Philippines Iloilo Mission: 07/22/19

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"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."

Maayong udto sa inyo tanan!

Well this is it. My last week in the mission field. I can truly say that the scripture in my subject/title above has been fulfilled. That's the verse I chose before I served a mission and I honestly didn't know why I chose that verse but I felt drawn to it. But honestly I know that it wasn't by chance. I feel that in this mission I have learned what God commands us to do as His representatives and I have felt true happiness being an instrument in His work.

I am really changed because of my simple decision to serve this 18 month mission. Honestly I didn't know what I was getting myself into when I chose to serve, but He knew. He knew why I chose to serve and He knew that I would learn that along the way.

Before I served a mission, I believed in God and I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God but my here in the mission, my belief has transformed into not only believing, but instead actually knowing. I know that we can have a relationship with Them not because we see Them but because we feel their presence through the Holy Spirit that they send down.

That is one of the most important tools I've learned to be worthy of in these 18 months. This work of teaching the good news of Jesus Christ to others is only possible through the guidance of the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful that I've learned to be receptive to the promptings sent down from above. Each day as I go out into the world, I am comforted in the assurance that I am being guided. And those that I've taught here in my mission are really evidence of what I've felt.

I can't explain the happiness I feel as I share with others simple and plain doctrines that help us to know the true character of God and Jesus Christ. The lightness we feel in our hearts and the interest in their eyes testify to me of their minds and hearts opening up to grow closer to Him who created us. I am so grateful that I experience others lives truly changing and moving away from a natural man/woman into a saint and a follower of God.

In this mission, I've given all my time and efforts as much as I can to God by serving other people, but as I was serving others, it impacted me as well in such a big way. I have changed. I am better. I can say with confidence that I am a daughter of God who can return back to Him. And I know my mission doesn't end here! I need to continue serving, changing, and sharing with others these things that I not only believe but also KNOW. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of our loving Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ suffered, prayed, bled, served, and endured for us. And I know that what I've done in this mission will never be enough for the Atonement He did for us, but I will strive to give myself fully in being a disciple of His always, no matter where I am and no matter who I am with. I know that I wouldn't have survived this all if I didn't know the Book of Mormon was true. The Book of Mormon has given me the spiritual strength to overcome the challenges of representing Jesus Christ. The mission wasn't easy but no one ever promised it would be easy! But I am so grateful I am worthy of the trials I've faced and I will continue to smile no matter what because He lives! He lives for us and in us. I love my mission. I love those I've served and I love the Philippines, God has truly prepared souls here. I know that these things are true, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.