing though. 

And three... Write down something you want to learn from church that week. And seek your own personal revelation and inspiration. It's helped me immensely to get more out of church. 


Ft. Belvoir is interesting. 
I've enjoyed it. We are teaching this family on base and I was talking about how my brothers got guns for Christmas and he got all excited and wanted to show me his arsenal and told me to send them a picture of it. So Here YA go. If there is ever an apocalypse I've made some great friends with great toys I'm going to move in with. Props for Ft. Belvoir! #america

We were asked to present at a Zone Conference at the beginning of the week and it went pretty good. I was nervous because who wants to practice teach in front of President and thirty other missionaries? But it happened and I'm still alive so that's great news. 

Today we are going to explore the City and check out some sights in Alexandria, Arlington and Mt. Vernon areas. So hopefully I'll have more pictures next week. The church buildings here are really cool. In that picture in front of the church in the red cardigan? I totally got that cardigan at Target for $1.96.  What a steal right? I was pretty excited. I found some pretty cute stuff last week.

My companion is awesome.  She cracks me up. She goes home in April. I'm hoping we will stay here for two transfers and then I'll send her home. But then I'm kind of nervous because I'll have two whole transfers after that and idk who my companion will be or where I'll be. I imagine I'll finish out here in Belvoir.  Which would be nice. I can't believe I only have three transfers left. My companion has a boyfriend too so we talk about marriage and post mission life. I'm so excited. And nervous. I'm totally freaked out to see people again. 
I feel so far off in my own world.

We are on this huge health kick. We talked to this vegan lady for hours and got a bunch of tips. I'm not a huge meat Fan but I'll eat it if it's served to me at members home. I'm trying to cut back on dairy too. I hardly eat any dairy except cheese on sandwiches really. Our fridge is full of fruits and vegetables. And we workout every morning. So if you want to send food stuff send like dried fruit or nuts or trail mix or granola bars or something. 

I would love to hear from Dylan and Ethan! It's been a while. Also is Dads post up yet? 

Tell Grandma T. thanks for the Ross gift card. It was handy :)

When we come back to visit Virginia one day... I want to spend a Sunday in this area because you guys have to see this church building and come to church here. It's awesome. I think it would be fun to come back the week of the Fourth of July. I have a list of places we need to go see and what not. I also want to hit up New York. 

Anyhow how are things back at home?
Keep looking for good buys on cars and good jobs for me.
I'm going to need it soon!

I've been thinking about a lot of heavy stuff lately! 

I was thinking back on the lives of all these different people in my life and the paths that some are headed down. Some have Great plans ahead of them, some do not. Some seem to be living the high life, some do not. Some are super happy with where they are right now in life, some are not.

And I thought about what it would be like to be some of these people. Like have you ever taken a second out of your life and put yourself in another individuals shoes? It's interesting. Thinking about the fact that we only get one life... and everyone's is different. And some of us make the best of it all... and some do not.

But why not?

I think maybe... a lot of times it could be fear, or pride, or regret or guilt that holds us back. Mistakes we have made. Our past. Our labels. How others view us. What we think our own potential is. But who are we really?

I got this Christian rock CD from Spencer that people listen to on missions. It's pretty good, totally christian rock. As I was listening to it I thought one particular song was interesting. It had this line of lyrics that said:

"you are not your mistakes. You have been remade."

Every day we wake up is a new chance to start over 
and be who we want to be. 
Our mistakes, 
our limitations, 
our weaknesses do not define us. 

Through the grace of Jesus Christ we have been remade. Not once or twice but over and over again. Every time we fall short we can be put back on our feet.

I really love missions because literally nobody knows you... so you can be whoever you want to be. You can start over every transfer and not let your past define you. But then again, life should be the same way. Who cares what man thinks. If you want to change, 
DO IT! 
Don't let pride, stubbornness, past failures 
and especially other people stand in your way of becoming.

If you want to be creative, be creative!
If you want to be pretty, be pretty!
If you want to be happy, be happy!
If you want to be awesome, be awesome!

"We ask ourselves who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? Your playing small does not serve 

the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking. 

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. 

It's not just within some of us, it's in everyone." 

Marianne Williamson

You mean something.
Don't let your past define you.

YOU ARE YOU



Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

"For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, 

that all men might repent and come unto him."

