June 30, 2025
It has been an honor to be a missionary in the California Arcadia Mission, but more that anything it has been an honor to be a servant of my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. They both have become something so much more real to me. I remember one specific day on my mission where I received a letter from my father, and he signed it something like this, “I love you so much, but the love your heavenly father has for YOU is so much deeper than either of us can comprehend." In that moment something clicked in my heart and my head that helped me understand the tiniest piece of love my heavenly father has for me. And that love has only continued to deepen as I have continued to do His work. My homesickness has been my biggest challenge for me on my mission, but now I am homesick for heaven. Any moment that I thought I couldn’t go any more, my heavenly father was always there to pick me up and help me keep the pace. Probably the most important lesson that I have learned, one principle that I will carry with me throughout my life is that the first answer any problem we in front in life it to call, and not fall. Meaning to plead with our Heavenly Father in every moment of our life, but especially when you are afraid to fall. And I know now that our Heavenly Father will never let me fall, all because of the mercy that He has that comes from our Savior.
That leads me to my next topic. My relationship with Jesus Christ has changed, grown, and molded into something new than anything I ever thought possible. The refiner's fire truly has come and gone here on the mission, but I am so grateful that I went through it. There was no other option than to trust in my big brother Jesus Christ during these moments of despair. But the craziest thing is that at the beginning I would fight so hard to not step in the flames or stay out of the darkness. But what I have come to realize is that it is a lot easier to not fight against it, accept it as part of God's will, and press forward with steadfast faith in Jesus Christ. Someone very important in my life once told me to grow where you are planted. I have come to understand that the growing, the joy, the sadness, the hope, all comes from the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The Living Christ states, “He was arrested and condemned on spurious charges, convicted to satisfy a mob and sentenced to die on Calvary's cross. He gave his life to atone for the sins of all mankind. His was a great vicarious gift on behalf of all who would ever live upon the earth.” Those words ring through my heart always to help me better understand what He gave. Oh what a beautiful gift He so freely gave, as He only did what The Father wanted him to do. One of the greatest joys is to be able to help other people's lives change because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and to see them make covenants with Him to be able to access the atoning power. I can say with more confidence now than ever that I know my Savior Jesus Christ lives! And not only does He live, but he is right by me as I run the greatest race ever, the race of life. He suffered, died, and resurrected so that we all one day receive that fullness of joy. And it is only through the atonement that I/we can become new creatures in Christ.
In order to be able to become new creatures in Christ. It is absolutely necessary to learn, seek, and follow the impressions of the spirit. Over the course of my mission. I have been guided to people and have learned to let the spirit guide me in decisions that I take. One of the most memorable experiences ever is when me and Hermana Smith were put together out of our training in the most Spanish packed area in the whole mission. It is a miracle that we made it out alive and weren’t kidnapped! Those 3 months of my whole mission me and my companion had to fully rely on the spirit to guide us, protect us, and to fully trust in the gift of tongues to teach the people of East Los Angeles! One night we were walking on the streets as the sun was low in the sky, I can’t remember where we were trying to go, but as we were walking and the spirit filled my body and literally turned my body and had me start talking. I can tell you now that the Lord used me has his instrument in that moment. One of my greatest joys in my whole mission was to teach Salvador and Camilia. They have not been baptized yet, but I know God has a perfect plan for them. Over the course of my mission, I have witnessed the spirit quite literally turn my body and open my mouth to teach God’s children many times. Another sacred moment I witnessed was when me, Hermana Smith, and Hermana Wright were doing a bike day in Haciena. For many days we had been visiting this apartment complex without a ton of luck. But as we came back and were about to lock up our bikes the 1st voice urged me to talk to this one woman, but quickly the 2nd voice came in and told me she looked too busy. However, that did not stop us, we pressed forward to speak with her and she was so prepared. Sara is her name, and she was baptized not long after that moment. Those are only a couple experiences but there is so many more! I have loved letting the spirit guide me to where I need to go and to shout “HOLA” across the street to just share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
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