First of all I
want to wish all of you a happy 4th of July! It's going to be a good
one for me, my last in India. We are having a big party today at our
apartment, 6 Americans will be there and a lot of the Indians as well.
We have what we think might be beef, but the actual source of the meat
is truly unknown, other than the fact that we got it from the scariest
place in the world. Down a dark ally in a very sketchy part of Delhi. I
love this place, but Mom I promise I won't go back, because I won't have
to buy anymore beef (we got 8 pounds for 15 dollars what a steal). We
are going to fry french fries, make a fruit salad, drink tons of
Coke...no Thums Up on America day, and we will eat ton's of potato chips
and just enjoy with all the Elders. I even drew an American flag on my
white t shirt just to wear today! The only thing I am missing is
fireworks, which will just have to wait until next year.
All
I want to say today, is kind of where my thoughts have been lately,
especially around this big party I am trying to have. And that is, I
know I will come home, and I won't be the biggest spiritual giant that
ever went on a mission. I didn't start as that person and I don't think I
will end as that person. I have grown so much spiritually, and I know
the church is true, and I will never fall away, my testimony is firm.
But I just feel like I have learned so much about the world being here
in India. I understand now, how the world really is, and a whole lot
more about life. Keep in mind, I love the people of India, I love them
so much, and I love this country.
But after
one year, I still remember the feeling of taking off over LAX and
realizing that I wouldn't step foot in America for 2 years. That's not
an easy thing if you knew me growing up, my dad taught me to take pride
in my country. And it's still not easy today. America has problems, big
problems. But we have absolutely no idea, the blessings that God has
given us in America. I have only been to India, but I am convinced there
is not a place on Earth that compares to America. There is no caste
system, there is no communism, there is nothing that can stop you from
going after everything you want, worshiping how you please, or even
choosing where to live or what you can eat, there is safety and there is
actual freedom. I hope you will take time to recognize on the 4th how
much our police officers, our firemen, our doctors, our soldiers, and
our everyday citizens do, to keep America such a great place. I promise
you it will be on my mind.
There is no other
place the Restoration of the Gospel could have happened. It had to be in
a place founded by men like our Founding Fathers, guided by the Holy
Ghost, to make it possible for a young boy to search for the truth and
not be compelled to believe anything he didn't want to. To be able to
pray to God from his heart, and to bring back the true Church of Jesus
Christ, and to assemble themselves each Sunday, so that we could be
blessed for Eternity. There is no other place in the world quite like
America, and I hope you truly realize how many blessings you have in the
Promised Land.
I love America, and I love
India, and today I'm going to eat as many mystery burgers as possible.
Oh and pray for Gordon Hayward to stay in Utah with the Jazz, I hear he
is supposed to make his decision this week...please pray!
God Bless America, The Land That I Love.
Love, Elder Armstrong
No comments:
Post a Comment