From Michelle

Last Friday was Mike's and my day for the family fast. Maybe because I was thinking of Megan’s leaving the MTC soon for “The Mission Field,” but an experience I had early in my mission kept playing itself over and over in my head. Before I left for Brazil, a former sister missionary who had gone to a foreign country told me to prepare, because on my 2nd or 3rd day in the mission field, I'd have an emotional breakdown.
Understatement.

There I was: a brand new greenie missionary in Brazil. I'd lived on my own and been outside the country several times, so I didn't think I'd have any sort of "culture shock" or "homesickness." Everything completely caught me off guard. There were orphans living on the street and dogs with leprosy running around wild. My companion had only been out four or five months and barely spoke the language more than I. As I went to bed the first night, my companion oh-by-the-way’d me with the news that the previous occupant of the bed had a scourging case of head lice.

Fast forward to day number three on the mission...cue the breakdown. I remember walking down a street in Esteio, Rio Grande du Sul, Brazil. My companion was about 5 steps ahead of me. As I started crossing the street, I looked at my feet, which had a combined total of 28 blisters, and all of a sudden my eyes filled with tears. As I looked at my feet through my tears, I kid you not, they appeared to be the size of footballs, or maybe small torpedos. And then the weeping started and I couldn't stop. My poor companion had to half-walk, half-carry me back to what passed as our "house" but was really less livable than a van down by the river.

I could not stop crying. I cried for what I left behind. I cried because I was in pain. I cried because I felt overwhelmed with the task ahead of me. I cried because I couldn't understand anything anyone said to me. I cried because I didn't feel clean and knew I wouldn't get the dirt and grime off me until I went back to America. Most of all, I cried because I had never felt so alone in my entire life.

I can see in retrospect that all my tears were for myself. As President Hinckley counseled in a talk about his missionary experience, “Forget yourself and go to work.” I had to learn to do that with a fairly steep learning curve, given my environment. Those may have been the first mission tears I shed, but they certainly weren’t the last. As I grew as a missionary, my tears were less for myself and more for those around me. Or I cried because I felt so inadequate for the task set before me.

The story of the widow’s mite in Mark 12 has become particularly poignant to me as I look back on those days that were so difficult but filled with so much growth. The widow gave to the treasury two mites, which the scriptures say is worth a farthing. A farthing is 1/4th of a cent. It was so small, it was often overlooked and lost. The rich and the powerful never even used them because, in their eyes, it was so tiny and insignificant, both in terms of the amount it was worth and in its physical size. And yet, it was the widow’s mite that caught the Savior’s eye because of sacrifice it represented.

Oftentimes, I felt (and still feel) that the service I offer is inconsequential. I feel like my meager offering is filled with imperfection and inadequacies. It’s “just bearing my testimony” or “just smiling at someone in the street” or “just fasting for my family.” And yet, if it’s done with love in my heart, it’s in those moments that that I feel that my offering, however small and imperfect it may be, is still worth something to the Lord.

The day of my meltdown in Esteio is vividly imprinted on my mind. If I could go back to Brazil today, I could find the precise street where I stood and wept. I’m still working on the lessons from the mission: to learn how to love others, how to forget myself and serve, how to feel and recognize the Spirit. Those “widow’s mite” qualities may not be what the world values and talks about, but they will be recognized by the Savior. I was so blessed to be able to fast for my family and remember important lessons that still have an impact on me today.

From Emily Stacey

I completed my day for the Stacey family fast today. When we first heard about the fast and what the dates were going to be, the first thing that I thought was, "What a blessing. God will hear our prayers." You see, the fast began right when Steve was leaving for 12 weeks to do out rotations, interview for residency sites, and I would be spending the majority of that time alone with two kids. I was terrified and I really needed the extra help from the Lord.

It has been hard being alone, but there have been blessings. Right when Steve left, Ivan decided that was a good time to stop sleeping well at night. There were times when I was so exhausted that I just sat and cried in the middle of the night when he wouldn't go back to sleep. I didn't know how I would make it through the day without the hope of relief from another adult. Sometimes I felt sorry for myself, frustrated, impatient, angry and alone. I thought, "I didn't sign up for this! Who wants to be a single mom? I can't do this anymore!" But, there was always a little spot of hope in my heart. I always knew that I could say a prayer of hope and that things would get better. Of course there were days that were happy too; playgroups, park picnics, just playing outside on the swing set, building sand castles, playing Mickey Mouse etc. I think this strength came from the prayers and fasts of the family.