D&C 18:10-11

You're not your mistakes, 
or your weaknesses 
or your short comings 
or your limitations 
or your past


you've been remade
embrace it


Sister Madison Paige Stucki
1-19-15
Sent from my iPad

I Am His

To live in Virginia you need to know two things:
1.  When there are clouds in the sky, it will probably rain.
2.  When there are not clouds in the sky, it will still probably rain.

I absolutely LOVE my new companion
She is ALWAYS happy and smiling!

thank you grandma and grandpa (:



Sister Todd - got her "greenie" package...
she is even wearing green:)



Name tags problems...
they spelled my name wrong

Temple Day

Our District

President Riggs

Am I allowed to give a Re-introduction?

Especially for new readers of this blog.
Or for you guys and gals who don't particularly know me...
Or for those of you who ONLY know me as

“Sister Stucki”

As well as for my lovely friends, family and followers who may know
all about me but have just forgotten that I exist because I seemingly
have dropped off the face of the earth for the last ten months....



Here's the brief:

First of all!



I am..... Not a robot.

I am also not a nun.

I do not have five moms

Yes. I'm allowed to dance.

And Yes,
I had a "normal" life before I became a missionary.



My name is Madison Paige Stucki. 

I was born in the south west nestled up corner of Utah, 
in the United States of America. 
I'm the first child of my lovely high school sweetheart parents. 
They are adorable.
My dad is my role model.
My mom is my best friend. 
They are hopelessly in love with each other 
which is disgustingly cute in a way that makes
me want my future relationship to be just like theirs.


Still following me here? K cool.



I have five younger siblings.
Dylan is eighteen.
Ethan is sixteen.
Ty is fourteen.
Makenna is twelve.
Eli is five.
There's eight of us in my family total.
Which always makes for a good time.
Literally.
Always.

While growing up I spent most of my time outdoors. Whether it be out
in the desert exploring, or at the lakes and rivers learning how to
skim board and get my tan on. I love photography and videography,
fashion and design. SUNSHINE and road trips. Baseball caps and knit
sweaters. (basic) I think architecture and Ancient Rome is fascinating. 
I enjoy reading classic novels and listening to hopeless
romantic love songs.

I had a boyfriend all throughout high school and he is my favorite
human on this planet. His name is Spencer.  I refer to him quite a lot.
You know this if you know me at all. Sorry.  Not sorry. 
He's a great guy.

My birthday is in October. I turn twenty this year. I have an
unhealthy obsession with double stuff original Oreos. So if you live
in Virginia and want to make me an ice cream cake next weekend...
(HMU) ...it's my birthday:)



When I turned nineteen I had the unique opportunity to submit
"application papers" to serve a mission for my church. The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. By doing so I left my family,
friends, work, school and LIFE behind for eighteen months to come
here, to the southern suburbs of Washington, D.C. To teach the
Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and serve those around me.

Like I said, it's a unique opportunity, and a unique responsibility. To
be a full time missionary for Jesus Christ. We have a set schedule
(described in previous blog post) and we do this all day everyday with
limited free time or correspondence from home.



However, I'm still me.



Madison Stucki.


......Just with a Sister in front of it for now,



A little bit more responsibility,



A little bit more maturity,



And a lot of work to do :)



In the 1800's (mom: correct me if I'm wrong) a few missionaries were sent
out to Preach the gospel. Some of these missionaries came across
my ancestors in Switzerland.

My ancestors at that time, one of them being John S Stucki.  
Him and his family accepted the gospel. They knew it was true! 
They gave up all that they had to come to the United States to 
gather with the saints at that time. Not long after arriving in the eastern states 
of the USA, they were persecuted and mobbed which led them and many others 
at that time to travel out west, to unknown territory.

Many of these early pioneers traveled out to the Midwest area of the
states. When they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley my family continued 
to travel down south and settled in the Santa Clara, and St George, Utah  
area with many other early saints at that time.

Nearly a century later, I was born in the same town St George, Utah. 
And now reap the blessings of what once was brought to my early family from
the very first missionaries from America.

With knowing this and seeing the blessings that came from the Gospel,
I too decided to serve a mission to share these blessings I've received, 
to all I could reach. 

SIMPLE AS THAT.



Only... I was called to serve here in the Washington, D.C. South mission.
Alongside 100 thousand other full time missionaries currently serving
around the world.

