Change is Constant -- Yet Good

I have been serving in my current church calling for two years now. It has been my privilege, as part of that calling to work with the missionaries, and ward mission leaders in our stake. I have met some very fine people during the last 24 months. Some wonderful missionaries, and some very dedicated ward mission leaders. Now, while still remaining in my calling, I have been given new areas of responsibility.

During the past two years, I have seen many people come into the church, and come unto Christ. There is a fine spirit in missionary work, the Spirit of the Lord. I will miss rubbing shoulders with these fine people, and feeling that missionary Spirit. Oh, I know I can still be a member missionary, but its just not the same.

In my home ward, we have a very fine ward mission leader, perhaps the best in the Stake. I intend to keep involved with him, and doing what I can to further the work here.

I just sent out an email to the ward mission leaders, explaining the change in assignments. I would like to quote a little from that letter:

It is with mixed emotions that I must inform you that I no long will be assigned to missionary work in the stake. Assignments, like callings, come and go. I told the Lord when I accepted my calling that I would serve him in any way that He wished. I still stand by that. I will look forward to my new assignment, and will do my best to fulfill it. My only regret is that I won't get to rub shoulders so much with you fine brethren, or with the missionaries as much as I have in the past. What a privilege its been! . . .

. . . It's been my great priviledge to be involved in missionary work for the past two years. Looking back, two years seems like a fitting time period to be working with the missionaries. It has been a real pleasure to work with each of you, and the many ward mission leaders I have associated with during the past 24 months.

Thanks for your efforts in bringing the gospel to our Heavenly Father's children, and in helping the members of your wards join you in that effort. In some ways, this reassignment is a little like being released from my own mission some twenty-(mumble, mumble) years ago.

Carry on brethren, in this fine and noble work. There is no greater work (outside the walls of your own home, that is.)

As for me, I will be learning my new assignments. Just when we get comfortable in what we are doing, the Lord always figures out a way to make us stretch and grow some more. Being comfortable is not really a part of the plan, now is it? Perhaps this is one way that the Lord chooses to help us keep humble, and to learn to depend on him, and not upon the arm of flesh, or our own strengths. . .

And so it goes. I take a deep breath. I make some phone calls to explain this, and other changes to my assignments. I wish people well, and express my thanks for their association.

I have new associations to make, and I look forward to those. The work goes on. I will have to rely on the Lord to learn my new responsibilities. Nevertheless, I trust that He will be there for me, and I will be able to accomplish the things required at my hand -- no matter how daunting they may seem right now. And with His help, I will be able to do my part to serve and glorify Him in new ways, and to help build His Kingdom here on earth.