A braid Sister Hunt did in my hair
How a Local Business showed Breast Cancer Support
El Ultimo!
Wow! This is my last Blog of the mission!!! It's so crazy
to think that I'll be back in Utah in just a few days! It's starting to hit me
more now as a reality. My ward had a farewell party for me and
that made me realize even more that I'm getting the boot! Going home
is kind of a reverse of going on your mission, you have butterflies, you
imagine what it will be like, you are preparing spiritually for what lies
ahead. In the mission there is funny lingo we have. When you come into the
mission you are "born" in the area where you start, and when you
go home you "die" in that area you end in. Welp, I'm
an old lady now on the mission field and I'll be dying in a few days. I
have a better understanding now of how the elderly feel I think.
(: But I can say that the mission has been such a wonderful part of my life and
it will continue to be something that I will always have with me throughout my
life to guide me!
This week has been a wonderful week of service to others,
strengthening friendships and saying our goodbyes. You know, what if everyday
was like a goodbye? All of the wonderful things we say to each other at the end
are so happy and make you feel good. Maybe people don't want to be mushy all
the time and make you cry, but it's so great! Telling people you appreciate them
and you are happy to know them should be said everyday, I want to work towards
doing that more often. Appreciation is often overlooked but it is such a
great thing!
I have a big testimony of service being a great friendship
builder! I have gained so many strong, long lasting relationships that have
started and grown from serving others and having others serve me! It is such a
sincere show of love that it endears you to them quicker than any other way.
All of us want sincere, loving friends, and what greater way to show that than
serving one another? Its so great! And it makes you feel good to! The more
good, solid friendships, the better! I have gained so many great friends from
all ages and all races and I love it! I learn so much from all of them that makes
my life so much fuller and happier. There is something you can learn from
everyone!
I am grateful for the opportunity to have served a mission in
Minnesota, even though it is pretty dang cold here, my spirit has been warmed
from all of the wonderful souls I have had the privilege to meet to both learn
from and teach.
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are such great guys! I'm really
grateful that we're related! And that they are not only watching out for me,
but everyone in the world. They really do love everyone no matter what, it's so
cool!
There have been so many blessings of going on a mission that I
am so grateful for, and if anyone is thinking about going on a mission, I would
say a big YES to going. It is the biggest spiritual adventure you will go
on! There is nothing that will so thoroughly build a sure foundation in the
gospel in so quick of a time than a mission will. There are so many
blessings and benefits that come from serving the Lord! In reality, giving up
your time and energy is not really being given up, it's being given to put to
the best use you can in a year and a half/ two year time span. It's the best
investment you will ever make! I'm so happy that the Lord trusted me
enough to do this work because it is indeed a blessing!
I've been able to take just a little of the path that Christ and
his disciples took. Developing the attributes of Christ takes effort but it is
so much fun!
I want to bear my testimony that I indeed do know that the
Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints is the Church of Jesus Christ on
the earth today. That the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ
and that we have a living Prophet who has the same priesthood that Christ had
to bless and teach and guide the people. I'm so grateful for the plan of
salvation so that I can be with my family for eternity, and I'm grateful for
the commandments that keep me on the strait and narrow! I know that we are sons
and daughters of God and He loves us!
And I love you all to! See you soon! Have a great week!
Love Sister Kaylani Jo Ficklin