I've thought a lot about what I wanted to write in this, because you all mean a lot to me, and I want to say this all right. Let me start off by saying once again how much I love you. Do you realize all that we've been through together in these past 2 years? Climbing up and down hills, volcanoes, being almost bitten my millions of dogs and other animals, teaching people next to Jesus statues, 2 Christmases with fireworks and other craziness, late night bike rides in the rain, pregnant rabbit soup on San Blas, kids pooping directly into the water for fun, learning to sew and make bracelets, making tons of tamales, jumping in the air on the side of the freeway after a horrible day of rejections, pushing trucks out of gutters, swimming in swamp water, playing soccer with kids in the streets anywhere anytime, burning my feet really badly and then putting them in boiling water to "suck" the burn out of them, golfing rats, biking in Causeway, and so many many more things that we're been able to do together.
What have these 2 years taught me? More than I ever thought possible. I really cannot believe that it's over, the thought makes me shiver. Every time back home when missionaries were off on their missions, then all of the sudden, they were back home again, it amazed me how fast the time flew by. I thought, nah, that won't happen with me, it'll feel like an eternity in the mission, 2 whole years! But wow, faster than ever. I want you all to know and understand really just how much I love you, my family, my friends, everyone.
My love for the Savior has grown more than I thought possible too. I feel as though so much has changed, and yet, when I get home, it really hasn't. When God sends His young sons and daughters off to foreign countries or in their same countries to serve missions, what does He expect of them? When I left on the mission, I wasn't exactly sure what I was doing, how I was going to do it, and so many other questions that boggled my mind. While in the MTC, I felt really inadequate and wanted to go home. I never told you all that, but it was really difficult for me, thinking that I wouldn't get the language down, and that I didn't have a stong enough testimony to teach other people. As it says in the scriptures, before declaring my word, seek to obtain my word. How could I testify of something that I wasn't sure of myself? Everyone, I know now what I didn't know then. This Church, this Gospel, is the only way we have as God's children to return to live with him. You can say that all churches will lead you to heaven, and in part you're correct. But our Heavenly Father is a father of order, not of confusion and mixed ideas. How can you assume that all churches are correct when they all teach in their own way? This is the one true church, and I know that now. I know without a doubt that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that through him the Church in its fullness was restored to this earth, and that all began with a simple and humble prayer from a young curious man.
What I said in my testimony yesterday in church because everyone wanted me to give my final words, was "Bueno yo sé sin ninguna dude que esta iglesia es verdadera, pero si ustedes no lo saben, pregunten, porque tienen que saberlo." It's as simple as this. If you don't know yet that the church is true, really, what are you waiting for? Or for those that used to know it but have forgetten as many do, come on back and remember how you used to feel when you were doing what was right. Sin pena, sin vergüenza, solo hazlo. I don't know how else to phrase it, or sugarcoat it, because I'm not going to beat around the bush with our eternal salvation. God doesn't beat arund the bush, He burns them...just ask Moses.
These 2 years have built the foundation of my life. Every decision that I now make will be a reflection of how I served the Lord for 2 years of dedicated service. Carry on everyone, because this is true. Don't be swayed by the doctrines of man, because they will only lead you down dark alleys that all have dead ends. When you get there, sitting in the corner in the darkess, looking back out towards the street, you'll realize that there is only one way out, and that is through our Heavenly Father and the Atonement of His Son.
I'm really excited for this next stage of my life, all the decisions that I'll have to make that will shape my future. I hope you all have benefited from these emails, because I certainly have. You've been very faithful, and I feel as though you know my mission just as well as I do, haha. I want to leave you all with a final scripture, my favorite on, Alma 26:12. I feel as though now that "Yo sé que nada soy" means even more to me now. I am a mere servant of the Lord, among many. In comparison to God, I am nothing, and yet, He offers us all the blessing to become like unto Him. From a grain of sand into a pearl. From a little piece of carbon into a diamond. From the dust of the earth, to a god in heaven. I love you all very much. I will forever have the reputation as the "missionary who gets the most mail in the mission", and that's because of you guys :) See you Thursday!
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