I Am the Gardener

We all have our dreams set about. Some of us want to be performers, or movie stars. Others successful business men/women. Some plan to start families, while others just want the American Dream of a job and a house. We work hard, we begin to make progress and sometimes, some of us begin to get somewhere. Though many times, it seems, something can disrupt our happiness and progress. Not always what we want for ourselves, or feel we should be doing, is what God knows is best for us, and for others.

I love this message, and I'm sure all of us can relate to it in some way or another. I've only noticed my own little currant bush experience in my own life when it came to accepting the call to serve a full-time mission. While I feel cut back, hurt and looked down on at times, much like the Currant Bush, I know that its these things that'll help shape me and bring out my full potential

In 2007 I graduated high school in Utah. I left right after to live with my mom and stepfather in Colorado. In 2009 I became enrolled in a private college, I was going for BA degree in 3-D Game Art and Design. I had a job, a car, a place to stay, everything was in line and going great. I was learning so much and enjoying it very much. However, this didn't last. About a year had passed before the balance of happiness began to shift. There were some stressful matters began to arise at home; amid them I found myself out of work a couple of times slowly deepening in financial debt as I had to live off of my credit card for a time. Despite best efforts to make do, calm the waters and continue as planned, I soon found myself at a crossroads: Continue with my education and just try to get by with Pell Grants and little to no cost low end housing, or drop everything I'd worked for and move back to Utah, where I had the support of friends and family members.

It most certainly wasn't an easy choice to make. But, after much careful consideration, lots of prayer and a personal blessing, I felt compelled to move back to Utah, work my debts off, and save up for a mission. So, I arranged a transfer at work, called my home in Utah, packed my things, and within two weeks I was driving the 8 hour trip back home. I worked on and off for a while to begin with, eventually landing two jobs at once to help me pay off some of my financial statuses.

After a couple years my Dad pushed me to put in my mission papers. After completing and turning those in, a week later I got my call in the mail. In two months I was to be shipped out to serve in the Minnesota, Minneapolis mission. I served faithfully for six months, gaining all new experiences and insights. I saw many miracles, as well as endured through many trials and hardships.

I continued to serve until about the middle of September, when the choice for me to finish as a service missionary was presented. Up to this point, my mission president (the one who manages all the missionaries in a mission) always felt like a proselyting mission wasn't for me, and serving a mission back home was always an option on the side. I knew that God called me out to this mission for a reason, and I was going to stick with it. Now hearing this again, but as more of a choice instead of an option, really threw me off guard. I was confident that I could finish my mission in Minnesota. After all, why would he call me out here, if he just wanted me back home anyway? I prayed and thought about this often the next few days. Every time I thought about going home, however, I felt really good. Most of the time (if not all of the time) I don't understand the Lord's will in my life, and trusting in something you can't see can be very difficult. But after more thought, prayer, and even a blessing, I finally made the choice to head back home as a service missionary.

My time has been split between several assignments, which change often from time to time. As I leave one assignment for another, I find that I've taken some new experiences and skills that I wouldn't have gained otherwise. Exactly what these skills will be needed for in the future, I didn't know, but God knows better than I do what he's doing, and I trust him and follow his guidance, knowing that all will be made right in the end.

It's now been 8 years since i originally wrote this article. At that time, I was still in the middle of my service mission. As mentioned, I served in many areas, including working with computer data for the church, helping to fill orders at The Bishop's Storehouse, and even writing many of the articles on this account here on Hubpages. The skills I acquired and experiences I've had have been invaluable, and I've come to discover I have a real knack for data analysis and management.

I have successfully managed steady employment, am living on my own, and gained financial stability. All three of which I did not have prior to my mission at age 21. It's been a long and difficult journey, and certainly not devoid of mishaps and challenges, but as I continue to listen and obey the commandments of God and the church teachings, I am blessed in more ways than I can imagine.