I don't know how I feel writing this....it's a weird
sensation to know that there is just a couple days until the great and dreadful
day arrives. I am very excited to see you all again though! I am really excited
to see how much you have changed and grown.
Spiritual: this by far has one of the most amazing weeks
of my life.
Words cannot describe how amazing it has been to be
witnessing the hand of the Lord like this. We have seen so many miracles and
felt the spirit so strongly this week. Everything from new baptismal dates to
an actual baptism. We have seen new investigators fall from the sky and prayers
said a long time ago answered. It's been amazing. As my first full time mission
comes to a close, it's interesting for me to look back over the past two years
and see what has happened. There are a few themes that stand out to me as I
reflect. The first and most important thing that has stood out to me as I have
thought about my mission is the understanding and knowledge that I have gained
about my savior and his atonement. I know now from personal experience that the
atonement is real! Jesus Christ can provide us strength to face our troubles,
hope for the resurrection, and peace from our mistakes in life. I am so
grateful for the knowledge that this is real. The spirit has confirmed this to
my heart time and time again and I have seen the evidences manifest in my life
by the strength that He has given me and the peace that comes into my life.
Jesus Christ lives. He is the savior and redeemer of the world. He is my
brother, my friend and my king. I am so grateful for the experiences I have had
with my companions. I have had all sorts of favors, sizes and varieties of
companions. All with their individual strengths and weaknesses and I love every
single one of them. Each one has brought something new that I have learned and
blessed my life with. I love them all. Through the good times and the bad. I am
grateful for an amazing mission president. I have been so honored to serve with
him and learn from his dedication to the savior and the gospel. It's been an
incredible wonderful opportunity to associate with such a great man of God. The
other thing that I have gotten out of my mission that was a little more
unexpected was a true, deep and profound love for my family at home. Being away
from home has made me realize a lot of things about my family and the blessings
I have been enjoying my whole life. My dear faithful mother has written me a
letter every single week for the whole two years. She doesn't realize it but
those letters have carried me through some hard days and some hard times. I
have felt so much love and support from her and from my whole family as I have
been here. That support has helped me so much and I am so grateful for a family
sent from heaven. I am grateful for an angel of a mother who takes the time to
do things that will make me smile like cutting out a comic from the newspaper
and mailing it to me. I am so so so grateful to a merciful Heavenly Father for
such an amazing woman in my life. I am excited to spend the rest of eternity
with those that I have come to love out here. My family and those that I have
been blessed to be able to teach. This church is the Lord’s kingdom on the
earth. He leads and directs it through a prophet of God who hears his voice and
follows his commands. Joseph smith is a prophet of God and he translated the
Book of Mormon. It's true. It's the way to a happy life. There is so much more
to say but is sufficient to say that I know that this gospel is the way for us
to be truly happy. It's God’s plan and it's real. Genuine and true. I bear this
testimony in the name of my savior Jesus Christ amen.
Funny: We have been trying to learn how to make some
super good curry for a whole now and finally last night that prayer was
answered. We met a family from India who took us in and talked us through how
to make curry! Delicious! It was super super spicy though.
Where I am at! Well, it's been fun! If you are not a member
of the church you really should be. I highly recommend it. It's the best. I
come home on Wednesday. Yikes. It breaks my heart to leave my new family here
but it has to be. I love Elder Hearne and Elder Bringhurst and the fun times we
have had together. Love them. I love this place.
California San Jose is amazing. I love you all!
