I don't really know where to begin. This week has been a whirlwind. I don't think I have ever had a busier week in my entire life. It was the most perfect last week that a girl could have ever asked for. We met with every member at least once. We cut out our lunch and dinner breaks because we didn't have time to squeeze it all in. I don't really know how to explain anything right now because it's a little bit hitting me that I am going home. It hasn't been real because there has been so much to do that I just didn't think about it. But sitting here in our cute little branch building in Lipetsk, Russia home to some of the best people in the world, it's hitting me that my time as a missionary is coming to an end. And that's hard. I have loved my mission with my whole heart. It's the best thing I have ever done. I can't imagine not being a missionary, not getting to experience this. I love these people. I love Russia and I love that Russia has become a holy place for me. Here, I learned how to love, I learned how to pray, I learned what it means to put every ounce of effort, heart, and soul into something and see what comes from it. I learned of my Savior Jesus Christ and that his atonement is not just for sinners, it's for everyone. There is a strengthening power of the Atonement and I can say I have truly felt that power on my mission to be able to do all that is needed here.
My mission has been a series of miracles. Even just this week there have been too many miracles to count. Maybe the time the member called me to tell me that her husband was coming home early from work so that they could do family home evening together, seeing our newly baptized members pass the Sacrament or teach Sunday School, seeing our Relief Society sing together in Sacrament meeting, and seeing one of the less active members that I love the most come to church with her family for my last Sunday when they hadn't been in over six months. I have been the most blessed girl in the whole world to be able to serve in Russia, to be able to serve these people. They are strong people, they know how to weather a storm and they have done so many times. They are kind people, good to the very core, it just takes a little time and effort to get to the core. They are loyal, they are giving, they are wonderful. I have been blessed by the missionaries I have been able to serve with. It's like they gathered the best people in the whole world and put them in one place and that's our mission. I have loved being around them, seeing their light here, seeing how they love the people. These people are my best friends, they are the people I have labored with day in and day out to see the Gospel take hold here. And it's happening. Russia has a wonderful future ahead of itself. The light of the Gospel is spreading, it started as an ember but the flame is growing, and it will continue to grow until it can be seen from across the world. The members here are strong, they are capable, and they have a testimony of Christ. I am honored to have been able to serve here. I cannot adequately express how much love is in my heart for this country, these people, this time in my life, and the opportunity I have had to be an official representative of Jesus Christ. I know that missionary work will be apart of my life, I am not worried about that. I will continue to serve and to work hard. My heart is breaking that it won't be here among these people whom I have grown to love so much.
This week was everything I could have asked for. I mentioned one of my favorite moments earlier but I wanted to talk about it a little more. The members have made this week perfect. They all invited me over multiple times and fed us way more than any person should be fed. I have been here for about nine months and it's been amazing to see how these people have changed. They are growing in the gospel, they are rising to the occasion. I have every feeling of a proud mom as I watch them take huge steps in their lives that will bless the church here for generations to come. I have met with an inactive member and her little daughter (she's almost two and quite possibly my favorite human) every week since I have been here. She's only been baptized for two years and she's darling. She has a desire to come to church but her husband works all day every day and it's not possible for them to come. She told me she would adopt me if I stayed here in Russia. She invited us over this week and taught us how to cook a traditional Armenian dish. While we were there she told us she was going to try to come to church. I wanted her to come so badly but didn't think it would be possible. Sunday morning rolls around and I was running around like crazy as usual. One of the elders came in to the Sacrament hall and said, "You're going to want to see this." And I walk out in the hall and there they are. The whole family. The husband had brought them so they could see me on my last Sunday. He was even late to work so they could stay for part of Sacrament meeting. I hugged them and cried like a baby. These members are my favorite people. I love them more than I thought was possible to love someone. Because I've been here for so long, I have had the opportunity to know each of them and to become friends with them. My name was mentioned in every prayer yesterday at church, they asked Heavenly Father to bless me on my way home and to bless my family. One member found out my name was Amanda and said if they had another daughter they would name her Amanda. These people live very simply yet many of them gave me gifts. These people have taught me how to love, the importance of family and that family is everyone around us as we are all children of God. I have been changed by these people, by loving them, and being loved by them. I have been changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He invites us all to come unto him, to rest from our burdens, to find joy.
