Doctrine and Covenants 19:36

Well I guess I better wrap this whole mission story up since I've been home one week, and all. Monday was wild, and hilarious. I went crazy packing all weekend so that I could drop all my stuff off at the mission office on Monday. (They don’t require us to have our stuff there until Tuesday afternoon but I didn’t want to waste time packing I just wanted to say goodbye to people.) We got all ready to go to the mission office when they called, and asked if we’d come in the afternoon. Well we got there in the afternoon, and everything was really behind. We ended up staying at the mission office for 5 hours! I had my FINAL INTERVIEW with President.  I thought I was going to be a wreck but I felt perfectly content. My mission president talked to me about dating, praying, reading, the scriptures, the temple, and lots of other things. I felt so loved that he took the time to help me out. He then gave me a priesthood blessing. It was perfect.We spent the evening saying goodbye to all my people. 

Tuesday was wild. First thing in the morning a family from my second area come pick me up to go to the temple. We were running a little behind so I changed so quickly, and was flying into the chapel when I stopped dead in my tracks. There sitting in the chapel was my mom!! The member who brought me was all “are you okay?” I said “That’s my Mom! That’s my REAL Mom!” I didn’t really cry when I saw her. Then I saw my Dad, and I didn't really cry but when they started things in the temple I sobbed hard. I was just so overwhelmed with everything. I think it finally hit me that I was actually going home. I spent the afternoon with my parents, and my MTC companion. It was a perfect ending. We then had the departing missionary testimony meeting. Lots of my favorite people came.  I mostly just bore my testimony about the Atonement. I talked about how life and this gospel is a process. That we aren’t ever going to be perfect and life isn’t ever going to be easy but we just keep trying. I also talked about prayer, and how I’ve learned that prayer isn’t a list of thank you’s, and asking for blessings but it’s talking. It’s telling Heavenly Father what you did that day, and how you felt. The evening was spent at the mission home. We ate supper, and then were able to do whatever we wanted. I totally milked being able to talk to President so much, and asked him so many questions. Everyone trickled off to put on their pjs, and I just didn’t want to miss any of President’s wisdom. Everyone also slowly started going to bed but a Sister I was in the MTC with, and I stayed up ALL night talking. We didn’t sleep one wink. It was a dream.

Wednesday was the big home coming. Since I was riding in the same airplane as my parents it wasn’t as dramatic as most peoples. On my first flight I sat by a member which was boring but the man across from me allowed for teaching moments. Turns out his mom is a member, and he’s never talked to missionaries before. Dreams come true. On my next flight I sat by this super nice Muslim girl who is around my age, and the whole time we just talked about the family, and the deterioration of morals in the world. When I got to the airport my aunts were waiting for me so that was special. When I got home we first went to the graveyard on my request. Then we went to see the Stake President. It was great to be able to receive more counsel from him. Then he invited my parents into the room. I was able to share one experience from my mission that taught me a principle of the gospel, and then bear my testimony. I told them about how I gained a testimony of what enduring to the end really means. I told them about an investigator we had in my third area who had been meeting with the missionaries on, and off for 6 years. The major reason he wasn’t progressing in the gospel is because he didn’t do anything consistently. Not read, pray, or go to church. I realized that enduring to the end isn’t being perfect or happy every moment but it’s being consistent with our obedience to the gospel.

Now, I’m just home. I actually love being home. Its super weird but I love it. I haven’t listened to worldly music, or watched TV yet.  Right now I just feel awkward because I’m in a very transient part of my life waiting for school to start in January but I’m excited to apply all that I’ve learned. I’m SO grateful for my mission. The only time I tear up lately is when I’m telling someone how grateful I am for my mission. I’m just obsessed with it. NLVM will forever live in my heart!