LAST EMAIL!!!

Well.

I guess this is the last time I'll e-mail from my missionary e-mail. I
feel a great deal of mixed emotions about all of this.

I've been asked like 5 or 6 times this week to bear my testimony,
because it's my last time doing everything - my last District Meeting,
my last MLC, my last Sacrament Meeting as a full time missionary etc.
Without a doubt, I cry every time - I can't help it.

When I think about what serving a mission has meant for me, I can
barely put it into words. I've learned a lot about myself and what
kind of person I want to be, but also a lot about how to treat others,
and how I want my interactions with others to be for the rest of my
life.

A few of the biggest personal things I've learned/gained from serving
a mission:

1. A testimony of Jesus Christ, and a desire to follow his example

2. A desire to serve others rather than only help myself

3. A vision for what kind of life I want to live, family centred and happy.

This week we went on a few exchanges:
- Elder Livingston & Elder Holyoak in Bridlington, both from Utah
- Elder Barber & Elder Campbell in Scunthorpe, from California & Utah

It still hasn't really hit me I think that this is actually going to
be over. The last 3 ish years of my life have basically been devoted
to preparing and serving as a missionary - and that phase of my life
is coming to an end. The prospect of going back to Canada and moving
forward with other things like University and life is kind of scary,
but it'll be alright. Also - I've been thinking a lot about the things
I'm going to miss from England - and leaving this place is also going
to make me so sad. I'm sad already thinking about it.

Another feeling I've had recently is a feeling that's kind of like
relief - but that's not the best way to describe it. I think it's more
like a sense of accomplishment. When I came back on a mission I
remember that I really felt strongly that this was a responsibility
that I needed to fulfill - there was something here that I needed to
accomplish - and I feel now that I've accomplished that. It's a good
feeling.

Another thought - about timing. In looking back on the timeline of my
missionary experience, the timing of the whole thing is just crazy. I
was definitely, definitely meant to be here as a missionary now. Not
10 months ago, but now. For any who don't know - I went home in the
middle of my mission for 10 months, and then came back. I strongly
believe that that whole experience was inspired of God. There were a
lot of factors that played into that timing being the way it was - and
I'm still not even sure how it's possible that that happened - but it
did, and I was here when I was meant to be here. The last 3 months
have shown me that God has a plan for every single one of children on
this earth. I know this because he knows me and what I need in perfect
detail - and that blows my mind. He cares about me and wants me to be
happy and knows what I need to learn and experience to become the
bloke that he wants me to be - and if he can do that for me - he can
and does do it for everyone.

I believe deeply that God is my Father, and he is everyone's Father. I
pray to Him every day. I also believe strongly that He sent Jesus
Christ to the earth to pay the price of our sins so that we can return
back to him one day. I've spent the last 3 years on and off teaching
people about this concept and I'm going to miss it desperately.

For anyone who doesn't believe, or hasn't read the Book of Mormon, or
who hasn't been to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,
go. You will love it, and it will benefit you and your loved ones
greatly.

Love you guys.

Second Last Email!!!!!

So I can't even believe how close I am to coming home. It's become pretty real in the past few days, not just like an understanding that I am coming home - but like actually having to prepare and think logistically about it - and I don't really like having to think about it, I'd kind of rather just get stuck right in to missionary work - which we are doing! It's a little crazy.

But nonetheless, this week we were all over the place still! We went to:

- Sheffield 4 w/ Elder Campbell & Elder Christensen. both from Utah
- Keighley w/ Elder Pilling & Elder Bailey, from Okotoks & Australia
- Hull 1 w/ Elder Kearl & Elder Saylin, both from Utah
- Gateshead w/ Elder Schmidt & Elder Christensen. from Utah & California
- South Shields w/ Elder Zeck & Elder Hardy, from Lethbridge & Utah

So still a busy, full week!

On Saturday Elder Rhea and I also had a chance to go and look at some of the sights to see in the mission in Northumberland! We went up to Alnwick, and a bunch of other places up there - we even made it right up to the Scottish Border! See the pics for more - they speak for themselves & I'll caption them.

We also had a mission home fireside this weekend - and the Turvey's are taking us out for dinner tonight at a nice restaurant because I'm going home next week. (We'll have another dinner at their house the night before I fly home as well)

But yeah, we've been all around, just working and working hard to train lots of missionaries. 

Here's a poem I found a while ago that seemed really relevant this week:

"Father, where shall I work today?”

And my love flowed warm and free.

Then He pointed out a tiny spot

And said, “Tend that for me.”

I answered quickly, “Oh no; not that!

Why, no one would ever see,

No matter how well my work was done;

Not that little place for me.”

And the word He spoke, it was not stern;

He answered me tenderly:

“Ah, little one, search that heart of thine.

Art thou working for them or for me?

Nazareth was a little place,

And so was Galilee.”

No matter what calling or position we are asked by our Heavenly Father to do, we need to do it with excellence. No matter how small, no matter how insignificant we feel in our calling - we should lift where we stand. 

No matter what I'm asked to do in my life, I'll go where the Lord wants me to go, and I'll be the person he wants me to be. 

Love you guys.