Tales in Taiwan : Week #104 The Last Official E-Mail home....

I can't believe that this is the last weekly email I will be writing. I remember the last thing Wesley said to me before I left the door to go to the MTC was "don't wish it by". At the beginning of my mission two years seemed forever away and I wanted it to go by faster. But I have grown to love this work and my mission so much and I now understand why he said that. Well these past two years haven't been easy, they haven't been perfect, but I have loved it so much and I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to serve the Lord.

I want to share about 3 of the greatest things that I learned on my mission and how these things have blessed me.

1. God truly does have a specific plan for me.

There have definitely been times on my mission where I have wondered why I was called here. There are times when I felt that I had been in an area and made no large effect in anyone's life. But I always made it a habit of mine to pray every time I got a new companion or went to a new area and ask God why it is that he wanted me in this certain place with this certain companion. I asked him to bless me with experiences that would allow me to know why. Most of the experiences that I had were very small. But I know for sure that I was called here by a prophet of God, and I know that God has placed me where he has needed me to be. I have been blessed with many great companions and other missionaries around me that have taught me so much and have helped me become a better missionary and person. I never thought that a lot of my best friends would be people that I met on the mission. I have also been blessed to be placed in the path of many members, investigators, and others that have truly changed my life for the better. And hopefully I was able to have a positive effect in their lives as well.

2. The Lord can make more of us than we can ever make of ourselves.

One of my favorite quotes is by C.S. Lewis when he says The Lord says to us "Give me all. I don't want so much of your time, so much of your talents and money, and so much of your work: I want You. All of you. I have not come to torment or frustrate the natural man. But to kill it. No half-measures will do. I don't want to only prune a branch here and another there; rather, I want the whole tree out. Hand it all over to me, give yourself to me and I will make of you a new self in my image. Give me yourself and in exchange I will give you Myself. My will, shall become your will. My heart, shall become your heart." Once I started on the mission I didn't really like talking to people very much. A lot of the things that were involved in doing missionary work took me much further out of my comfort zone than I wanted to be. President Nelson once said "While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential." Although it wasn't easy, I know that as I have done my best to serve everyday with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength; the Lord has blessed me tremendously and changed me into a completely different person. I have faced many trials on my mission, but I know that all of these trials have been part of the Lord's plan in helping me become the type of person that he wants me to be. I know I wouldn't be the person I am today if I hadn't served a mission, or if the mission didn't include some necessary trials. I think Matthew 10:39 says it perfectly "39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." As I have lost myself in the Lord's work, I have been able to find myself and find out who the Lord wants me to become. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how it has allowed me to completely change.

3. I know the Gospel is true!

Growing up in the church, I have always believed that it was true. And I truly believe that my testimony wasn't just borrowed from my parents. I had read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it, and I felt that it was true. But on the other hand I felt like my testimony wasn't backed up with too many experiences. Also although I knew it was true, my actions didn't match my testimony. For example I wish I would have spent a lot more time studying the scriptures, or said more sincere prayers, or prepared myself better for the sacrament every week. Coming on a mission has strengthened my testimony more than anything else could have. I have been able to see how the gospel can change lives, and I have seen how my own life has changed as I have grown closer to my Savior. I think coming out of the little bubble of Provo, Utah has really helped me to see the difference in the lives of people with and without the Gospel. As I have studied the Book of Mormon deeper than ever before, and truly communicated with my Heavenly Father, I have been able to gain not only a true testimony, but a firm one. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that this church is true and that the Gospel ofJesus Christ is the only thing that will being us true happiness in this life and allow us to live with our families for eternity. I have grown to love the Book of Mormon so much and I never want to go another day without reading it. I am so grateful to have been a missionary. It is such a blessing to be able to say that because of my mission experience that I know without a fiber of doubt that the gospel is true!

Thank you for all of your prayers and support these past two years! Love you all!