February
6, 2019
HOLA
Y ADIOS!!!!
How do you express 18 months of gratitude, love, joy, tears, and
miracles in one email? You don't. This is a very
bittersweet email. I don't really know what to share or what to say. This has
been a very hard and daunting week for me. I have been reflecting a lot on what
my mission has meant, what I've learned, and all the miracles that God has
allowed me to see and be a part of. I know that this really is the work of our
Father. He uses us as instruments.
This week has been incredible. The hand of God has been so apparent in
everything that we've been doing. Let’s just talk about a couple of my favorite
miracles.
La familia Flores. They have been taught for a couple months and it has
been very slow. The Seguras live in the same apartment complex and at a pool
party just went up to Abby and said "Habla español?" and they've been
friends ever since. It's been really slow and we've just built up a lot of
trust with them. In the new year we started Ven, Sigueme (“Come follow Me”) with
them and that is when it all changed. The last week they came to church and
that same week the familia Murillo moved in. They connected instantly. They've
been coming to our lessons with us and it's been incredible. They are there.
They are right there!!! It's been a miracle to see how much God has been
reaching out to them throughout their lives. Last
night, we had one of the sweetest lessons of my whole mission with Abby and
Ricky. The questions they asked and just how much they truly thirst for
knowledge was a huge reminder to me why I originally came out. I have had
undeniable experiences with the Spirit and have found so much joy in the
gospel, I love my brothers and sisters and I want them to have what I
have!!
Freddy has also had a huge change of heart. Think about the Grinch.
That's about where he was at. His wife is a member and he's been so tough. Now
his heart has grown 3 sizes at least.
There are so so many more and I am
so excited to share them with you all.
Funny moment, Hermana Dora is a champ. She shares the gospel with
everything that breathes. She's been making plans to move to Utah and told a
bunch of her friends. They told her they were wanting to go to church with her,
but only if she stayed in South Carolina. She just said "Siguen al Señor,
no siguen a mi!" Oh she's an angel.
It has been a really big battle for me thinking about going home. I miss
my family, I miss my friends, but I love being a missionary. I feel like the
time went all to fast! I've tried to come to terms with it and wow, it's been
tough. On Sunday after church I had said goodbye to some of the most amazing
people, it hit me that next week I wouldn't be doing that anymore.. Let's just
say.. It wasn't pretty. It was a mix of me bawling, and laughing because I was
so sad yet joyful at the same time? Needless to say, it was weird and that was
low point. I went home and just expressed the sweetest prayer of gratitude for
all Heavenly Father has allowed me to be a part of. He is so loving and so good
to us. I felt prompted that I needed to start praying for the desire to go home
because I know there really are good things ahead.. Well folks. You should
always follow spiritual promptings, but remember, God does answer prayers. I
woke up the next morning SO SICK!! Being sick on the mission is the pits. It
has fulfilled it's purpose and helped me reflect and come to terms with going
home. I know that is the next step
and I am so excited to see what the Lord will allow me to be a part of. Even
with being sick and all the things that have happened, I know that I
gave me very best and fullest effort until the end. It's all left on the field.
I keep thinking about Winnie the Poo and when he talks about how
grateful we should be to have something that makes saying goodbye so
hard.
This
has become one of my favorite talks by Elder Uchtorf and has helped me so so
much.
"In light of what
we know about our eternal destiny, is it any wonder that whenever we face the
bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us? There seems to be
something inside of us that resists endings.
Why is this? Because we
are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the
Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings
without number. Endings are not our destiny.
The more we learn about
the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that endings here in mortality
are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the
eternal joy awaiting the faithful.
How grateful I am to my
Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true endings, only everlasting
beginnings."
I know Jesus Christ
lives. I have no doubt that he does. I am so grateful that he gives us our
weaknesses so we remember him, so we think of him, so we find so much needed
strength through him. He is my Savior. He loves me as I am, he helps me become
what God has planned. I know that miracles will continue to be a consistent
part of my life as I work to bring more souls unto Christ, just in a little
different way. I know the Book of Mormon is true. The words and the stories
have come alive, the doctrine about the Savior has changed me. Joseph Smith was
a prophet, we have a living and inspired prophet today. I am confident that he
was called of God. I know that this is his perfect work and he
uses imperfect people as his instruments. I will be eternally
grateful to my Heavenly Father, to my Savior, my mission Presidente, my
companions, and all the people that have become so close to my heart. I am
going to miss them so much. I know that now it hurts, but there is no such
thing as real endings. I know I will be with so many of them for the
eternities. :)
I love
y'all and I am so excited to see you so so soon!
CON AMOR
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