last days

Well! This is the last one. Sometimes I can't believe it's come to an end but here it is. My last week in the mission went by quickly. To be honest it didn't feel real that my mission was over but saying goodbyes hit that home. Every time we left a house or said goodbye to a member I had the thought that this would be the last time I would see them or be in that house. It was a sobering thought. 

Friday night we had a full day planned for Saturday when we got a phone call saying that due to the elections, we had to be home by 6pm Saturday and that Sunday we couldn't leave, just for church in the morning. So I spent my last day as a missionary running around my area saying goodbyes! It was a little disappointing but it was for our safety. Sunday we attended church and then we ate pozole with a member and then it was back home. After about an hour I was going crazy so I put myself to pack a few things and then I started baking. With the Bishop living above us we got to go up and we watched a short Church movie with them and then it was back down to our apartment. 

In my studies this week I focused on chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel which is about the attributes of Christ. I feel like there is so much more I need to learn and to change but I guess that is what we have our lives to do. I've changed on the mission and now I'm going to put into practice what I studied and taught for the last 18 months. I know it won't be easy but it is always worth it. 

I love you all!

Love,

Hermana Bennett

blessings

This week went by fast and with only one more I have a feeling it will finish faster than I'd like. In the last few weeks we've had a lot of trouble finding people to teach and in the three weeks prior to this past one we only found a total of three new people to teach. Every week we changed things around, how we contacted, how we asked references, but nothing seemed to make a difference. In our district meeting last Monday we talked about attitude and how it makes the difference in the work. I didn't feel very different after the activity but I think it helped us. Our week went a lot differently - we found seven new people to teach. It was a huge blessing and answer to our prayers and I know this week we will keep finding people. We found out that they will be putting Elders in our area when I leave and while we are both sad about that, we know it'll all work out.

     Members are already gearing up for my departure and have started giving me gifts. One member almost started crying when my companion let it slip I was close to leaving. That made it feel more real. I also had my final interview! That was an interesting experience and it was a chance to reflect on my mission and how I've changed. Sometimes I feel I'm still me, the same I was, but I know I've changed throughout my mission, and my president was quick to tell me I've changed a lot. I guess we'll see what you all say next Wednesday! It's coming fast.

     I was reading through some Liahonas the other day and came across a quote I really liked and I found the talk online in case someone wants to read it. It talks about challenges and trials and how necessary they are. One part explains that "One’s life, therefore, cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free...
     Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, “Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!” The mission has been hard, there have been moments where I wonder if I can do it, if it's worth it, and questions of why is this happening to me. As Elder Maxwell explains, these are the experiences we asked for in the Pre-Earth existence, we knew they were coming and we cherished the opportunity to have them so that we can become like our Heavenly Father. Life is hard, but it's our attitude that determines our success, and while hard, it's always worth it. 

     I love you all! Have a great week.

Love,

Hermana Bennett