Dear President and Sister Baird,
You have asked all the missionaries to write some life-changing
experiences that we are grateful for.
I remember once when I was in high school. I was walking down the hall next to the lunch
room when I saw a poorly aimed pop bottle on the floor next to the
garbage. As I came closer, I thought to
myself, “I should pick that up.” But my
next thought was “Oh, it’s OK, it doesn’t matter.” As I stepped over it, I realized my heart
sunk a little, but I kept going.
It was
only 8 steps later that I heard a voice say, “Hoyt!” I turned around to find Coach Kelley with the
bottle in his hand. He simply said, “Hoyt,
I expected more of you.”
Those words have never left me. It was in that moment I realized that people
had expectations for me. This caused me
to ponder. I thought instantly about the
expectations God has for me and my heart began to sink. It was from this moment I realized that God
loves us.
I came to learn that God has
given us expectations so that we can grow and reach our full potential. I testify that God loves us so much that he
has sent his son Jesus Christ to accomplish the Atonement on our behalf, so that we may fill those expectations. These things I testify in the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.
Thank you, President and Sister Baird, for your love. I can feel it and it strengthens me. Thank you for having me in Toyohashi with
Elder Cruz and Elder Pearson. I love
them and am so grateful for them. Thank
you for all you do.
Love, Elder Hoyt H. Freeman
