Moment of Truth

 

Hi, my name is Sister Biggs and I have gained weight on my mission.

No really! I have! I have gained about ten pounds. There are two reasons for this change. #1 I am not as active. #2 I eat as though I was still active.

Nobody likes feeling bad about their body. Usually, I do not. However, gaining some weight was making me feel down. I was particularly panicked when my clothes started getting tighter. So, I knuckled down and decided to lose some weight. I have tried a couple of times before and failed. This time I promised myself that I would keep picture records of my progress so that I could share it with you! So, here I am keeping my promise.

Day 1 picture

Here is the book that I used to set up my exercise routine.

My main problem was not getting myself to exercise, it was consistantly exercising. I decided that I can do any exercise routine for three days in a row. So, I do three days of exercise. Then I skip a day. Then I do three more days of exercise. So far, this has been working. I run for fifteen minutes every morning.

The first week I could barely make it through the whole run. The second week I did a lot better. The third week I was surprised at how quickly it passed! Now I am trying to run faster over the whole period. I can tell that I am getting faster. It is really fun to see my progress. I feel really good about myself. Not to mention, I have lost five pounds! 

Now, I have also tried to control my eating. Mostly, I do not snack too much, I drink lots of water, and I take single portions at meals. I am not always the best at this, but it has been helping.

My favorite part so far is not losing the weight, but having such good self esteem. I like my studies more. I like the people around me more. I feel God's love more. I am more self disciplined.

I think it is cool that our bodies and our spirits are connected. When I am doing well spiritually, I feel good physically. This past month I have learned that as I do well physically I do well emotionally and spiritually.

Champion good! Exercise!

Tai Kwon Do

When I was nine, my older brother watched The Karate Kid. He and the rest of my four brothers were so enthused they convinced our mom to sign us all up for a Tai Kwon Do class. She agreed under one condition: we had to buy our uniform and gear.

I think I borrowed a uniform until I was able to buy my own. The borrowed ones were plain and white. I liked class, but did not practice at home, which made me nervous for every class. However, I had a good instructor. He was a tall, thin man with a low voice, a thick mustache and a trusting way about him. I looked up to him a lot. I wanted to please him with my progress, so eventually I did try to practice a little. I was dying for the day when I could wear my karate uniform in class! It would undoubtedly make me better at Tai Kwon Do! I wanted the belt and the Korean and America flag patches especially. They looked so official.

However, I did not have the money for my uniform. I saved up for over a month. I got an allowance, I did little jobs, and saved money I found in the laundry. I kept it all in a little purse.

You know the smell of change you've been holding in your hand? Nickles, dimes, pennies and quarters all smell that way if you hold them for any length of time. That smell became familiar to me.I counted the mounds of change in my purse over and over as I saved up for my uniform. I had a small wad of dollar bills, but for the most part, my savings were in change.

Eventually, the long awaited day came for me to buy my uniform. My mom and I walked solemnly back into my instructor's office. Both of them stood to the side as they watched me count out every penny of the required amount. After the few agonizing minutes of coins clinking onto the desk, I looked up and saw my mom and instructor looking at me proudly. I was extremely proud of myself. I had done it! I had earned my uniform!

Christ is ultimately the one who saves us. Choosing to follow Him is like me deciding to please my instructor. Someday we will stand before the Lord and give "an accounting" (The Bible, Matthew 12:36) of our lives. I think every small deed is a penny or two in our purse. I have no idea what judgement day will be like, but I think Christ will be just as proud of you and me and our small efforts to practice and to save up for our "heavenly" uniform. I think Heavenly Father and Christ see our efforts whether small or great, and are proud of us when we do our part. We will have their names and symbols emblazoned on our chests and look "official" and be great at Tai Kwon Do!

Champion Good!

Helping Mary

Last year I worked for five months as a certified nursing assistant (CNA). Nursing assistants do dirty work. We deal with all of the messes that the human body can make. However, we are also the ones that spend the most one on one time with patients. We talk with them, dress them, clean them, feed them, and measure their improvement.

One of the most meaningful memories I have comes from when I was Mary's CNA.

Mary was a sad sight. My first impression was of her large stomach, filthy mouth, smelly clothes, and gunky eyes. Mary was wheelchair bound. She did not speak or move her eyes, although people said she loved to sing. Earlier in life, she had been an opera singer. Her opera career publicity photos were displayed in her room. They bore no resemblance to the squashed, empty, lump of a woman who was now confined to her wheelchair.

When she was moved to my hall I had to inspect her condition. It was worse than I thought. Everywhere skin folded (armpits, thighs, belly rolls etc.) was bright red and raw. Her flaking, dry skin had gathered in the sweaty folds in globs of what looked like human cheese. I was disgusted, mad, and full of pity. "No one deserves to be this way!" I thought.
The next morning I gave Mary a shower. I took every pain I could to make her comfortable and to carefully restore her skin to health. Gently I soaped and rinsed her raw skin. I brushed her teeth twice over and flossed them. I wiped her eyes and washed her hair. I tried to talk to her kindly.

Eventually she started to look around and whisper raspy, one-word replies to my questions. Eventually, I told her about my interest in music and asked her if she knew any songs. She and I both knew quite of few of the same songs! While I worked, she and I sang. Her aged voice still showed evidence of her training and vocation. We smiled at one another and by the end of the shower when she was dried, dressed and warm, she was also happy.

Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:40