Called to Serve

May 13, 2019

Happy Monday Everyone! And happy final week of the mission to me!!!

So here's the thing: this is my last letter from the mission field. Next Monday, I'll be traveling to the mission offices in Villa, and Tuesday morning I'm off. Gone.

Ouch, it hurts just thinking about it. Let me explain why:

A perfect example: Sunday. Yesterday, I really felt the meaning of the hymn, "I Stand All Amazed". First, because Hilaria was baptized! She met the hermanas about 10 months ago, and we had actually left her, because I thought that she would never get around to it. But we felt like we needed to darle una vuelta, so we did. And she told us that it was time, she was ready to get baptized. I thought, "HA! Será. We´ll find out." Very quickly we were able to notice that the Spirit had been working on her. So on Sunday, she got baptized. 

Just imagine it. Sitting in sacrament meeting, among members and families that I know and love. On one bench, there Hilaria with Hna. Tula(who is like a grandma to me), nervous and excited. Another bench, there´s Tino, who still showing up and being activated after 19 years of inactivity. He´s teaching/showing Luis, my recent convert from last transfer, how to tie his tie. Abraham, a teen that we are trying to activate (his mom is active, his dad isn't), came to church again. I wave at him and he tries not to roll his eyes because we're the cheesy missionaries that love everybody way too much in his opinion. (even though I know that he totally thinks that we're cool).

Ernesto who wants to be a missionary and
takes us all over to meet his friends so we can share the gospel with them!!!

Hilaria sheds a few tears in the baptismal font, but comes out of the water smiling and radiant. She gives the final prayer, and cries as the Sprit fills up the room and our hearts. Cries as she thanks God for a "new opportunity". And I'm just sitting there trying to burn the image into my mind of her bowing her head and being confirmed. Trying to remember every little moment.

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This pyramid is in our area!

Hna Tula made us breakfast today

It reminds me of something that Presidente Haws once taught: The mission is an opportunity to be happy. Now, and in the eternities. Serving God brings us joy.

Chilling by river on my last P-day

I know that it all has to end. For several nights now I've laid awake praying and bargaining with God, asking for more time. But it has to end, we must move forward. How else can we get to eternity?

I cannot thank God enough, for the past 18 months. For my whole life, but especially these 18 months. I have been torn down and built up, been improved and tested, and been in complete awe of all that the Lord can do.

There aren't words enough to explain what I feel abut my misison. It has honestly and simply been the best and most impactful 18 months of my life. I remember what I felt, holding my call letter in my hands. Reading that I was "called to serve" the Lord and that I would labor in this great work down here in the México Villahermosa misison. I didn't have clue what that would mean! But I felt the Spirit testify that it was the right place and I said, "OK" and got on a plane and began something that has an eternal significance for me and a few other people that I've met down here.

So thanks, Mom and Dad and everybody for letting me come on a mission. For supporting me and praying for me and all those that I have had the privilege of teaching. It's been worth it. I can say that even though I might be coming home a little sunburned, that I not only walked under the sun but also alongside the Son.

I would just like to end this already long email with my testimony.

Yo se con todo mi corazón que mi Señor vive y que él está trabajando al lado de nosotros los misioneros y miembros en su gran obra. Se que hubo una apostasía de Sus verdades, y por eso fue necesario que hubiera una restauración de todas estas cosas. Por medio de un joven y un corazón sincero, hoy en día podemos disfrutar de las bendiciones del evangelio de Jesucristo. He visto muchos milagros durante mi tiempo en la misión, pero el milagro más grande y maravilloso que he visto ha sido el cambio que Dios ha hecho en mí. La iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días es la única iglesia verdadera sobre la faz de la tierra. Lo se, y se que el Libro de Mormón es otro testamento de Jesucristo y contiene la historia de una parte de su pueblo. He tenido el gran honor de andar aquí, donde este libro fue escrito. Se que fue escrito por estos últimos días, para nosotros. Amo el Señor, amo mi misión, y agradezco a mi Dios por la oportunidad de servirle de tiempo completo por 18 meses. Este es mi testimonio, y testificaré a estas verdades hasta el final de mi vida. Esto lo comparto en el sagrado nombre de Jesucristo, amen. 

I love you all. Keep serving, and don't forget to smile. No se canse de ver milagros! See you soon.

Hermana Brenna Roe