I hope this week finds you all happy and well! This week was amazing, like every other week. We had exchanges with the Kingsland and Saint Augustine missionaries this weekend, which is always fun and a great learning experience. It is amazing to see how much I still learn every day, even though I’ve been a missionary for a while.
So... for those who don’t know, I will be home in Wisconsin next week. I have lots of mixed feelings about coming home. I love Florida. It has my heart. I love the people here and have done everything I could to serve and help them for the last two years, so it’s a little hard just hopping on an airplane and coming home. But that’s just part of life, and I’m exciting to keep learning and growing.
I thought it would be appropriate to just share about three people who changed my life on my mission. Now I wish I could write about hundreds, but for times sake, here’s just three. :)
1 - Brother Cody Johns, from my time with Elder Jenkins in good ol’ Lake City! He is a member in the congregation, returned from his mission a few years ago, recently married, and just had his first baby. He changed the way I see the gospel, and helped me understand how to keep the same fire and zeal I feel now. I will never forget one of the things he said to me and Elder Jenkins, sitting in their small house out in the middle of nowhere. “The gospel is beautiful. You know that now. After you are home, you will have times when you ask ‘Is it still beautiful to me?’. Be able to say yes, and you will never lose your fire.’
2 - Eugene Hatley, from Gainesville! I love Eugene with all my heart. I have never seen the process of conversion - a complete change of nature and heart - as evident as with Eugene. He struggled with a lot of tough things and vices, and was in a really rough spot in life when we first met him. He latched onto the gospel because it was intellectually interesting. He read, prayed, and came to church, but refused to give up some things in his life to be baptized.
Over the course of nine months, he changed as he let the Spirit enter his life by showing faith. He literally changed on the outside - he had more energy, a light in his eyes, and joy in his voice. He is now serving as a leader in the congregation. He is a testimony to me that the gospel works, changes hearts, and changes lives!
3 - President Lee, my wonderful mission president. He has changed my life in too many ways to out here. He is one of the most genuinely Christlike men I’ve EVER met in my life. All he does is serve. All he does is love. He has such high expectations for who us, as missionaries, can become, and gives his heart to helping us grow. He is so humble and so grateful. He has helped me understand what it means to always have the Spirit with us. I will always be grateful for him.
I haven’t written a poem in a while, so here one is! About my time in Florida.
This time of two years,
Has felt like a day.
It’s gone by so quickly,
Time makes no delay.
The memories flood,
The rooms of my mind.
I thank my kind God,
As I look behind.
Long days knocking doors,
In Florida heat.
Or biking in rain,
On our way to eat.
Or sitting in homes,
With tears on our cheeks,
As we teach the gospel,
To those who are meek.
Or each dear companion
Who’s opened my eyes.
Or blessings from heaven,
That’ve rained from the skies.
These years changed my life,
My heart and my soul.
For all that I’ve seen,
My gratitude’s full.
I love you all! I will see you next week!
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| Elder Simkins just made me laugh all day while we were out working. He’s hilarious, and such a hard worker. |
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| Elder Smart! We had a fun day together here in Mandarin. He is great at connecting with people and building them from where they’re at. |
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| And... just because, here’s with my first companion ... |
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| ...and last companion. The whole two years! |
Elder McMullin
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