When I was in Young Women I didn't get the opportunity to finish my Personal Progress, but I hoped that one day I would. When I received a call to serve in Young Women as an adult, I felt it was an opportunity to complete my Personal Progress. I made a promise to myself that before I was released from Young Women I would do it. As a presidency we decided to work on our Personal Progress so that we could encourage the Young Women to work on theirs. A year and a couple of months later the presidency was released because one sister was moving away. I moved to Cape Town before I concluded my goal. I was unable to keep my promise, but I decided not to give up on it.
In Cape Town I again had the opportunity to work on my Personal Progress. There were times when I became discouraged, thinking that I would never finish it because I had failed to do so in the past. What helped me to keep trying?
- Prayer
- Scripture study
- Elder Jeffery R. Holland's quote 'DON'T YOU QUIT. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead.'
Projects I have worked on:
- For the Faith value project: I chose to read Alma 32: 28-43. I planted a vegetable garden.
- For the Divine Nature value project: I chose to develop a skill I could use in my future home (cooking). I helped my YSA representative with catering for a YSA dance. We made vetkoek.
- For the Good Works value project: I chose to prepare to be a homemaker by collecting recipes, shopping for food and preparing meals for my family.
- For the Virtue value project: I read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover.
I felt my Heavenly Father's love for me as I was doing my Personal Progress. My relationship with my Heavenly Father has improved. I learnt a lot about what He expects from me, and about myself. I feel so happy now that I have done it. I was very emotional when the medallion was to be presented to me. It was as if a rewind button was pressed and I could see myself, the tears that were shed along the way, but finally I have kept my promise. I kept walking. I kept trying. Indeed there is happiness ahead.
My advice to those that have started: Don't give up. Keep walking. Keeping trying. It will be worth it in the end. All you have to do is ask for help if you feel like you can't do it on your own.