Letters Home . . . . Prelude

So I am back from my mission.  And I realized that this blog really is a wonderful journal, so I am going to put all my mission letters that I sent to my family.  I guess this is some of the group emails, but also some of the harder weeks that I just wrote my family.  So this is the real mission, real and uncut.  But make no mistake, this was the best 18 months for my life, and of my life.  The mission is hard, yes, but also so good.  The mission scripture I had chosen at the beginning of my mission was D and C 67:10.

 10 And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.

And it was true.  I wasn't humble enough, and as I was humbled, I did come to know with a stronger feeling than ever, that my Savior lived and was the Redeemer of all mankind.  But it is also a little harsh, and as I came to better understand the atonement of Jesus Christ I learned so much about the love our Heavenly Father has for us.  So the scripture that I ended my mission with, that I just feel like describes the mission like no other scripture is Alma 31: .

 38 And the Lord provided for them that they should hunger not, neither should they thirst; yea, and he also gave them strength, that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith.

Someone once told me that the mission is like a field of roses, that when you are running through, there are so many little pricks, there are ditches and hills, and you feel yourself gaining calluses from the little pricks.   At the end of the mission is when you have crossed through this rose field and looking back all you can see is beautiful roses that stretch on for miles.  All you remember is the good, because the good completely overpowers the afflictions.  So here is my mission journal!