Well family and friends this is the last email from my year and half
journey. As I Have reflected on my mission I am left slightly
speechless, it is a daunting task trying to find the words to sum up
the most amazing 18 months of my life up to this point. But I am going
to attempt any way.....
This crazy journey started two years ago on October the 6th 2012, a
day that I will never forget. That day was the day President Monson
stood before the church and announced that young men can now serve a
mission at the age of 18 and the young women at 19, as I heard these
words come from the mouth of our prophet the spirit witnessed to me
that I needed to serve a mission. With tears in my eyes I called the
family immediately and told them that I want to serve a mission. Just
as they always do, my family responded with love and support.
A few weeks later my papers to serve a mission were submitted. The
Friday before I submitted my papers I also found out that not only
would my life be changing dramatically over the next year and a half
but so would my families because they too had been called to serve a
mission in Argentina for the next three years. The excitement and
anticipation of serving a mission filled my thoughts as I received
"THE LETTER" calling me to serve in the Tennessee, Nashville Mission
and as I waited to enter the MTC.
On February 27, 2013 Mom, Dad, Amanda, Alex, and Nick dropped me off
at the curb of the MTC and sent me off to the mission. The MTC flew
by so fast but I learned so much. I then entered the field on April
8th and that is when my journey truly began.
Since I have been in Tennessee and Kentucky I have discovered the
person that God wants me to be, through this journey of diligence,
obedience, laughter, love, broken heart, bad hair, weight loss, weight
gain, friendship, leadership, baptisms, awkward moments, hard work,
and many other things. As I come to close another chapter of my life I
have pondered on things that I have to leave behind and the things
that I get to bring home. The things that I don't get to bring with
me are the people I taught and love, the beautiful green country, my
companions, full time missionary schedule, the amazing members. But
the things I will never lose is the strong relationship I have gained
with my father in heaven, the knowledge and testimony I gained of the
gospel, and the special connections I have with all the people I
taught and my companions.
I know as I being a new phase of my life that I have a lot to look
forward to and that I still have learning and changing to do. God's
plan for us is a plan of continual progression, and I know my
progression will not stop when I return home. I am excited to come
home and apply all the amazing things I learned in the last year and a
half.
I am so grateful to all y'all for your prayers and support. I have
felt so blessed to have had the opportunity to serve a mission and I
would not trade this experience for anything in the world. I know that
this gospel is true, and that we have the responsibility to share this
amazing message with the world. I want to end the way I started this
journey by sharing a scripture that I read in my farewell talk 18
months ago.
"And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming
to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I
remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard
my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended
towards me."
"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do
not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded
me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in
the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my
joy."
Alma 29: 10, 9
Family I love you and I can't wait to be with y'all again!! Oh and
Chris Harris got baptized on Saturday and it was incredible to see her
be baptized on my last weekend of the mission. Sergio also went to the
temple for the first time to do baptisms, on Saturday!
I love y'all and thank you for everything
Hermanita Ayre
journey. As I Have reflected on my mission I am left slightly
speechless, it is a daunting task trying to find the words to sum up
the most amazing 18 months of my life up to this point. But I am going
to attempt any way.....
This crazy journey started two years ago on October the 6th 2012, a
day that I will never forget. That day was the day President Monson
stood before the church and announced that young men can now serve a
mission at the age of 18 and the young women at 19, as I heard these
words come from the mouth of our prophet the spirit witnessed to me
that I needed to serve a mission. With tears in my eyes I called the
family immediately and told them that I want to serve a mission. Just
as they always do, my family responded with love and support.
A few weeks later my papers to serve a mission were submitted. The
Friday before I submitted my papers I also found out that not only
would my life be changing dramatically over the next year and a half
but so would my families because they too had been called to serve a
mission in Argentina for the next three years. The excitement and
anticipation of serving a mission filled my thoughts as I received
"THE LETTER" calling me to serve in the Tennessee, Nashville Mission
and as I waited to enter the MTC.
On February 27, 2013 Mom, Dad, Amanda, Alex, and Nick dropped me off
at the curb of the MTC and sent me off to the mission. The MTC flew
by so fast but I learned so much. I then entered the field on April
8th and that is when my journey truly began.
Since I have been in Tennessee and Kentucky I have discovered the
person that God wants me to be, through this journey of diligence,
obedience, laughter, love, broken heart, bad hair, weight loss, weight
gain, friendship, leadership, baptisms, awkward moments, hard work,
and many other things. As I come to close another chapter of my life I
have pondered on things that I have to leave behind and the things
that I get to bring home. The things that I don't get to bring with
me are the people I taught and love, the beautiful green country, my
companions, full time missionary schedule, the amazing members. But
the things I will never lose is the strong relationship I have gained
with my father in heaven, the knowledge and testimony I gained of the
gospel, and the special connections I have with all the people I
taught and my companions.
I know as I being a new phase of my life that I have a lot to look
forward to and that I still have learning and changing to do. God's
plan for us is a plan of continual progression, and I know my
progression will not stop when I return home. I am excited to come
home and apply all the amazing things I learned in the last year and a
half.
I am so grateful to all y'all for your prayers and support. I have
felt so blessed to have had the opportunity to serve a mission and I
would not trade this experience for anything in the world. I know that
this gospel is true, and that we have the responsibility to share this
amazing message with the world. I want to end the way I started this
journey by sharing a scripture that I read in my farewell talk 18
months ago.
"And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming
to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I
remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard
my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended
towards me."
"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do
not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded
me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in
the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my
joy."
Alma 29: 10, 9
Family I love you and I can't wait to be with y'all again!! Oh and
Chris Harris got baptized on Saturday and it was incredible to see her
be baptized on my last weekend of the mission. Sergio also went to the
temple for the first time to do baptisms, on Saturday!
I love y'all and thank you for everything
Hermanita Ayre
No comments:
Post a Comment