This is an important time of decisions in our life. Steve is interviewing for positions in a competitive specialty. There are times when we've both felt uncertain about how it will all turn out. But then peace comes to us; sometimes it's something that one of us says, or just a feeling that comes into our hearts and we are able to reassure one another that it will all work out the way that it's supposed to.

Thank you. All of you. For your prayers and your fasts. I only hope that my fast (even though I had to drink water as I am breastfeeding), will give you the strength, hope and faith that you need in your lives.

Love,
Emily Stacey

from Jennifer

So I was able to fast yesterday for my family. It was a great experience because I was able to feel like I was with my family all day. It was a great connection! The day was pretty much like any normal day for me as a missionary! It was a great experience to be able to think about my family for the day and focus on us. I gained a testimony of fasting. We are so lucky to know of this knowledge to fast for strength and comfort. Its a power that we receive. I have being learning a lot about Christlike attributes and my favorite one is humility. When we are humble we are opening the door to let Christ into our lives. We are saying that we are willing to do anything the Lord ask us to do. I like fasting because we are humbling ourselves to the Lord. We are abstaining from the things we want and focusing on the things the Lord wants. When we humble our selves and fast we are more open to receive revelation and guidance in our lives. I feel that fasting is a great opportunity to grow spiritually and grow closer to our Heavenly Father. I was able to fast for my family and feel closer to you all. It was a great opportunity and I feel thankful I was able to do it!

Judd Family Fasting

Emmy's day (11 yrs) to fast was Sunday, July 24th. She has been such a good sport about this family fast and has taken it very seriously. Emmy takes on a lot of emotional responsibility and was eager and nervous to be the family representative for this day. Needless to say, she was a little upset when she woke up early Sunday morning throwing up the absolutely nothing that she had in her stomach. She couldn't go to church and felt horrible.

"Does this mean that my fast isn't going to work? Am I letting people down?" Emmy said as she stumbled from the shower and fell limp on her bed, a failed attempt at preparing to go to church.

Dealing with my own pesky anxiety has made my especially sensitive to the anxiety of my children. It seems to be genetic, although experiencing it from a mother's perspective has helped me to respond to her and then to myself with empathy.

"Of course not. Your willingness to fast and your thoughts and prayers that are with the family, even those relatives that you don't know, will be just as effective in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. Maybe when you remember how awful you felt today, it can help you understand how awful other people feel other times. This helps us know how to comfort other people that are in hurting in some way."

I was thinking later that day as she lay moaning on the couch, how horribly difficult it is to see your children in pain, not being able to take that pain away. I could sit by her and stroke her head and I hope that just knowing that I was there, loving her, would make her physical load a little lighter.

So whatever loads we are carrying in the Stacey family, be they physical or spiritual, or both......we have felt the power of togetherness, of kneeling together and offering our love through this fast. Miracles can happen.

My day of fasting was Monday, July 25th. I had the benefit of being uplifted the previous day at church by an inspired High Councilman, who spoke of Gideon and his humility, mentioning that by making small efforts to do better, smaller than we can imagine, we will make a huge differences in our lives and our relationship with others. Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed with how much about myself that I want to change that I let this keep me from feeling the spirit and the love of Heavenly Father. I felt a peace when he spoke. This life shouldn't be as hard as I sometimes make it out to be. I have so much to do, but I can do it a little bit at a time. I felt so happy during my fast and it miraculously left me without my usual fasting migraine.

LOVE,

Vanessa and family

From Jessica

My fast day was a week ago today, but I haven't gotten the chance to post since then.

Because I can't physically fast from food, I planned myself a service fast. I kept my day cleared to work on Humanitarian Aid projects for as long as I would have fasted from food.

The day before my fast my Grandpa Chris had a stroke. Because I'd kept my schedule clear I was able to go down and be with family all day Friday. Instead of working on humanitarian aid projects, suddenly my service project became setting up a slide show of grandpa's life and designing a program we used yesterday for his funeral. I am so grateful I had that block of service scheduled so I could do that for him. Even my fast day turned into a blessing!

