Now the tears flow

What an amazing week this has been. Thursday was the mission conference with Pres. and Sister Olson's final talks and instruction, Jon Schmidt, and team games and water fight. Friday, we went to the Church History Museum to look up information about the hidden plates in Hil Cumorah, Saturday we had two baptisms (5 people in all were baptized and 4 more will be baptized this Saturday, Sunday we taught our investigator class and had about 15 people in the class. Later that afternoon we drove Elder Miller and Elder Neumann to the Logan Tabernacle for the missionary musical fireside. After many hugs, pictures, tears, and goodbyes, we arrived home about 11:30pm. Incredible fireside! Monday was a regular office day. Tuesday, the office staff (Tibolla's, Maddock's, and Stamm's) gave us a delightful luncheon as a departure gift. Wednesday was the departing missionaries interviews with Pres. Olson. It also happened to be our final interview as well. It also turned out to be our last day. We later had dinner with Pres. and Sister Olson, and the Alveys.

The Polynessian sisters planned a surprise goodbye for Alvey's, the Olson's and us. At 1:00pm, missionaries just started show up at the office. They brought us into the cultural hall. There the missionaries, along with singers, guitarist, and ukeleleist sang "Aloha Oi" to us. Afterward, the gave us hugs and homemade candy leis. Then the polynesian elders presented a "Huaka". My what a celebration! And at all these events, the tears flowed freely. Sister Olson had us all stand as she related how fields of sunflowers follow the sun. Every day the sun rises in the east and the sunflowers find the sun. As it moves during the day, the sunflowers follow the sun's direction and end up facing west. She said, as we were all standing there that we too followed the Son, the Son of God, that we were disciples of Christ and would follow Him anywhere. As I looked around the tabernacle at all of these missionaries I knew in my heart that what she said was true and I cried for the love I had for these missionaries, for Pres. and Sister Olson, and for the love that I have for Jesus Christ.

We were released tonight and told that we had been faithful servants of our Heavenly Father and that now our mission was over and we were to take off our badges. I felt such sadness that our incredible, amazing experience was coming to an end. I sit here typing and tears are again flowing down my face.

What did I learn?
I learned how much I loved serving with my sweetheart companion, even when we were tired and drove each other crazy.
I learned that Christ is my Savior. I learned this with every fiber of my being. I am so eternally grateful for his atoning sacrifice in my behalf. I have come to learn how sacred and special the Sacrament really is. As we taught investigators about baptism and how we have the opportunity to become as clean as we were when we were baptized, it solidified in my soul what an enormous gift we have been giving in having the opportunity every Sunday to repent of our sins and ask forgiveness and become clean and start again.
I learned how much Heavenly Father loves me and each one of us. His love is unconditional and my love for others should also be unconditional. He cares so much for the one, the individual, for you and for me. I have seen peoples lives change for the better by accepting the gospel and realizing that their Heavenly Father loves them.
I learned how much our missionaries are trying to do all that Heavenly Father wants them to do. I will miss the missionaries and the great men and women they are. So many of them have come from dysfunctional families, part member famiies, or are the only member of their family who is a member. Yet, with strength of their soul and their firm testimony, most of the missionaries are trying all that they can to follow their Savior and be His disciple.
I learned that Preach My Gospel is the Lord's direction for sharing the Gospel in our age. The book was given by revelation through the Holy Ghost and it teaches the sincere heart the word of the Lord through the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.
My testimony has grown so much through all of this. I have felt my Heavenly Father with me. I have felt promptings at many times. I have been taught by the Lord's servants and by the Holy Ghost. I have learned what a true disciple of Jesus Christ is.
I have made many friends that have come from around the world. I probably will not ever see them again until the next life. But I am sure there we will have a fond, loving reunion.
What an incredible experience this has been. I am so grateful to Heavenly Father for His goodness to us, in allowing us to be blessed by serving this mission. I am grateful we could serve. I am not sure of all the ways our family has been blessed, but I know that Heavenly Father is showering our family with blessings. I will always be grateful for this blessing. And so now I sit and cry as the spirit tells me the truths I have written are definitely from our Heavenly Father. I have loved this mission in all it's aspects. It has, at times, been hard work. We have been exhausted. We have grown. We have prayed. We have taught. We have loved others. And now the experience is over and taking our badges off for the last time has been, perhaps, one of the most difficult things I have done.

My testimony to you is that I know our Heavenly Father knows each of us individually. He lives and he loves us and wants to bless us with everything he can. Jesus Christ is His Son. He too lives and loves "the one". You and I are "the one". It is only through His atoning sacrifice that we can become clean and enter into our Father's presence. The Book of Mormon is another testament of the life of Jesus Christ. It is true. I know that by reading it and asking our Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, if it is true. The Holy Ghost has witnessed to me that it is true. I have felt a warm enveloping feeling testify to me that it is true. On almost every page it testifies of Christ. It was written as a guide and direction for us in our day and age. If we come unto Christ and apply his atonement, repent of our sins, ask for forgiveness, forgive others, and keep His commandments, and do all the Father asks, one day we will again be in his presence and receive all he has. He is anxious to bless us. These things I know to be true.

So now, I close this blog, and I let the tears flow. What an incredible, amazing experience this has been for me. How much my Heavenly Father must love me to bless me with this experience!