I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go

Wow. My heart is so full while trying to attempt to write this email. Never thought this day would come and never thought it could be so hard to express the gratitude and love that I feel from the last 18 months of my life. It has truly been the greatest year and a half of my life, serving with the most amazing people this world has to offer. 

I have thought a lot on these last eighteen months and the many lessons that I have learned. I have been thinking a lot back on why I chose to serve a mission in the first place. Never in a million years would I have thought a mission was in the plans for me, nor did any of you most likely :) A mission was the farthest thing from my mind and I hated when people would tell me that I should serve a mission (Bradly) because I was too stubborn and prideful to see that a mission was truly what I needed at that time in my life. But by many amazing examples, many prayers, and much contemplating I knew that my desire to serve truly was God telling me that a mission was for me and to get my butt into gear and get out here. 

I didn't know where I was going, what I was doing, and how to do it but I knew I needed to take that leap of faith and trust in my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ to help me figure it out along the way. To simply doubt my doubts before doubting my faith. Without knowing what may lie ahead, having very little confidence in my knowledge of the gospel, I followed Nephi's example of faith and trust in the Lord and put myself in his shoes.

In 1 Nephi 4:6-7 it says "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth..." I too like Nephi knew that my Heavenly Father was communicating with me through the comfort and whisperings of the Spirit to go forth into the wilderness of Louisiana and have the faith that He can and would sustain me.

I have seen how important and how crucial that step into the mission field and the unknown that lied before me has been in my life. I have realized that sometimes you do have to take that leap of faith, to step into the darkness in order to see the light that is waiting for you just beyond your reach. Louisiana truly has become the light of my life. It has been what has guided and directed me to where I am today. I am grateful for the lessons and experiences that I have had that has molded me and changed me for the better. Louisiana has truly taught me so many things.

Louisiana has taught me how to love. To see God's children as He sees them despite our weaknesses and shortcomings . To serve them and those around us because charity is the truly the only unconditional, sustaining kind of love.

Louisiana has taught me how to be submissive. To rely on the Lord in allll my actions and turn to Him in every thought, to doubt not, fear not.

Louisiana has taught me how to hope. To never give up on His children, His work, and myself. Hope has been what has sustained me in my moments where it would have been much easier to throw the towel in, but it was by hope that healed me and my discouragement. 

Louisiana has taught me who my Savior truly is. It is where I found and grew my relationship with Him and where my testimony of Him and His infinite Atonement has been gained and solidified. He is the reason I am here today, He is the reason for the message we share, He is the reason I will and forever continue to draw closer and closer to Him on my never ending path to discipleship. 

Louisiana truly has taught me so much. More then I will ever be able describe or comprehend. The mission truly has been the highlight of my life and the start of my foundation that I have laid down for the rest of my life. Although my heart is breaking at the thought of the close of this chapter, I know that the things that I have learned and experienced will and always will continue to help me for the rest of my life. 

I am grateful for each and every single one of you. For your prayers, thoughts and support. They have carried me more then you will ever know.

I am grateful for the people that I have served and loved with my whole heart. Pieces of my heart are spread all throughout the state of these amazing people. 

I am grateful for my mission family, mission presidents and wives, my companions, and the greatest friends that I will forever cherish and love without end. I can never thank them enough for truly being my family away from home. These relationships and friendships will last into the eternities. 

I am grateful for my family and parents who I have come to love and appreciate more then I ever have in my entire life. For dealing with my sass and craziness, for buying me the MUST HAVE's of the week, and for loving me unconditionally. They are my rock and the greatest family I ever could have asked to be apart of. Bless their hearts for having to deal with me forever. 

But most of all I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ who has strengthened me and carried me every single day without fail. I am forever grateful for the opportunity that I have had to be His representative here in Louisiana. To put on that name tag everyday, and by doing so I know I am stepping that much closer towards Him and becoming more like Him. It isn't a right, it's a privilege. It's not a burden, it's a blessings. It is something I forever will hold close to my heart no matter with or without the tag I so proudly wear on my chest. 

I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord, whether it be Louisiana or whether it be Utah. I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord. I'll be what you want me to be. 

I love y'all an can't wait to see your smiling faces in t-minus 10 days! Thank you for tagging along on this journey with me 💜

With all my Louisiana Love

Said Good bye to my Bible Study Group :(

Sister Brown

Sister Gash

Sister Harris

New Orleans with the squad

You can catch me strollin down nola 

Sister Thornton

Mission Highlights!!