As a missionary we go about Doing Good. Our Primary Purpose is 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.

For these eighteen months that is exactly what I go about 
teaching from experience and from the heart.

However as a missionary, we do not expect those we come across 
and teach to take our word for it or accept all we say without their 
own personal divine witness of the truth. 

In fact as missionaries we simply invite. 

We present the information, issue challenges or commitments 
to strengthen faith and leave the rest to the spirit as the teacher.

The spirit is the teacher.
It is a promise that God will give answers to all 
those who humbly and sincerely ask.

James 1:5 in the New Testament 

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men

liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.."

GOD

answers prayers.

He hears us
He loves us
He wants to help and guide us.
He's given us the tools to receive guidance, direction and answers
to that wisdom that we lack

As missionaries we present the doctrine
and leave it to those we teach to act.
To search.
To ponder.
To pray.
And to know.


We see today there are so many different sects of Christianity.
Religion seems to me to be just another group you can join. Religious
leaders entice a 'target market' of young adults, families, or all
ages by the fun activities, festivities, group meetings and meeting
houses and fun events. And religious affiliations do have great
motives. Most christian churches come from the same source! Each has
pieces and parts of the truth but none seem to completely agree on
what TRUTH IS.

So where do we find it?

In the bible we learn that Jesus Christ came to earth and taught us
the fullness of the gospel. Things such as faith (Matthew 18:20),
repentance or change (Mark 2:17) , baptism (Luke 3:21), he taught us
about the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17) he established his gospel, and
his church and ordained apostles by the power of the priesthood.
(Ephesians 4:11-15).

However, many people were wicked and they disregarded his message.

They didn't want to be told to repent! And change!
Nobody wants to be told that!
But it was true? It's what God expects of us.
But people were upset.
We see all throughout the bible the Pharisees and Sadducees try to
condemn Jesus, try to twist his words or prove him wrong.

And they crucified them. 
Jesus was betrayed and the people were upset.
So they crucified the son of God.

 Jesus foretells this however when he says,
"....deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to
crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Matthew 20:19)

Foretelling also that he would be resurrected, on the third day.
And he was.

And when he was, he told the people he would leave them a comforter
which is the Spirit, which would testify of truth. (John 14)

Not long after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the apostles were
persecuted and killed or died off. Not passing the priesthood
authority, or power of God onto the next generation. And without the
priesthood authority, many simple truths about the organization of the
church and sacred ordinances were lost or changed. Many churches began
to form, breaking off bits and pieces of Christ's original gospel, and
adding to it,  or taking away.

Intentionally?
Who knows.
But none the less, without priesthood authority, the correct
organization of Christs church would not be brought about.

Without revelation, guidance or organization at all, people relied on
human wisdom to interpret the scriptures, principles and ordinances of
Christ's gospel. False ideas and opinions were taught as truths and
different church organizations began to form with disagreements and
separate ideas and opinions.

Much of the knowledge of the true nature of God, our Savior, 
the spirit and the gospel...
Were lost.

And this widespread state of Apostasy led to the emergence of many,
many churches.

Even before the death of the Apostles, many conflicts concerning
doctrine arose. The Roman Empire, which at first had persecuted the
Christians, later adopted Christianity. Important religious questions
were settled by councils. The simple doctrines and ordinances taught
by the Savior were debated and changed to conform to worldly
philosophies. (Hmm, we see this today as well.)

We know that because of these unauthorized changes and lack of the
fullness of the gospel.. a restoration, not a reformation, was required.


To REFORM is to change what already exists;
to RESTORE is to bring back something in its original form.


The Savior’s Apostles foretold this universal apostasy.
They also foretold that the gospel of Jesus Christ and His Church
would be restored to its fullness, once more upon the earth.

"..Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come,
except there come a falling away first...." 2 Thessalonians 2


So?

The fullness of the gospel was not currently upon the earth, pieces
and parts of it? Yes of course. But the whole shabang? Not a chance.
And in the midst of this confusion, 
there was a boy named Joseph Smith.

AHHHH YES
You've probably heard of Joseph Smith right?
The Mormon guy?
Yeah, no. He wasn't Mormon. He was fourteen, and had a big question.
Because when he was living in the east coast of the USA, in New York,

WE HAD RECENTLY GAINED RELIGIOUS FREEDOM WAHOO!

