I love this work, it's the purest expression of love for God that I've yet found. My diligence increases as my love for the Lord has.

The greatest lesson that I relearned this week is to be honest in every minute detail. Our integrity was tested last Sunday, when we contacted this nonmember husband of an active woman. On our way in one of us scratched the car with our bike. We resolved to tell them about it, but forgot in the conversation. I realized that we had and then we went back and told him about the mistake. He remarked that the last person to scratch his wife's car had paid $500 to get it fixed. He went on to describe the incident, how someone had done it and then drove off. She got the driver from a camera and then the insurance companies fought between each other and it was just a mess. We have yet to get a call from Sister Lester about it but we're glad we did, he would have had a very very bad opinion of missionaries had we given in to the fear of apologizing for the injury we had caused. Instead he now knows that he can trust missionaries, because no matter how good of friends a member is with someone we teach, they must learn to trust us.

Things I appreciate about my mission:

-My relationship with Jesus Christ, as far as I'm willing to sacrifice in this great work he's willing to bless me. 

-Consecrated service brings spiritual experiences that you can't speak of.

-The ability to put on the name tag every day. "By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ." We are inspired often as we talk with and teach nonmembers, what to say often just comes.

-The Book of Mormon, I'm able to witness it's truth every day. I see patterns in the people that are frequently depicted in the Book of Mormon. People who are compelled to be humbled are generally more willing to listen to the unique message that we have to offer the world.

-The Gift of the Holy Ghost. There is nothing more sweet than to be filled with the Spirit throughout the day. Before my mission my obedience and desire to enjoy the gifts of the Spirit was there but much weaker. There is so much to enjoy on your mission, the triumph and joy in faithful service is so much greater than the minor losses and sorrows that life can bring.

"The Spirit of God like a fire is burning!

The latter-day glory begins to come forth

The visions and blessings of old are expanding,

And angels are coming to visit the earth.

The Lord is extending the Saints' understanding,

Restoring their judges and all as at first.

The knowledge and power of God are expanding;

The veil o'er the earth is beginning to burst.

We'll sing and we'll shout with the armies of heaven,

Hosanna, hosanna to God and the Lamb!

Let glory to them in the highest be given,

Henceforth and forever, Amen and amen!"

(The Spirit of God, hymn number 2)

The blessings of my mission have been incredible. Nevertheless it is just the smallest scratch of the temple blessings that have yet to come in my mission, life and in eternity.

I am forever thankful to the Lord for this opportunity to serve the Lord in this marvelous capacity. There's so much to learn about what Jesus Christ would do if he were serving in my shoes, so don't think I've nearly got this all down yet.  

My Commission, by Elder Bruce R. McConkie

"I am called of God. My authority is above that of the Kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my master, and He has chosen me to represent him, stand in his place, to say and do what he himself would say and do if he personally was ministering to the very people to whom he has sent me. My words are his words, my acts are his acts, my words are his words and my acts are his acts. My commission is to do what he wants done, to say what he wants said, to be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous latter-day work."

The work is true! God speaks in our day. I know it, and literally anyone that reads the Book of Mormon honestly and prays about it will know it too. It may take time like Lehi after he prayed to be delivered from the darkness that surrounded him, for he only partook of the fruit of the tree of life after he prayed and strove to reach the tree clinging to the iron rod, or word of God. My knowledge of the Atonement has grown and my desire to share the Everlasting Gospel with everyone has grown with it. God's blessings are coming, I promise you that. If you feel that God's covered now, move on, repent of the sins and transgressions we're prone to and hold on! I love the Lord and pray for you daily.

Much Love,

Elder Szendre