Well. This is my last* letter home from my mission.
The truth is, there is no possible way an email can say what I want to say. The good news is, that's alright, because I will always be with you forever and ever, and I don't need to say everything right now.
Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
This scripture really hit me one night when I was sitting on my top bunk in my bedroom at the MTC. I remember writing it in my journal and feeling so inspired, and I decided that it would be my mission scripture. I had no idea what I was even getting into. Seriously, no idea. When I look back on the past year, it's kind of like a flip-book, and I see all these images just zipping by: dirt roads, chapels, wooden benches, hundreds of wonderful Polynesian faces. And I think of all the things my heart went through: joy, doubt, confidence, peace, frustration, anger, patience, humility, fatigue, all of it. I chose that scripture in the MTC without even realizing to what degree I was heading into the biggest adventure of my life.
But I can tell you now that it's true.
I remember writing a long time ago a thought I'd had about moving mountains. That was at the beginning of my mission when I felt like I had just arrived at the bottom of the Himalayas, with just me and a backpack full of scriptures.
Not being able to communicate: Mountain.
Missing you all to death: Mountain
Trying to bring strangers to the gospel: Mount Everest itself.
And now here I am, 18 months later, and I'm on the other side! I speak French. I'm coming home to you again. And there are is group of Tahitians that now know the Savior and live the true joy of His gospel.
It happened. I literally watched mountains move, and we moved them with a shovel.
I really, really hope that all the steps I've taken, all the prayers I've said, all the conversations I've had have done something permanently good for the people I've served. One thing I definitely do know is that all those steps and prayers and conversations have done something permanently good in my life.
A year or so ago, Mom sent me a necklace with three little silver keys on it. There was a key representing these three things: hope, faith and charity. Those are the three things I've gained on my mission.
I can testify without a single doubt- not one doubt- that we have a loving Heavenly Father, a real Person who hears us, helps us, cares about us. He is our Father, and He is the One who created this marvelous plan that allows us to be here on earth. Jesus Christ is His Son, our Brother, and He took His turn on this earth 2000 years ago. Because He and the Father love us perfectly, and through that perfect love, He was able to put Himself in our place through the miracle of The Atonement, where he felt and understood us, one by one, and took upon Him the burden of every single wicked thing in this world. And He overcame all of it. Today, He is the One Person who understands us all truly and is capable of healing us, encouraging us, and empowering us. He is the Savior.
Think about that. When you look at the world and see weakness and sadness and regret and disappointment and then you hear that there is One Person that loves us all anyway, does that do something to your heart? That's hope.
And when your hope is so high and your heart is so full that you are ready to do something to know this Person and be like Him, that's faith.
And when you are trying to be like Him, when you are loving and serving and giving to the point that you start to understand a little bit what He must feel for all of us, that's charity.
I love my mission. Truly, Christ has strengthened me, and He has moved mountains with me. And because of Him, I know for myself what the three keys of happiness are.
Life is beautiful.
All my love,
Soeur Mann
*Editor's Note: This may be her last letter from Tahiti, but it won't be the last thing you hear from her . . .