And there were plenty and plenty of preachers, pastors, etc etc taking
advantage of just that. I can vouch for him when I say that out here
on the eastern coast, there is literally a church on every corner. And
not like in Utah where it seems like they are all the same churches. 
There are different denominations, opinions, doctrines, and
teachings ON EVERY CORNER.

Can you imagine?

Being in a family where Mom believes church A
Dad believes church B
Older brother believes church C
And they are all reading the bible...
yet somehow each takes his own opinion of doctrine from the same source.

And as Joseph smith was reading, he read Ephesians 4:5 which says there is
"One lord, one faith, one baptism."
Simply put.

So he went about checking out the different congregations each trying
to persuade him to join. But he wasn't seeking a church that fit
HIM he was seeking for the church of God. The one referred to in
Ephesians, ya know? The ONE true gospel of Christ. Where do we find it?

He continued to study the holy bible. And came across another verse
that struck him more powerfully than anything he had ever read, it's
found in James chapter one verse five and says,

"If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God. 

That giveth to all men liberally and abraideth not."

Meaning, if you have a question, if there's something you don't know,
ask God. And he will give you the answers you need, and he won't be
upset with you asking questions. Because common guys HE LOVES US. 
he wants to help us. HE IS OUR FATHER. LET'S BE REAL. 
Why wouldn't we be allowed to ask questions? 
And why would he not answer them? 

HE IS GOD.
HE IS ALL POWERFUL.
GIMME A REASON WHY HE WOULD SHUT US DOWN?

Look around you and start recognizing answers, blessings, gifts,
signs, they are everywhere.
And I think that's a little bit of what Joseph Smith felt.

So he decided he would go ask God, through sincere, earnest prayer.
For direction. What would it hurt? He went out into the woods, with
faith that he too, would receive an answer. And when he did, he had a
miraculous experience.

In Joseph Smith History, in the Pearl of Great Price (which you can
access here; lds.org) he tells his experience. (If you'd like to read
the full documentary written by Joseph Smith check out the online
website but for lack of time I'll quote a few paragraphs.) he said,

"I saw a pillar of light.



Exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun.


Which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness

and glory defy...all description, standing above me... In the air.


One of them, spake unto me, calling me by name and said


THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR HIM."



From this experience, Joseph Smith learned the fullness of the gospel
was not yet on the earth. That just like in times of old, with
prophets from the Old Testament, people were wicked and disregarded
the prophets teachings and fell into apostasy where priesthood power
was no longer on the earth. After Christs death this had happened
again. And now was the time the gospel would be restored to the earth,
in its fullness like it was before.

Joseph Smith?
Was just a man.
Like any other good man we see today.
Trying to do good, trying to be better.
Just like prophets of old, he was called of God, to do a great work.
To be an instrument in the hands of The Lord.

Do I worship Joseph smith? No.
Do I respect him? Absolutely.

He did what perhaps other men couldn't. 
The persecution and reviling against him.. 
STILL HAPPENS TODAY.



Knowing there would be doubt or disbelief or misinformation, we've
been given the Book of Mormon, which was translated from records 
of ancient Americans at the time of Christ. By reading the Book of Mormon 
you will come to know these things are true.

The same way you can receive answers to any of your questions.
By asking God.
Not relying on secular sources
Or human "wisdom"
Or the Internet

If I had a penny for every time I've heard someone 
site "truth" from the Internet.... :l

Guys common.


We all know Wikipedia is the LEAST reliable source for information.
Ask the creator of all things.
Ask god.

And you will know.
That he's there, that he loves you, that he has a path for you.
The whole thing.

That's my challenge to you.
Not to take my word for it...
Or anyone else's

But go figure this stuff out for yourself.
And trust God.

I appreciate you for reading this post, it means the world to me. This
gospel means everything to me. It brings me peace, comfort and the
will to carry on, everyday.


Because I KNOW who I am. 


Why I'm here. 
Where I'm going.


I know what's right, what's wrong.
And I have a choice. 

And god has a plan for me. 


And if I turn to him, he will carry me.




Because,



I am his.








Questions?
I'll try my best to respond within a week
Madison.stucki@myldsmail.net
Or facebook me at Sister-Madison Stucki

I love you guys!
S.Stucki




Sent from my iPad

(October 23, 2014)