HIGHLIGHTS
1. On Tuesday we got to go and see Korissa who has been meeting with missionaries for a while. We started to talk to her about how she has felt about what the missionaries have taught her and she said, "It means everything to me. My whole life I've been looking for the missing puzzle pieces for what I learned in the Bible and at church. You guys have those missing pieces and it brings me so much joy." My heart...2. On Wednesday I went on my last exchange! I was able to be with one of my old comps, Sister Albrecht and it was wonderful, she's awesome. We had an incredible lesson with Anthony Jewell, who is a referral. He is so prepared and ready for the gospel! We had a great lesson on the restoration and he shared many experiences that show how God was preparing him for this message of truth. At the end he said, "A few weeks before you came I had been praying that God would send people to my home to teach me the truth. And then you guys came! If this is the truth, I want to be apart of it." God. Answers. Prayers.
3. Desiree is a woman we are teaching who can't walk and has little to no use of her limbs, but man is she a spitfire! She is wonderful and she feels with her whole heart the truthfulness of the message we share. She has amazing faith. Well this week she made her nurse read The Book of Mormon to her everyday and she has just loved it. Her nurse was super curious what it was after reading it and she said, " I feel so warm and peaceful inside when I read. I don't understand because we are just reading about a family leaving Jerusalem. But it feels so good! What is that book?!" I love the Book of Mormon yinz!
4. We got in contact with a woman named Erica who was referred by her member friend from Utah. They met each other over Facebook by some freak coincidence but it's led Erica to really want to know if this church is true and want to know more. She was just so prepared. She lives in a place that we never would have met her. But God knew where she was. And he provided a way for us to find her through a faithful member across the country. Our God is so loving and mindful of us all.
5. One of my greatest highlights has just been reflecting on how much this area has grown since I came here. We have seen so many miracles. Sister Nilsson and I have truly conquered this area together and I feel good knowing I am leaving it MUCH better than I found it. Also, my dear, sweet trainee, Sister Nilsson. I love her so much. She is incredible. And I'm honored and humbled that I have been able to be apart of her becoming the incredible missionary that she is now. She's come so far. It definitely had nothing to do with me, but she's changed my life. I'll miss her so much! (Fun fact, ABBA is from Sweden, so this whole transfer I've been singing ABBA songs haha)
6. This Sunday was so wonderful. All the testimonies were about the importance of change and the growth God has in store for us and it was exactly what I needed to hear. The love the members showed me filled my heart with joy and a sense of fulfillment. The Saints in Pennsylvania are some of the strongest I have ever met!
527 days. 17 months and 12 days. 1372 pictures (give or take). 1 million laughs. 75 group emails. 100s of miracles.13 companions. 4 areas. 2 mission presidents. 2 states. 1 Sister Parry forever changed. I have truly loved my mission. It has been the best thing for my life and the best time of my life. Before my mission, I didn't really understand what true happiness was because I looked in all the wrong places. I looked to my friends, my hobbies, sports, music, technology, school, all of these things for true happiness. I was pretty selfish and pretty lost. But on my mission God has helped me to find the happiest me I could ever be. In Mosiah 2:41 it says, "And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness." I know the things that make me truly happy now. I know that obeying God, and following in Jesus Christ's footsteps is the only way we can have never-ending happiness. I find joy in serving others, in working hard, in reading my scriptures and praying everyday, and in being an example of Jesus Christ at all times, in all things, and in all places. These things are MY JOY. I wish I could shout from the rooftops and shake everyone I've ever met by their shoulders and help them understand the things I feel and know to be true. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church on the earth today. I know with every fiber of my being that The Book of Mormon is true and was translated by the gift and power of God by Joseph Smith, the prophet, who saw God and Jesus Christ when he was but 14 years old. I know that God loves us, because he gave us a Savior, Jesus Christ, who would live a perfect life and die for our sins so we could live with God again. God has given me this witness and no one can take it away from me. "No matter who we are or what we are going through, there is always a solution. It is and always will be Christ." ~ Al Fox Whoever you are, and wherever you are, I beg you to come unto Jesus Christ and build your own relationship with Him. He can help you with anything you are going through. Take a leap or faith and read the Book of Mormon, it will change your life! I love you all so much. I wish you could all feel the way that I do, and I know you can if you do all in your power to follow God and His Son, Jesus Christ. I'm going to miss writing you. But most of all, I'm going to miss Pennsylvania and the amazing people I have met. The thought of leaving and removing this little black tag off my chest makes me want to rip my aching heart out of my chest, but I know that God has wonderful things in store for me at home. And I know that I will never be the same after my time here in this wonderful state. It hasn't always been easy, I have definitely had my share of heartache and tears, but it has been more than worth it! There's no words I can use to let you know how much I appreciate you all. Thank your for all the cards and emails and prayers. They mean the world. I'll see you soon!
Always and forever, Sister Parry
Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission
Most of these pictures are from our super fun zoo trip today.
0 comments:
Post a Comment