The Last Letter: 11/9/15

Even though I am half packed, I am still in denial. But I finally finished the poem I started back when I was home for medical leave. I would get in these hate spirals where I would think of all the reasons why I didn't want to go back. Here are some different titles we have brain stormed: "For the Lord", "A Willing Heart", "John 6:38", and my personal favorite, "Eye Single to I'm Single" (haha that last one was a joke courtesy of Sister Keil). I would like to share the actually written down and probably not completed version with you all:

I may not love waking up at 6:30 every morning

But I love the people and I love the Lord

I may not love always having to put on my happy face

But I love the people and I love the Lord

I don't love talking to strangers who don't want to be bothered

I don't love walking in the snow with no one to see

I don't love having appointments all day to watch them all fall through

But I do love the people and I do love the Lord

I'll put on my dress, Clip the black nametag on

The Savior steps in and those don't loves are gone

I love the change that is wrought by faith

I love the doctrine that we get to teach

I love being the answer to somebody's prayer

I love the sweet spirit when I'm on my knees

Relaxation replaced with planning

Updating records instead of sleep

But letter by letter I see the person

The Lords making of these people and me

There are so many other things that I love about being a missionary. I love my mission. I wouldn't change it for the world. Missions are hard, but they are worth every step. There is a scripture that my stake president gave me before leaving for my mission the second time, Romans 10:14-15.

14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

I can promise you that my feet are NOT beautiful. Throughout the mission they get raw, they get blistered, they get callused, and (as many sisters can testify) during the summer they can get weird multi colored tan lines. But it has been a beautiful journey. Every step.

If this is your first time reading these email or if you have been reading faithfully every week, I just want to thank you for taking the time you've taken to listen to my random adventures! I hope to see many of you soon :) BYE!

Yep, we burned a dress.