It's been the best 18 months of my life learning those lessons. I will miss these people, this country, this time of my life. I will miss the craziness of two American girls living in a random Russian town. I will miss being a missionary in Russia. I am sad I will not be here to see our mission reach the goal of 130 baptisms. But I know it will happen. I have every trust and confidence in the missionaries here that they will make it happen, because we know that it in all actuality, God's doing the heavy lifting. We live our missions, we work hard, we play hard, and we are obedient. We do everything we can and then God does the rest. We will reach our goal. There's no stopping it. Earlier this week we had someone ask us if we thought that anything could really change the world, really make people better. All the missionaries answered in unison, "Yes, the gospel." And it's true. The world is being changed by the gospel. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland says, " Take heart. Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world." The world is changed one person at a time. We have the opportunity to see that change, in others and in ourselves. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ which will facilitate that change quicker than anything else. Our message is that Christ lives, He loves us, and we will see Him again. Our message is of His love, pure and strong for every person on this earth. A while ago I wrote this:
"I don't know where to begin to explain the feelings in my heart. Love. What is love? Not momentary or fleeting. But love, charity, brotherly kindness? What is love? Love is service; love is giving up your seat on a crowded bus. Love is a fresh pot of soup left with care. Love is endless flashes from a camera, desperately trying to capture every moment. Love is kindness. Love knows no boundaries, love feels no pain because love has overcome pain. Love is not dependent on returned feelings. Love exists despite all odds, despite fear, despite darkness. Love is warm, encompassing, overwhelming. Love leaves marks greater than any injury ever could. Love is the instruction set to life. It is impossible for us to know every heartache, every tragedy, every injustice. But there is something every human can share and that is love. Let life be a book, let our daily lives be recorded there, let the content matter less than the means by which it was accomplished, let the pen we use be love. Let us record our lives in love, let the pages of this book of life be so full of ink it is nearly impossible to distinguish one word from the other. Let us record in love. Let us live in love."My mission has been a series of miracles. Even just this week there have been too many miracles to count. Maybe the time the member called me to tell me that her husband was coming home early from work so that they could do family home evening together, seeing our newly baptized members pass the Sacrament or teach Sunday School, seeing our Relief Society sing together in Sacrament meeting, and seeing one of the less active members that I love the most come to church with her family for my last Sunday when they hadn't been in over six months. I have been the most blessed girl in the whole world to be able to serve in Russia, to be able to serve these people. They are strong people, they know how to weather a storm and they have done so many times. They are kind people, good to the very core, it just takes a little time and effort to get to the core. They are loyal, they are giving, they are wonderful. I have been blessed by the missionaries I have been able to serve with. It's like they gathered the best people in the whole world and put them in one place and that's our mission. I have loved being around them, seeing their light here, seeing how they love the people. These people are my best friends, they are the people I have labored with day in and day out to see the Gospel take hold here. And it's happening. Russia has a wonderful future ahead of itself. The light of the Gospel is spreading, it started as an ember but the flame is growing, and it will continue to grow until it can be seen from across the world. The members here are strong, they are capable, and they have a testimony of Christ. I am honored to have been able to serve here. I cannot adequately express how much love is in my heart for this country, these people, this time in my life, and the opportunity I have had to be an official representative of Jesus Christ. I know that missionary work will be apart of my life, I am not worried about that. I will continue to serve and to work hard. My heart is breaking that it won't be here among these people whom I have grown to love so much.
This week was everything I could have asked for. I mentioned one of my favorite moments earlier but I wanted to talk about it a little more. The members have made this week perfect. They all invited me over multiple times and fed us way more than any person should be fed. I have been here for about nine months and it's been amazing to see how these people have changed. They are growing in the gospel, they are rising to the occasion. I have every feeling of a proud mom as I watch them take huge steps in their lives that will bless the church here for generations to come. I have met with an inactive member and her little daughter (she's almost two and quite possibly my favorite human) every week since I have been here. She's only been baptized for two years and she's darling. She has a desire to come to church but her husband works all day every day and it's not possible for them to come. She told me she would adopt me if I stayed here in Russia. She invited us over this week and taught us how to cook a traditional Armenian dish. While we were there she told us she was going to try to come to church. I wanted her to come so badly but didn't think it would be possible. Sunday morning rolls around and I was running around like crazy as usual. One of the elders came in to the Sacrament hall and said, "You're going to want to see this." And I walk out in the hall and there they are. The whole family. The husband had brought them so they could see me on my last Sunday. He was even late to work so they could stay for part of Sacrament meeting. I hugged them and cried like a baby. These members are my favorite people. I love them more than I thought was possible to love someone. Because I've been here for so long, I have had the opportunity to know each of them and to become friends with them. My name was mentioned in every prayer yesterday at church, they asked Heavenly Father to bless me on my way home and to bless my family. One member found out my name was Amanda and said if they had another daughter they would name her Amanda. These people live very simply yet many of them gave me gifts. These people have taught me how to love, the importance of family and that family is everyone around us as we are all children of God. I have been changed by these people, by loving them, and being loved by them. I have been changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He invites us all to come unto him, to rest from our burdens, to find joy.
It's been the best 18 months of my life learning those lessons. I will miss these people, this country, this time of my life. I will miss the craziness of two American girls living in a random Russian town. I will miss being a missionary in Russia. I am sad I will not be here to see our mission reach the goal of 130 baptisms. But I know it will happen. I have every trust and confidence in the missionaries here that they will make it happen, because we know that it in all actuality, God's doing the heavy lifting. We live our missions, we work hard, we play hard, and we are obedient. We do everything we can and then God does the rest. We will reach our goal. There's no stopping it. Earlier this week we had someone ask us if we thought that anything could really change the world, really make people better. All the missionaries answered in unison, "Yes, the gospel." And it's true. The world is being changed by the gospel. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland says, " Take heart. Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world." The world is changed one person at a time. We have the opportunity to see that change, in others and in ourselves. We have the gospel of Jesus Christ which will facilitate that change quicker than anything else. Our message is that Christ lives, He loves us, and we will see Him again. Our message is of His love, pure and strong for every person on this earth. A while ago I wrote this:
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