Despedida, Mi Amigos!

Goodness gracious, I never thought this day would actually come. I can hardly believe it, but I am so incredibly excited! I know this gospel is true. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know Joseph Smith is a prophet. Like Nephi, I do not know all things, but I know God loves His children. I know He loves me. The next eighteen months are going to be the absolute hardest time of my life—and, without a doubt, the hardest thing I’ve ever done—but I’m excited for the opportunity to learn to rely solely on my testimony and my relationship with Heavenly Father when I'm all alone in a foreign place and trying desperately to speak a language I don’t know.  

No matter how hard it gets, I know Heavenly Father loves the Chilean people—His children—and that He wants them to have a fullness His joy, a joy that can only be found in this gospel. I’m so excited to be a laborer in the vineyard and have the opportunity to serve as an extension of my Savior, acting as His hands to bring others to Him. I will work through the rain and the blisters and the fleas, and I will continue to work whether or not I get spit on or robbed or rejected again and again and again. I treasure my testimony, and I will give everything I have to find those souls who have been prepared to receive this gospel and come closer to Christ. I am so excited to give my all to my Savior and allow Him to guide me and mold me into the person He wants me to become.   

It’s a strange sensation, feeling terrified and excited and peaceful all at the same time, but I guess that’s what missionary work is all about! And even though goodbyes are probably my least favorite thing in the whole world, I am so lucky to have been blessed with the opportunity to say goodbye to my family for a short time so that other families never have to.

All my love!  Hasta luego.