The Final Testimony

I remember when Elder Hill the elder that taught me was going home. We drove to a church to hear him give his final testimony. I was so sad. Since that day I dreaded ever having to bare my final testimony at the end of my mission. I knew somehow that day would one day come and that day was yesterday.

I don't think I've ever cried as much as I have this week. I have been spoiled by members and people I have taught. Saturday night I went to what I thought was a ward game night and it ended up being a farewell party filled with members, recent converts and people I have taught. Some even came from my past wards. We had food, played games, some gave speeches, and they had me give my final testimony. I don't think I've ever cried that much in a short period of time.

I'm gonna explain how I feel through a funny song. It's called "You Can't Take Her With You". The songs starts off with a young boy who has his dream car. The chorus says "But you can't take her with you when you go." Meaning when he leaves on his mission the car will have to stay behind. Then he has a crush on this girl and once again the chorus says, "But you can't take her with you, you know, can't take her with you when you go." Hahaha! Basically this boy is sad to leave behind his car and girlfriend to serve a mission. Then, IT HITS HOME. The boy has completed his two year mission and he's getting read to leave. The chorus now says, 

"Two years up, you're heading home. Your eyes tear up, you don't wanna go. There's only one thing on your mind the many hearts you're leaving behind. But you can't take them with, you know, can't take them with you when you go."

I think that before my mission I was sad to leave selfish things. But my desires have changed, I felt felt the pure love if Christ for every person I have met on my mission and it is the hardest thing in the world to say bye to them. I feel like I am leaving my home again except this time is 10 times worse!

I'm sad it's ending but I am so grateful for this amazing experience I've had. There is nothing that can substitute serving a full-time mission for God. You just learn things that are only taught through personal experience. I understand better who the Savior is. I feel like I personally know Christ and Heavenly Father. I've always loved Them and occasionally felt Their presence but now I know Them and I know They know me and that They love me. I didn't fully understand that before. I also know that the true church has been brought back to the earth after years of confusion and darkness after the death of Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is evidence of that. God did not limit revelation to biblical times. He still has prophets, he still reveals scripture and doctrine. He is an unchanging God. Science to me is evidence that there is a God, a God of order that has a plan for us and has given everything a function. I have had miraculous experiences on my mission I will treasure forever. I have learned, cried, grown and changed alongside the beautiful souls I have taught. My life will forever be changed because of my decision to serve. I thought I would be able to confidently say at the end of my mission that I have sacrificed 18 months of hard work to the Savior to pay Him back for all He has done for me. But I can't say that. Because I haven't sacrificed anything, He has given ME these 18 months. They have been a blessing in my life and I will forever be indebted to Him. I know this message is true, even if I stopped believe in it, it would still be true. I could never deny the feelings the Holy Ghost has brought over me. These have been the best 18 months for my life. And I'm ready to endure to the end; go back home and continue to learn, grow and love. My mission is not the end. It is only the beginning.

Love you all, see you soon.

Signing off one last time as a representative of the Lord...

Hermana Tapia

Visit to the ER: The Sequel

Hola!

An emotional hermana here. Sorry I've been terrible at writing these blog posts this transfer. I have a story to start this off...

It all starts back to my interview with President two transfers ago. He asks me to extend. I'm super nervous and not really sure what to say. A million plans and people come to mind. Can it really work out? I tell my President I need to pray about it and get back to him. My companion and I get in the car and I'm just looking out the window thinking about what I'd have to do in order to extend a whole transfer more. I stop and decide to check our phone to see the messages we missed during our interviews. We receive a referral from California; the Jaldin family. I read the description from the elders that sent this family. They're moving to our area that weekend. They seem really interested. Immediately it distracts me from my big decision to extend and we get excited. We call the number and talk to the mother. They are open and excited to continue taking the lessons in Virginia.

That night as I prayed about my extension. The Jaldin family comes to my mind and I feel peace. I feel a confirmation that everything will work out and that I need to stay. I accept the extension.

Throughout the last 2 transfers we have taught this family. They're amazing and so desirous to learn and live the gospel. The dad is a little more skeptical and that slowed down their progress a little. BUT I knew even if they weren't baptized before I left that I needed to learn from them and teach them. They're such an amazing family. They have taught me so much and I adore them. They're so special.

Now fast forward to yesterday after sacrament. The wife comes up to me after church with tears in her eyes. She says she received her answer and she wants to be baptized this Sunday before I leave. I couldn't believe it! We hugged and cried. We are now preparing her for this Sunday! They were prepared all this time, we were just trying to help them realize it. So this was a miracle.

My decision to extend was the best decision I could have made. I have been blessed beyond measure and I treasure this time I got to continue serving. I had this misconception that in serving a mission I would be repaying Christ for all he has done for me. BUT if anything I am even more in debt with him. My mission has been a revelatory experience. I know for sure I had to meet the people I met here and I love them with all my heart.

Other events this last transfer:

• I had my last charla fogonera. (pictures of me in the purple dress) Members and recent converts from all over Virginia came to say bye to me. Some drove nearly two hours. I love these people so much!

• The baptisms of two people I have been teaching since July! It took 8 months but they have entered the waters of baptism and are preparing to return home to Heavenly Father. The older man I met my first week in Spring Lake when I was recovering from my appendectomy. I was so tired and felt so sick that day cause I was still recovering and made it a goal to talk to one more person. It was HIM! Hard work pays off.

• We had a Sister's Conference for Valentines Day and this is a picture of the hermanas in the mission. Then it's me and my 3 beautiful hijas (companions I have trained).

• It's been snowing like crazy here. Don't ask me how many times we have been snowed in.

It has been an amazing last transfer and I'm sad to announce this week will be my last week as a full-time missionary. I'm so excited to go back home and see you all but a bigger part of me has come to love missionary work and the people of Virginia so much. It's like leaving home all over again. It might even be harder to leave here than it was to leave Utah! Hahaha! I know it's because I have felt the pure love of Christ for these people and have learned and grown so much here. Virginia will always be a sacred place to me.

BUT I'm so ready to keep working hard this last transfer! We had 2 baptisms this week for some amazing people I have taught since I first got to this area last July. And we have more this week for some people I have met more recently. Everyone is trying to get baptized before I leave. I don't think they ever thought I'd actually leave. It's been 8 months in Spring Lake. I love this place! I love missionary work. This is the only work that can bring people salvation and that can create eternal families. I have felt the Savior help me as I do this work. This is only possible because of Him.

Okay, I'm getting ahead of myself. Next week I'll write my last email and send off my testimony but for now I'm getting back to work and having the best last week ever!

Oh yeah, my subject line! It wasn't me that was admitted to the ER, it was another hermana in our ward we just had to take them. Just a little subject line to draw you all in... I'm okay!  hahaha!

Love you all! I'll see you soon!

Hermana Tapia