Family and Friends,
Another great week and another transfer here in the mission has passed. This week was full of tough goodbyes with good friends leaving the mission. One of which wrote me and was talking about his past two years. "It flew by so quick now" he said. "I hope that i really can look back and say that i won." To win is not the answer, and ill tell you why: It is not to win in what matters, but it is to how hard we fought.
With credit to LDN, It’s been said that “life does not determine winners. Winners determine life." Most true winners have “lost” at some point in life. They have been hurt and disappointed; they have experienced setbacks and sorrow, but they do not let these difficulties determine their destiny or define their lives. Instead, they strive to rise above their challenges and keep moving forward one day at a time. In fact, it is very often the defeats, just as much as the victories, that bring out the greatness in a true champion.
One reason we love sports so much is that they provide countless inspiring examples of this very truth. Grantland Rice, a legendary sportswriter from the previous century, spent more than 50 years observing and writing eloquently about the wins and losses, the triumphs and failures of great athletes. He wrote these words that have been paraphrased by parents and coaches so often that they have become a familiar motto of athletic competition everywhere:
When the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes—not that you won or lost—but how you played the Game.
Every two years the world gathers in celebration of sport to witness world-class athletes compete in the Olympic games. While the medal count is interesting to follow, what really grabs the heart are the personal stories of the athletes—their hard work, persistence, dedication, and teamwork. Every one, it seems, faced challenges that could have tempted them to give up and give in, but they discovered—as we all must—that the key to a winning life is to keep going.
Every Olympic athlete is a living reminder that if we can rise when we fall, pick ourselves up when life knocks us down, and continue on when it seems easier to quit, we will see in time that winning is not as much about talent or luck as it is about grit and perseverance. Winners and champions just keep trying. This thought is expressed well in the Olympic creed: “The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.”
One reason we love sports so much is that they provide countless inspiring examples of this very truth. Grantland Rice, a legendary sportswriter from the previous century, spent more than 50 years observing and writing eloquently about the wins and losses, the triumphs and failures of great athletes. He wrote these words that have been paraphrased by parents and coaches so often that they have become a familiar motto of athletic competition everywhere:
When the One Great Scorer comes to mark against your name,
He writes—not that you won or lost—but how you played the Game.
Every two years the world gathers in celebration of sport to witness world-class athletes compete in the Olympic games. While the medal count is interesting to follow, what really grabs the heart are the personal stories of the athletes—their hard work, persistence, dedication, and teamwork. Every one, it seems, faced challenges that could have tempted them to give up and give in, but they discovered—as we all must—that the key to a winning life is to keep going.
Every Olympic athlete is a living reminder that if we can rise when we fall, pick ourselves up when life knocks us down, and continue on when it seems easier to quit, we will see in time that winning is not as much about talent or luck as it is about grit and perseverance. Winners and champions just keep trying. This thought is expressed well in the Olympic creed: “The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.”
My prayer is that we continue to fight as hard as we can. Because for those that fight the good fight, there is a place in the kingdom of heaven for each and every one.
-Elder Matthew Arscott
Photos:
The parting group, including friends Elders Reid, Nydegger, Herlin, and Eschenberg.
Last day as well with (left to right) Elders Eschenberg, Nydegger, Reid, and Hall
. Last day with Elder Freitas, we were working the Graveyard shift to get these guys ready to go ith their flights, etc. Just dont look at that time hahah
Last day with Herlin
Also my Mom sent Duct tape with me in my mission and i thought "I will never use this Mom come on haha", well Mom, looks like i was wrong. Elder Freitas' carry on bag is now good as new.
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