In this morning I am very thankful for this amazing opportunity that I have been given to be here for the past two years. There is absolutely nothing that I could have done better than be here. Nothing more satisfying or repaying like this was. There have been several things that I have experienced during this time here that have forever changed my life. And there is no other place in the world that could have done that to me. I know without any doubt in my mind that this is the work of the Lord. This is the most important thing that is happening upon the face of the earth and it will continue to be to prepare for the second coming of the Lord. I truly feel so blessed that I was and still am for another week an instrument in the hands of the Lord in his work. It will be sad to go home, but I know that even though I won't be a full time representative with his name on my chest every day, I will still have lots of opportunities to serve. But just in different ways. During these past couple weeks, I've been having some bittersweet last time moments in the mission such as: Leadership Council, baptisms, members, district meetings, interviews with president, baptismal interviews and the list could go on and on. I truly will miss these things. But I also have had some not so bittersweet moments and I really hope that they are the last time such as: getting pink eye, throwing up in the middle of the night, getting a needle jammed in my toe and so on. Haha but they all add to the unforgettable experience of serving the Lord. because as Elder Holland put it,
“I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries and mission leaders have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries and mission leaders have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary."
It is so true. Some of the greatest moments that I have had here in the mission was when I struggled the most. But there is no better feeling than to overcome whatever holds you back from your potential. Helping others reach changes in their life that they would have never been able to reach if it wasn't for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am 150% convinced that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can change any person if they allow it. I have seen people stop smoking 3 packs a day from one day to the next. I have seen people go way beyond their ability to keep the commandments of God so that they could finally be baptized and make covenants with the Lord. I have seen the Gospel fix marriages and on and on. The Gospel has no limit. the only limit is ourselves. If we can learn to trust in the Lord and exercise unlimited faith, we can break down whatever holds us back and become strong in the faith. As I have learned in my mission several times, I am not the one who works the miracles. Because when I tried to work on my own without the Lord, I failed. But, when I trusted in him and worked with him, that is when miracles happened and as my mission scripture states it this is how I strive to be.
Alma 26:12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boastof my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
This is the truth. I really hope the Lord is pleased with the work that I have done here. I am nowhere close to being perfect in all the things that I have done here, but I really did try and do what he wanted me to do. I hope to keep in contact with all the people that I have met here and keep helping them to do what is the most important, the temple, so that they can have an eternal family. I love my older brother Jesus Christ and My Father who is in Heaven. I share these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Elder Farnsworth
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