Inch by Inch

I was cleaning out some old papers yesterday and ran across a notebook from Girl's Camp the last year that Erin attended. I had also attended as a leader. I believe it was in 2004, though I foolishly didn't write the year on my paperwork.

Our ward had been engaged in a 40 day fast for missionary work, to bring people to Christ. People signed up for a specific day and it was their responsibility to fast and pray throughout the day for that purpose. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had signed up for the time that I would be at camp, on the last day of the fast. On that day, the ward was gathering for a break the fast meal in the evening. The day I had signed up for turned out to be the day of the hike (yes, the big hike), and so I only consumed water that day.

Here's what I wrote:

Today was a day of spiritual and physical challenge for me. I fasted today as the last person in our 40 day ward fast for missionary work. Throughout the day I prayed that the Lord would bless the missionaries throughout the world and thanked him for sending "my" missionaries to teach me the gospel. I asked that he would bless our ward members and me to find opportunities to share the gospel. I expressed gratitude for my testimony and thanked him for the opportunity to serve him with the young women.


In the morning while the others were eating, I read my scriptures about missionary work, and as I was reading and pondering, suddenly the thought came to me that I was a missionary to these young women, active or not, and that I had the responsibility to bear my testimony of the gospel to them so that they could be converted.


We left on our hike at 9. We first hiked up to a beautiful little meadow. From there after eating lunch, some of the group turned and went back to camp, but I decided to continue on. Despite my hunger and knowing that the most difficult part of the hike was ahead of me, I chose to stay the course. I walked at the head of the group, but as others went on ahead and others lagged behind, I found myself alone during the most grueling, rocky, hot part of the hike. I was praying often for strength (and wishing for wings). I thought this part of the hike was kind of symbolic of my life at the time...dry, difficult, challenging. To be honest, I wanted to give up and go back, but I pressed on. When I finally made it to the summit, the view was breathtaking! Even though I had seen it before, I was caught up in the beauty, as well as grateful for having made it. I was glad I had stuck it out. As the others came up, it grew noisy and dusty so I wandered off to sit by myself and ponder. It was truly an amazing, wonderful experience. I felt so peaceful and loved. I knew the Lord's hand was in my life.

It's so nice to come upon these insights from my past. It reminds me of all that I have to be thankful for. It reminds me that spirituality is a never ending quest on this earth, and sometimes everything seems green and wonderful (like the meadow). Other times, it feels like it takes all we have to put one foot in front of the other and keep moving upward. We occasionally slip and fall backward. There are many obstacles. However, the Lord is with us and is cheering us on each little step we make. Even if all we can accomplish one day is an inch, every inch counts!!