What should you use to battle a T-Rex?
A Dino-sword.
The Riviera family. Wow. They have left me speechless. They are SO
prepared! It has been amazing to watch them. Every time we have gone
over Carlos has shared with us what he has learned in the Book of
Mormon, and Mercedes shares with us stories about her prayers being
answered. We finished there lessons Saturday evening, and afterwards
they thanked us for knocking on their door and finding them. They told
us that they didn't realize that this is something that they had been
praying for long before we knocked on their door, and they got
everything they were wanting and some. It was what every missionary
dreams of hearing. I love the Riviera family so much! They have said
multiple times that we were sent specifically to them, and we truly
were. In all my mission I have never felt so strongly to track a
certain neighborhood before, than I did two months ago when we found
this amazing family! I wish y'all could meet Carlos and Mercedes,
because my emails don't do them justice. I am so grateful that I have
the chance to watch them enter into the covenant of baptism the last
Saturday of my mission. They are set and ready for August 6th!
Well friends and family this is my last weekly email. Bare with me as
I try to share my thoughts and testimony with you, because I haven't
been able to find the words to express how I truly feel.
My first day in my first area my trainer, Sister Sackley pointed to an
airplane in the sky and asked me how far it was. I looked at her
confused and just said "how in the world am I suppose to know that?"
She then laughed and said eighteen months. Well folks it has been
eighteen months, and I am blown away by how fast it has gone by. It
seriously breaks my heart to think my time as a full time missionary
is coming to an end. I am very excited to see my wonderful family and
awesome friends. It is bittersweet, it really is.
The knowledge I've received on my mission is eternal knowledge. And I
couldn't have gotten this anywhere else. I will never regret the time
I have spent in Florida. I don't think anyone could ever regret going
on a mission. The truth you learn here is eternal. I needed these 18
months to come to know who my Savior is, I love him. I won't ever
forget this time, it is forever engraved upon my heart. Words can't
express my gratitude to those who have financially supported me and
who have supported me in prayers and letters. I am grateful for you
and I owe a lot to you. Thank you! I seriously couldn't thank you
enough. This has been the best 18 months for my life, it has prepared
me to have my own family one day...far far away. ;) I have put so much
into my mission and it has changed me for the better. And to think of
all that I have put into this work, I am still getting an even bigger
return. I'm sad to leave Tampa Florida, but my mission doesn't end
here. It's in my heart and will be with me for the rest of my life. I
was called by a prophet of God to serve in the Florida Tampa Mission
with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. And by loosing myself in
the work, I found my Savior Jesus Christ who in return helped me come
to know of my worth and purpose here in this life. I thought I knew
who Christ was before my mission, I didn't have the slightest idea and
I still don't, but I have a stronger understanding of who He is and
what He did for me. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. I didn't
come to know this until I served him with my whole heart. When I first
came to Tampa I thought I was sent here to find someone, little did I
know I was sent to Florida to find myself. I am leaving Florida a
converted disciple of Jesus Christ. 3 Nephi 5:13 Behold, I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to
declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting
life.
I am leaving changed. And this is how I know that I fulfilled my
purpose here in Florida. I know our Savior lives today. I know he died
for me and you, so we could live again with our family and friends. I
know that Joseph Smith was called by God to bring back Christ's
original church. There are no words to express the feelings I have
for my mission. 3 Nephi 5:8 And there had many things transpired
which, in the eyes of some, would be great and marvelous;
nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book; yea, this book
cannot contain even a hundredth part of what was done among so many
people in the space of [eighteen months]. Ether 12:40 And only a few
have I written, because of my weakness in writing.
You know you are a sister missionary when, you have to remind yourself
every once and awhile your first name isn't sister.
I love you all! And I'm so excited to see you. My mission report is
August 21st at 9 am. 1470 East 130 North Spanish Fork, Utah 84660-5699
A Dino-sword.
The Riviera family. Wow. They have left me speechless. They are SO
prepared! It has been amazing to watch them. Every time we have gone
over Carlos has shared with us what he has learned in the Book of
Mormon, and Mercedes shares with us stories about her prayers being
answered. We finished there lessons Saturday evening, and afterwards
they thanked us for knocking on their door and finding them. They told
us that they didn't realize that this is something that they had been
praying for long before we knocked on their door, and they got
everything they were wanting and some. It was what every missionary
dreams of hearing. I love the Riviera family so much! They have said
multiple times that we were sent specifically to them, and we truly
were. In all my mission I have never felt so strongly to track a
certain neighborhood before, than I did two months ago when we found
this amazing family! I wish y'all could meet Carlos and Mercedes,
because my emails don't do them justice. I am so grateful that I have
the chance to watch them enter into the covenant of baptism the last
Saturday of my mission. They are set and ready for August 6th!
Well friends and family this is my last weekly email. Bare with me as
I try to share my thoughts and testimony with you, because I haven't
been able to find the words to express how I truly feel.
My first day in my first area my trainer, Sister Sackley pointed to an
airplane in the sky and asked me how far it was. I looked at her
confused and just said "how in the world am I suppose to know that?"
She then laughed and said eighteen months. Well folks it has been
eighteen months, and I am blown away by how fast it has gone by. It
seriously breaks my heart to think my time as a full time missionary
is coming to an end. I am very excited to see my wonderful family and
awesome friends. It is bittersweet, it really is.
The knowledge I've received on my mission is eternal knowledge. And I
couldn't have gotten this anywhere else. I will never regret the time
I have spent in Florida. I don't think anyone could ever regret going
on a mission. The truth you learn here is eternal. I needed these 18
months to come to know who my Savior is, I love him. I won't ever
forget this time, it is forever engraved upon my heart. Words can't
express my gratitude to those who have financially supported me and
who have supported me in prayers and letters. I am grateful for you
and I owe a lot to you. Thank you! I seriously couldn't thank you
enough. This has been the best 18 months for my life, it has prepared
me to have my own family one day...far far away. ;) I have put so much
into my mission and it has changed me for the better. And to think of
all that I have put into this work, I am still getting an even bigger
return. I'm sad to leave Tampa Florida, but my mission doesn't end
here. It's in my heart and will be with me for the rest of my life. I
was called by a prophet of God to serve in the Florida Tampa Mission
with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. And by loosing myself in
the work, I found my Savior Jesus Christ who in return helped me come
to know of my worth and purpose here in this life. I thought I knew
who Christ was before my mission, I didn't have the slightest idea and
I still don't, but I have a stronger understanding of who He is and
what He did for me. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. I didn't
come to know this until I served him with my whole heart. When I first
came to Tampa I thought I was sent here to find someone, little did I
know I was sent to Florida to find myself. I am leaving Florida a
converted disciple of Jesus Christ. 3 Nephi 5:13 Behold, I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to
declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting
life.
I am leaving changed. And this is how I know that I fulfilled my
purpose here in Florida. I know our Savior lives today. I know he died
for me and you, so we could live again with our family and friends. I
know that Joseph Smith was called by God to bring back Christ's
original church. There are no words to express the feelings I have
for my mission. 3 Nephi 5:8 And there had many things transpired
which, in the eyes of some, would be great and marvelous;
nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book; yea, this book
cannot contain even a hundredth part of what was done among so many
people in the space of [eighteen months]. Ether 12:40 And only a few
have I written, because of my weakness in writing.
You know you are a sister missionary when, you have to remind yourself
every once and awhile your first name isn't sister.
I love you all! And I'm so excited to see you. My mission report is
August 21st at 9 am. 1470 East 130 North Spanish Fork, Utah 84660-5699
I love Florida!
The Rivieras!!
Sister J
