Hope On Journey On, Don't You Give Up, You Keep Pushing On!
This perfectly explains the morning we had today.
Nothing has really happened the past week due to illness in the companionship, but this morning we all went for a hike up Mission Peak as a zone, it's a difficult hike and we woke up at 3:30am to get ready and drive and then we started the hike at 4:30am so we could make it to the peak for the sun rise.
It was the physically hardest thing I have done in a long time! Even just the start was incredibly difficult because it was so steep and my legs hurt so much, I have only just gotten better myself and I felt so bad for slowing down a few people that were willing to stick by us, I took many breaks and at times I felt discourages and like I couldn't do it anymore. We kept going, though it was incredible difficult. Every long stretch of a flat path was soon followed by an incredibly steep climb. I tried to stretch it out but nothing appeared to be working. We saw the sky change colors, fearful that we wouldn't make it to the top by sun rise and that we would miss it. After hours of walking, I bent over and tears filled my eyes, I was so sore I didn't feel like I could take another step, I didn't feel like I would be able to comeplete the hike, my companions encouraged me and supported me so greatly, they kept saying it would be all worth it and that I can do it! I had been praying silently for the strength needed to accomplish this task, no matter how difficult.
We saw a few of the Elders ahead and we made it up to them, they said that they cant make it before sun rise, it's just too hard, then all of a sudden this surge of energy hit me! Sister Jesson then said "If Sister Ryan can do this, so can you!" I gave my bag to one of the Elders and I could see the peak I said, hold this, "I want to finish this hike with a bang!" I started running up and I don't know how I did it! I needed to stop still every now and then but my companions had me lead the way, they said "we are not taking a single step a head of you" I felt the need to push on, I started praying more vocally as I walked, my testimony of the atonement then hit me in such a real way. I thought about something I have always said, but it hit me with such a real force this time as I thought... What if Jesus Christ couldn't complete the Atonement, what if it was just too hard and he gave up? and what if that person he couldn't complete it for was me?... Even the Savior took breaks as he performed the atonement, as He suffered in the garden of Gethsemane, even He needed friends to rely on. He did it, and of course this hike was nothing compare to the Atonement, but I felt it, I knew he knew my pains and my doubt, he knew my insecurities but he also knew that I could do it, and that I am not a quitter, that I can and I would push through. I ran the little last bit and climbed the rocks to get to the top and then there I was. I had made it, tears filled my eyes, with gratitude, joy, relief and utter amazement at the beauty of the scenery, and all with just minutes to spare before the sun rise came.
There are so many things I could relate to the gospel and I learnt so much from this hike this morning. But one thing is that, I know the sun will always rise and it doesn't matter how hard the journey is to the top, sometimes we need to breaks, shed some tears, have our friends encourage us and lift us up, sing some hymns, prayer with all we have, but the view is all worth it! When you look back and see how far you come, how much you've learnt and how you're faith in the Savior keeps you going. The pain doesn't even exist anymore when you're looking out on the rolling hills and seeing the sun come up from behind them.
I know it will be an experience I will never forget and I am so grateful for that! and that is my testimony, the Sun Will Always Rise and The View at the Top is All the Well Worth It! and more than anything, Jesus Christ is always by our side. That even when you feel you can't take another step, that's when the power of the Atonement kicks in and makes it all possible.
I love this gospel and I love my Savior, my companions are amazing and I'm so grateful the Lord knows exactly who I need to be with at this exact moment.
Love, Sister Ryan xx
