The title today is a reference to a song from a former. He made up a song that's become part of mission culture, and it's those four words and about 3 notes. Yes, it's as long as it takes to read it, but it's a good one. A classic.
I remember when I woke up on the 5th of February. It was a Thursday, and we were going to class for the first time. I remember standing in front of that tiny wardrobe mirror they give you, with Elder Fish and Elder Read putting their ties on, and I went to go put my name tag on. It didn't have a scratch on it like it does now, although I do have the original. There was a smudge of stickiness on the corner where they put your red dot to tell everyone you're new. As I looked at the name tag, I was thrilled that I got to put it on, and I told myself I'd let it be that thrilling for every day I got to wear it. Today was no different from any other day, and I put the name tag on. When I think about that name tag, I think about every day I've had since then, and I can't help but think about all the days I've been able to represent the Savior personally. I remember one time, I don't know if I wrote about it or not, but my district leader in Prague challenged me to be that representative as much as possible in a week, to focus on that aspect of the work. As I did that, I remember standing on a town square in the middle of Prague stopping someone and teaching them right there. And I had this overwhelming feeling that I was representing the Master Teacher as I did so. There are countless other experiences similar to that one that come with a mission, when you're striving to magnify your calling.
One of my favorite parts of that Wednesday night when I entered the MTC was meeting one of our teachers, Brother Brown. The Czech exercise was simple: say something in English, Brother Brown will slowly say it to you in Czech, then practice pronouncing what he said. We didn't understand a word, really, of what we were saying. But I remember asking Sister Reese: "What is your favorite color?" And the czech translation came: "Jaká....barva...je...vaše....nejoblibenějši". I can still remember what I said back: "Nej-oh-bleeping-what??" He repeated that last word for "Most favorite" a few times, I don't remember if I ever said it right, and I remember setting a goal right there that I was going to work on pronouncing the word "nejoblibenější" for my whole mission. I envisioned myself getting on the plane home and turning around and saying the word perfectly for the first time, since obviously one couldn't learn a word as tongue-twisting as that in anything less than two years.
But, we made it, and Czech isn't the challenge it used to be. I'll even talk to myself sometimes here in the office in Czech to practice words and pronunciation that I don't get as much around President and in the office.
Amidst all of the "first-timers" like going to a Czech wedding, baptizing in a swimming pool since we didn't have anywhere else, teaching in coffee shops when it's freezing cold outside, giving blessings in a foreign language, broken windows, flood recovery and Mormon helping hands with the Czech Army, seeing an atheist pray for the first time, and then the light they have when they get their first answer, teaching a new missionary how to do something miraculous like get an appointment and a number without speaking good Czech, seeing people healed from priesthood blessings, praying and seeing all of your prayers answered, feeling the prayers of others and seeing their impact, knowing what to say when to say it and how that changes a lesson, being devastated when people reject what they know is right, seeing a struggling missionary choose to quit struggling and move forward with their mission...
I think that starts to approach a lot of what I see in my name tag. Elder Blair wrote a song that has some very powerful lyrics, and it's so upbeat and positive. One of my favorite bits is in the last verse.
When with all flesh my eyes shall see
My Blessed Savior face to face,
My witness then shall not exceed the truth I know this day.
For God has written Jesus' name
With pen of flame upon my soul!
So how can I not testify
Of Jesus Christ my Lord?
I think that those two verses summarize everything I could ever expect from my mission. It started out a long time ago, probably before this life. It's been a process since I was born, from baptism through Aaronic priesthood quorums. When I received my name tag, it was not a culmination. I think it was more of a reminder of what I need to do to make this life meaningful, and that is to take His name upon me. And I know that the most valuable part of the last two years has been just that: I've been able to see how that name on my name tag isn't just on my name tag.
It's a good day today - it's the first day there's not been some snow on the ground to be seen. It's been a great week, and I hope you all have a comparable week yourselves.
S láskou,
Starší Brent Anderson
