Well mom and
dad, tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. I will get on the transfer
van and leave Utah's Dixie to go to Gunnison. I'm not sure how I am going to handle those moments;
I don't do goodbyes very well. The great thing is that this is a "see you
later" for everyone here in St. George, but I'm not sure when I will see
some of these missionaries again. Tears have came pretty easy this week as
Elder Campbell and I have reflected on 7.5 months together. I feel attached to these missionaries, to my
companions, to the office staff, and to President and Sister Center. I about lost it when Sister Center gave me
some chocolate sheet cake (I told her it was my favorite) and
she said "thanks for all you have taught me". Are you kidding
me? She is the one with the vision, the energy, and the righteous example. I'm
just a 20 year-old kid. I know in my
heart that I have done God's will in this assignment. It’s been super tough, but
by every measure I look at I see that I am leaving this area, these
missionaries and the whole mission better than I found it. And I'm just grateful to Heavenly Father that
I could play a small part. He has heard my pleas for these missionaries and for
my President and He has always delivered. This week the mission had 53
baptisms. That is a single week record for the mission and it’s the most our
office staff has ever seen. I feel like this
scripture in D&C 128, “Therefore, that we should waste and
wear out our lives in bringing to light all the
hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they
are truly manifest from heaven ... Therefore,
dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we
stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be
revealed."
I just want to do that! To waste
and wear out my life in this work. I am still just learning how to "be
still and know that he is God". He is so good to me, and
yet I struggle trusting and having faith in his plans. I
don't deserve this mission, and I definitely don't deserve the relationships
and friendships that I have been blessed with among my missionaries,
investigators and members in this area. My heart is just feeling very tied up.
I love everyone here and I want them to succeed. And now my part that the Lord
is asking me to do is to leave all that I love and get on a van to Gunnison.
The amazing part about this work and this church is that because I know that I
am following the Savior up to Sanpete county it is possible to leave all of
this behind. And they will all be in great hands.
This week was great. J got baptized he drove down to do
the baptism with us which was great.
Well, I got to go. Next time I
write you will hear all about Gunnison and my new companion.
Love you!
Elder Michael George Stewart
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