I love the hymn one of my best friends/cousin shared with me when she finished her mission, it's helped me in my mission and illustrates the feelings I've had these last few months.
1. The time is far spent; there is little remaining
To publish glad tidings by sea and by land.
Then hasten, ye heralds; go forward proclaiming:
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven’s at hand,
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven’s at hand.
2. Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant,
But follow the Savior, your pattern and friend.
Our little afflictions, tho painful at present,
Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end,
Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end.
3. What, tho, if the favor of Ahman possessing,
This world’s bitter hate you are called to endure?
The angels are waiting to crown you with blessings!
Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure.
Go forward, be faithful, the promise is sure.
4. Be fixed in your purpose, for Satan will try you;
The weight of your calling he perfectly knows.
Your path may be thorny, but Jesus is nigh you;
His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose.
His arm is sufficient, tho demons oppose.
His arm has truly been more than sufficient these last 18+ months. He has been with me through every step, tear, turn and smile. Although there were times I fell to my knees crying to the Lord to know where He was, He came countless times to my rescue with the spirit of peace, love, gratitude and an invitation to keep going. I am eternally grateful for my mission.
I love the end of transfers right before someone in the companionship leaves. Throughout my mission they have been the moments in which the Lord pours an abundance of miracles and prepares both the missionaries and the area for the change. These past few days we've been able to recieve some of these miracles.
First off we have been using technology. We have an app here called WhatsApp and EVERYONE uses it because it's free and you can make calls and texts to people all over the world. Only a few days after receiving this blessing of an App we met a new friend Benedikt. He's here for a foreign exchange program and still has his number from Germany. We taught him the whole lesson of the Restoration and prayed with him in the street. He had so many questions and was enthused to learn more. Because of WhatsApp we already have been able to have easy daily contact with him and are able to send uplifting messages and extend reading invitations in his native language. It's a miracle! I am looking forward to continue to invite others to come unto Christ knowing that my work isn't finished as my time as a full-time missionary comes to an end.
Thank you all who have supported me throughout this journey in Spain. Thank you for your prayers and your encouraging words, you have been an answer to my prayers and through your prayers I have been able to recieve strength beyond my own. I know that God lives. He loves us. I know that the Savior of the world lived, died and resurrected so that each and everyone of us can enjoy the blessings of repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost and the gift of eternal life. The Lord knows us perfectly. He can make weak things strong. He has and He will. I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God and is evidence of His restored Gospel. Don't go even a day without it.
Thomas S Monson is a Prophet of God, he is our prophet. I love him and sustain him. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