As far as other blessings, we have already seen one on our behalf. As I'm sure most of you know, I've been sick ever since I got home from my mission. I've recently felt impressed to start searching for coping methods rather than a 'cure' and braced myself for a long, annoying road of finding professionals who would actually understand my condition. (finding understanding doctors has been one of the hardest parts of all this)

A few weeks ago I met with the first one, a physical therapist, and to my complete surprise it worked! He just transferred from a clinic where he'd been working with cardiac patients and so instantly understood my condition. That never happens and certainly not on a first try- my condition is rare enough most doctors just look at me with a blank stare as I explain it to them. I'm really excited to work with someone who can help me learn how to manage my symptoms a little better.

We are still searching for doctors, specialists or coping methods to help us figure out the best quality of life I can have with my illness. (specifically a chronic fatigue specialist, POTS specialist, a dietitian or possibly someone else- Who knows! We're just kind of making this up as we go.) While we appreciate all prayers in our behalf during this fast, we would really appreciate prayers in this specific search.

Thanks for your sacrifices. I know we are fasting and praying for a large number of family members, but it's amazing how it can still feel very personal.

-Jessica

From Linda

So,

I really hope today was my day, because I fasted. I couldn't access the chart but I'm not computer savvy and it's a gradual work in progress............my computer savviness!!
It was cool to fast on a weekday when everyone is going about their weekly business. I don't do that very often. I kept thinking about all of you knowing (well if today is my day) that I'm fasting for our family welfare this day. I think that kept my hunger pains away. My fast day (if this is indeed my day) came at a time I needed to fast. I found that interesting and I am very humbled and grateful.

Several years ago when my (not so mature.............they are mature now) children would complain about fasting and how hard it was and how hungry they were, I decided to do an exercise and find all of the blessings that have been promised us when we fast. I used my scriptures. I shared them with my kids and passed them around in fast meeting during sacrament.............but lost them somewhere along the way. So, last Sunday I did the exercise again. I thought I would share them with everyone:

AWESOME BLESSINGS PROMISED TO US THROUGH THE FAST

Helamen 3:35 We can be PURIFIED and SANCTIFIED from fasting.

3 Nephi 27:1 Fasting in mighty prayer and fasting can UNITE our family.

D&C 59:13 Our JOY can be full if we have a perfect fast.

D&C 88:118 If we create a house of fasting, we will find a SANCTUARY, a TABERNACLE TO BE EDIFIED BY HOLY SPIRIT. I noticed something in this verse I haven't noticed and I like it.

Isaiah 58:THE WHOLE CHAPTER (IF YOU READ ONLY ONE THING IN MY BLOG READ THIS)
1. loose the bonds of wickedness
2. undo heavy burdens
3. burdens will become light
4. you will feed the hungry
5. your health will spring forth
6. the lord will be your reargaurd (defender)
7. the Lord will hear you when you call upon him.
8. You will be a light to those around you.
9. The Lord will guide you continually
10. The Lord will satisfy your soul in drought (hard times)
11. You shall be a spring of water whose waters fail not.

I'd say this is pretty much the coolest fast I've ever done and I thank all of you for the opportunity. I'm holding fast to the united power we can access from this Fast.

Linda

From Yvonne

I fasted last week. It was a wonderful day, but has been so busy since that I haven’t had a chance to post until now.

I felt the same connectedness that Marika had felt on her fast July 2 and I spent the day thinking of all of you. While I am do not see many of you very often, I know you include my sisters’ and brothers’ children, grandchildren and in two cases, great grandchildren. I love my brothers and sisters and find myself having the same desires for their children and grandchildren that I have for my own.

My prayer was that the Lord would be mindful of you, of your needs and righteous desires. I know that fasting and prayer is not a magic wand we wave in the expectation that all our problems will be solved and all our wishes will be granted, but I also know the Lord hears the petitions of our hearts, spoken and unspoken, public and private.

So while I know the answers sometimes come in dramatic fashion, it is more likely that they will come quietly, often in our hearts as often as before our eyes. I just know they will come.

Thanks to all of you who are fasting each day. I feel like you are doing it in my behalf as well as everyone else’s, both for me and for my children and grandchildren. It is another way in which I feel connected to you.

Yvonne Peterson