Monday, June 3, 2013
Last Letter of the MISSION June 3, 2013
WEIRD!! Last letter. It's been such an incredible journey. I got up yesterday and bore my testimony for the last time in our ward and said that I know I haven't perfected missionary work nor Spanish, but I have come to know my Savior. I had my departure interview with President Ellsworth on Saturday and it was exactly what I needed. I'm so grateful for him and his humble leadership. The first thing he said was, "So how do you feel about your mission?" When I could get the words out I just said, "grateful" President gave me advice that I will take with me forever and use it. Even though he talks to a million missionaries.. he teaches by the spirit. He teaches the same principles, but in different ways and that's how the Lord teaches us. Teach people not lessons. I know that because me and Sister Larson went to have our interviews in Scottsdale together and we talked about it later and it was the same principles, but completely different. Sister Larson and I have made this journey together from day one and I am so grateful for her... she'll always be my sister. My response was similar to the interview with Elder and Sister Beckstrand as they asked me questions about my mission- "I'm just grateful that it was so hard." I'm grateful that Heavenly Father loved me enough to let me go through a lot of hard times but while constantly letting me see and be apart of miracles and seeing the tender mercies that He's always ready and willing to give.
I guess I will explain the week- On Tuesday a guy came into the VC- actually it was the guy that was taking down the Redeemer art exhibit and he brought this other guy, Lawrance in because he had asked for money to get some water because his car broke down and they had been walking forever, so they gave him water and told him to come into the VC with him. Well, he was looking for a church for him and his 3 kids to go to apparently. He's a single dad and he's looking for a change in his life. So I got his info and sent the missionaries :) Thursday I had my last district meeting. I gave a farewell testimony and read, "My Commission" by Bruce R Mconkie and talked about how lucky we are to stand where the Savior would stand and say what He would say. How cool is that? How great is our calling.
I was able to contact the referral that gma Cottrell gave me and she is awesome!!!! She wants to learn more and she still wants me to teach her through email when I get home even though another sister will be teaching her. Thanks GMA!! :)
We had our farewell breakfast at the Beckstrands house with all the sisters and the senior couples on Friday. Sister Lewis, me Sister Larson and then Sister Avila bore testimonies. I stood up and got a big lump in my throat looking out at all of my sisters. I said that I was so upset that I had already started to cry because I hadn't been sad at all but that I could feel my heart slowly breaking. I told them how honored that I feel to have worked with such righteous people and to be in there presence. I told them how grateful I am to have been a missionary, so grateful that I sleep with my tag on at night. I said that my tag is now painted on my heart though just like they said in General conference. My testimony was simple, but it was one of Christ, that I have come to know Him in a different way. I had a strong testimony before, but it's so different now. It's like a relationship with someone where in the beginning everything is perfect and then later you REALLY get to know them and you go through problems and ups and downs... but they mean so much more to you and your relationship is deep and has meaning. I truly have felt that I have gotten to know the Savior in such a different way and I love Him and I'm so grateful that He loves me enough to mold me and make me stretch. After the meeting we went to the VC in front of the Christus and everyone sang, "God be with you till we meet again" to us. Then we took like a million pictures and cried and it was all dramatic... I loved it. The ward and the other sisters put together a surprise Family Night at the park where one of my converts came.. it was awesome! So many people were there. At the same time though I felt kinda weird because we just got to the area and I don't know too many people.. but it was really sweet.
As I was announcing over the microphone that the VC was going to close for one of the last times, I got nervous I guess because I said, "The Visitor Center will be closing in 5 min, thank you for CALLING and please come again" ugh. Also, another funny thing... we were in bed and there is just a small isle between me and Sister V's bed and she thinks she's funny sometimes and hits me.. this time I grabbed her arm and pulled her off her bed in between the small space with her face first and no hand to catch herself because I had grabbed it. That... was a good laugh for both of us.
Yesterday Miguel, Franky AND Melissa (Miguel's little sister) came to church. They all loved it and they found friends from school that they already knew! All the youth had just got back from youth conference too so they ALL bore their testimonies in front of Frankie and Miguel about their experience. Miguel came up to me after church and said, "hey I have a question about the whole baptismal date that we have" I thought, "oh no..." but he said, "Is there anyway we can move it up faster!?" AHHHHHHHHHH. Yes. Yes you can. We can do that. Ah... they're so awesome. I just wish I was going to be there. We've already planned to be Facebook friends though and I get to keep tabs on them.
We ate at the bishops house for "The Last Supper" last night and I shared the same scripture that I shared in the first dinner I had on my mission. Alma 26:37. After that we went to the VC to work and almost all my friends came to see me! It was really neat. I took a million pictures again and testified my heart out!
I have loved my mission. I will be forever grateful for it. Thank you for all your prayers, letters and support! I know that Christ lives and loves us and knows what we need. I know that He suffered for us and cries when we cry and rejoices when we do what's right. He truly is the son of God. He knows His purpose perfectly and never forgets. I never want to forget mine either. I know that He's always, constantly trying to communicate with us.. but we sometimes forget to just listen. I have learned to "get out of the way" as Elder Bednar told me directly as an answer to my question, "What is your definition of a consecrated missionary" I am so grateful for that advice and will continue to use it throughout my life. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that if you just say a prayer and stick your finger in a random place, He'll talk to you. It's happened so many times to me and I can't deny that. I know that Thomas S. Monson is called of God and holds all the keys of the Priesthood. I know Joseph Smith saw what he said he saw and carried out this last dispensation in these last days. I know there are a lot of good churches, but this is the only one that has everything. It's the ONLY one. While I have been on my mission I have been God's investigator. And we all are. I just hope I can ALWAYS be a "progressing investigator" as one of the Key Indicators say because I am being taught by a perfect teacher, so if i'm not learning, i'm in the way and it's my fault. I love you all so much and I will see you tomorrow! I read Alma 37 today and even though it wasn't on purpose, the counsel that Alma is giving his son, Helaman is the counsel that I know Heavenly Father wanted to give to me today. Also to all of you so I hope you can all read it.
Ps- another miracle! On the way to write emails guess who I saw walking on the side of the road?! Marta Esperanza Cruz Sanchez!!! My sweet convert. That I hadn't gotten to see before I left. We turned around and pulled over and we both screamed. She gave me a huge, wet kiss with her sweaty face in this 110 degree weather and we loved it. Tender mercy miracle. Love me some missionary work.
"Seek for the Eternal" Always.
Con amor y Cariño,
Hermana Sara Cottrell
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