EVERYONE! This is my last email home as a missionary. WOW! I can hardly believe it.
This week we did some service for people in the Jamul ward. (said ha-mool) We were moving logs and sticks and they had been cut down recently, so it was REALLY HEAVY! I got some good scrapes on my arm and my arms were SUPER sore for 2 days. Serving was fun, though.
Regina, the investigator that was going to get baptized this week, moved to Arizona to live with her dad. There was a crazy situation and to fix the problem her dad just had her and her brother come live with him. So she's not getting baptized this week. =[
Also, a recently baptized member of the ward decided she doesn't want to come to church anymore. That was a blow. Sister Latham took it really hard.
We added a new investigator this week. His name is Tim. He wants to know what God wants him to do. His girlfriend is a less-active that wants to come back to church. We have high hopes for them! (on a slightly unrelated note, I made my first appointment for a time that I knew I wouldn't be there. It was weird.)
On Saturday morning Yolanda tried to drop us. But we went to the Mormon Battalion with them that night and their family had a blast! We're not quite sure if we're dropped or not. We'll call them on Wednesday.
Sister Latham and I are speaking in sacrament meeting this week. It's funny because it's like my farewell talk for my mission. Sister Latham announced that in ward council this week so everyone knows. It's alright, though. I'm embracing the fact that I'm going home without slowing down the work. I think I'm balanced.
I had my last district and zone meetings this week. I gave my departing testimony in each of them. I tried to make sure it was a testimony and not a "thank-a-mony" or just things that I learned. I feel like my testimony has grown a lot since I've been on my mission. I already knew the gospel was true, but I feel like I'm been here testifying of it to people my testimony has become solidified, .......or.....I can't think of the word. I guess I'll just share a scripture with you to try and describe my mission:
Alma 26:16 Therefore, let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
My mission has been hard. I've been looking forward to coming home since the beginning, and along the way I discovered I loved what I was doing. I have purpose and I know that I'm doing exactly what the Lord wants me to be doing. My spirit is never hungry because I feed it every day. I loved helping people. I wonder if I've helped everyone that I could have. I hope so. I know the Lord has a plan for me that is better than my own. And while it's taken me a long time to learn this, I love God more than anyone. I want to keep that up and be a missionary my whole life. What point is there in enjoying the blessings of the gospel unless we share it? One more scripture:
D&C 15:6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.
Mom and Dad, I can hardly wait to see you in ONE WEEK. I have to use lavender and relaxation techniques to fall asleep at night. XD I'm excited. I love you all!!!
-Sister Bishop
pic 1 - outside the mission office.
pic 2 - reference to the temple on a magazine about San Diego
pic 3 - last district meeting (the writing in Arabic above us translates into "I know a little Arabic)
pic 4 - last zone meeting
pic 5 - my companion is so blonde!
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