Coming Home!

I can't believe that it is my last Monday in the mission. There have a been a lot of lasts this week. Yesterday was bittersweet as I said goodbye to all of the members yesterday. I am going to miss them.  I was glad that it was fast and testimony meeting because I was able to bear my testimony. 

This week I have thought a lot about my testimony. Where it was at before my mission, where it is now, and where I hope it to be 1 yea from now, 5 years from now, and so on.  I just want it to be able to continue growing. I know that that will only come through consistently living those same principles that I have been teaching for the last year and a half. 

I know I will be seeing you all soon so I just want to leave you with my testimony. It may sound similar from the beginning but I hope that the spirit can transmit the difference in the feeling behind it.

I know that God lives. I know that he loves all of his children, no matter who they are, what they have done, or where they are at in their lives. He loves them still and I know that his work is to help all of his children to one day have the same joy that he has. I know that Jesus Christ lives. He is my Savior, my redeemer, and my friend. He has been there for me every step of the way. Has lifted me when I didn't have the strength to do so and has cheered me on when I have been discouraged. I know that through his Atonement we can all find the strength to do hard things, to change, and to become who it is he wants us to be. I know that through his Atonement we can find peace in our lives. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true church upon the face of the earth. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he was called to restore that church. I know that with that restoration the priesthood was also restored to the earth and that because of that we can receive those ordinances that will allow us to return back to live with God and with our families. I know that Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet and that if we follow his counsels we will be protected spiritually and physically in this world.  I know that this work is the Lord's work and that as we do it we will find joy and peace. 

I hope that we can all seek to grow our testimonies through living the gospel every day.  

I'm excited to see you all soon!

Love,

Hermana Carpenter

I'm getting transferred home! (Feb 29th)

Well I am sure by now it is spreading like wildfire, at least among my family, but for those of you that haven't heard, this week will be my last week in the mission.

So you are probably all wondering why I will be home a transfer earlier than initially planned. It all started with President interviews this last week. As I sat down for my interview the first thing President Palmer said is, "I have something I have been thinking about that I would like to talk to you about..." he then preceded to tell me that it had come to his mind the possibility of me going home at the end of this transfer instead of on April 27th. He said he hadn't thought about it before but that it came to him multiple times and that he said in light of my health situation and with the extensions that I should give that option some serious thought and to get back to him in a day or two. 

I have to say I was a little, no a lot surprised but when your mission president says he has been receiving a prompting and that you should think about it "seriously" that is what you do. So that being said, I agreed to think about it. I spent the rest of Tuesday and most of Wednesday thinking and praying about that option. I thought through both options, the pros and cons of both options. As I made the list it appeared that the list for why I should be at home was a lot longer than the list of why I should be in the mission. I felt though that all of the reasons to be at home were selfish reasons, even if they were good.  I just didn't want to feel like I was giving up at the end. More than anything I just wanted to do what the Lord wanted regardless of what it was.  I received a blessing and thought some more.  As I pondered on what it was I was supposed to do I felt the really strong impression that it was time for me to go home. 

Even though I was/am sad about not being able to be here until April I feel a lot of peace about the decision. The thing that is interesting to me though is that I feel like the ending of my mission came much like my call to serve. My soul has been conflicted over something, although I did not know what until now, much like before I made the decision to serve.  As I sought out the will of the Lord in his time his will was made manifest, just as clearly as before.  My decision to serve was clear and the change was fast. It was a whirlwind of emotions and getting everything in line to submit my papers. Now, here I am almost two years later going through a similar experience but on the other end.

I'm so grateful for this chance the Lord has given me to serve. I feel humbled by the trust that he has given me during this time. I know that he has a work for me to do at home and more than anything I feel excited to be able to go home and continue that work. I want to take all that I have learned from the mission to go forth and bless the Lord's children and build up his Kingdom. I know that even though my full-time mission is coming to an end that my work as a missionary is not. That will always continue. 

For those of you that are interested, my homecoming talk will be Sunday, March 13th at 11:00 a.m. The address of the church is 1552 East 750 South Spanish Fork, Utah 84660.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week. I will be seeing you all soon!

Love,

Hermana Carpenter