Week 37: Adventures of eternal life

 I can't help but be so thankful for my brother and his choices even more this week. I have been missing him something bad the last couple of weeks. With our sisters wedding coming up, it is hard to imagine not having our Zach here to witness such an incredible, joyous occasion. In fact, it is hard to imagine Zach not being here for the next year and a half. He is missing so much here back home. His little princess niece Tegan, has grown so much. He hasn't met his new niece and my daughter, Zoey. It is hard to think, that he is missing 2 whole years of her life. By the time he returns, she will be able to run into his arms, but will not recognize him, because he will be a stranger. Then as I look back at this paragraph and the negativity that I have felt, that my brother is "losing" two whole years, seems so petty. How many nieces, nephews, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, is he saving? How many family members is he giving eternity to? How many people is he giving complete and eternal happiness? He is not losing two years, but giving two years. He is giving the gift of his time, to our brothers and sisters who have lost their way and are searching for something more in this life. Those who have not yet had the chance in this life to have the knowledge of eternal families and the atonement. Those who have released their grip from the iron rod and wandered into the darkness that is in our world. Although he cannot hold my little girl right now, he is holding those who need him more in Chile. What a selfless gift that he is giving to the people of Chile. He is changing life's. He is doing Christs work, and for that, we can wait a year and a half to be with my brother again.

Anyways, it is conference weekend. Super exciting to think that Zach will be watching it at the same time as us. So far, it has been filled with so much incredible advice and words to live by. I am sure that Zach would love to receive a letter with some of your favorite tid-bits from conference!

Zach said in his letter that the work is continuing forward in Chile, as he and his companion, Elder Castro, try to communicate with anyone they can.

A story I cherished in his letter this week, I am going to post in his own words, which everyone should read:

"As I was walking down a dirt path I remembered a scripture that my brother had shared with me.

Lucas 1: 37

This scripture passed my mind and I gained a footing on a small inner battle I was having with myself. I started then saying, if God can do anything, surely he could make me a better person. If God can do anything, I can learn and grow. If God can do anything, surely I can be a great help in the work. I then said a small prayer in my heart on that dirt road and asked God to make me a better person. To help me be better to myself and to help me love me. I feel like too many times we are super hard on ourselves, but if we turn to Christ he will show us that there is a lot to be happy about and that we literally are sons and daughters of Christ."

Recently we had a close friend of our family's, Arik Mack,  die in a freak semi-trailer accident. Of course Zach probably received many emails with the sad news, however, he sent back his testimony of life after death. He bore that heaven does exist and we are all here for a purpose. We will see our families again after this life, and we can be together for eternity. Though those closest to him are probably feeling such pain and sorrow, he encouraged them to reach out to the person who knows exactly what they are going through, because he too went through it himself, Jesus Christ. We have hope, because Jesus lived. He gave his deepest condolences and expressed his love to Jeff, Liz, and all of the Mack family.

Keep them in your prayers please, wherever you are, and know how fragile this earthly life is. But death will not bruise our heels, because we know that by grace, we are all saved.

Zach loves you all and is so thankful to be doing this important work in Chile!

Hasta luego!

Funny story: Zach, Cassie and I LOVE Shrek. No really, we are obsessed. Gingy is by far our favorite character in the series. We always yell "GINGY!" to eachother, and then we respond "PAPA!" Well somehow, he ended up with a Gingy doll. His roomates obviously defaced him, which breaks my heart...