June 14, 2016

"Some missionaries may wonder whether they are in the right place, in the right mission. It is no accident for them to be where they are assigned. The Lord knows the missionaries. He knows their mission presidents. I think He knows who their companions will be. I don't know the detail to which He knows the future, but my impression is He knows a great deal. He calls missionaries to the places they are assigned. So, even when it's difficult, you can have confidence that the Lord knew the difficulty in advance, and just as He assured Nephi that He wouldn't give a commandment save He prepared a way for it to be accomplished, missionaries can have that same assurance, tough as it may be, whatever the situation, that the Lord knew the difficulties would be there. He has prepared a way. Have faith. Go forward."

- Henry B. Eyring

Wow.... here we are, at the end of a successful two years of hard work and growth. It has been crazy to now that this time is already about to end. I can't believe that it is already here. I have learned many things. I have changed a bit, and I can say that I am a different person yet also the exact same. It is so weird to know that this has already come. After today, I will have only five more days to enjoy here in Chile, and I can hardly expect to be home so soon. I feel like I still have months left to go, but I think that it's the tender mercy of the Lord that I don't feel focused on getting home already. It will be interesting to be home. 

This week, we baptized a man named Jose. He is the husband of a member in our ward, and he has been able to see many miracles while learning about the gospel and applying it to his life. At his baptism, it was beautiful to see his wife give a short message about the importance of baptism. As she was bearing her testimony, she began to thank my companion and I for all the work that we had done to teach Jose. It was so touching to hear this thanks from her. She was so grateful to have us here to teach, to give up two years of our lives to serve the Lord and to proclaim His gospel. 

I can honestly say that I have learned a lot. Now that this is the end of the mission, I can tell all these stories. Mom, if you are reading this, you can stop now. I have had many things happen to me while I was here. Everything from drunks trying to rob me, a man coming at us with an axe, being yelled at in the face that I'm a liar, being attacked by dogs, being threatened, having people lie to me, people rejecting us, being attacked by people in the street, having four ingrown toenails, being super sick for an extended period of time, feeling alone, literally passing through the fire of affliction, and I have come out intact, stronger, and more refined.

All of these hard moments I have had are nothing compared to the feelings of finally hearing a yes, a please come by and teach us. I love hearing everything from a "Elders, what do I have to do to be baptized?" to a "Please tell me more." The moment when one sees another person making covenants with the Lord fill the soul. It doesn't matter what anyone else has said or done because when one sees this, those pains are gone. 

Wow... two years. This time could have been used to study, get a job, start a family, but what I have done here saves families, helps others get a job and learn how to study, and helps me as I've learned how to have a solid foundation for a family. I've been able to do much more here in two years than I could have ever done in the USA in two years. I feel so much more accomplished and so much more filled with joy knowing that I've done this not only for myself, but for all the others I've helped have this same joy I have. This makes me feel even more joyful. Service in the name of the Lord is truly the best. Being His representative, called by Him to serve here... there is no feeling to compare. I'm so glad to be here.

The greatest moments one can have is to know that they said what the Lord wanted them to say or did what He wanted you to do. It is so great to have the feeling that what you are doing is not the best or that what you say isn't sufficient to help a certain person continue to desire the gospel, but then you learn that the person who is there at your side needed to hear those very words. I am so glad to be here, and I know that the Lord, even our very Savior, Jesus Christ, called me here to serve. This work is the work of the Lord, for if it was not, I would not be here still.

I know that this is THE church of Christ, for I have studied it out. I have prayed many times to ask if it is His church, and I HAVE received an answer: that it is true. I know that The Book of Mormon and the Bible are the word of God here in this time. I know that and so much more because I have worked to obtain these answers from our Heavenly Father, and I know that you can too. 

Well, here's the final sign-off:

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu, goodbye!!! 

Adios mi querido pais de chile. Siempre estara en mi corazon. Nos volveremos a ver. "Y la misma sociabilidad que existe entre nosotros aqui, existira entre nosotros alla; pero la acompañará un agloria eterna que ahora no conocemos." (Doctrina y Convenios 130:2)

[Goodbye my dear country of Chile. You will always be in my heart. We're going to see each other again. "And that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy." (Doctrine and Covenants 130:2)].

Hasta vernos con el rey para siempre Dios esté con vos. 

[God be with you 'til we meet again.]

Elder Gale