What a wonderful week it was once again to serve as a missionary for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and to help souls find the path that leads to Eternal Life with our Heavenly Father. I was so blessed of the Lord this week and will forever be grateful for what he has given me. My service time as a full time missionary is now coming to a close in just a few short days. It is hard to believe that I will be turning in the title of Elder for Addison and the church shoes now are becoming kicks. I have always pondered about what I would say to myself or even to others at this point. I always wondered as I started my mission who I would become after 2 years and what lives would I be able to touch. I always prayed that I would be the source of great good in the lives of others and bring about much good. I prayed that I would bring the restored gospel to their lives and allow them to find the happiness that awaits as we accept Christ into our lives. All of these things I have strived unceasingly to accomplish but the result that I found was unexpected. I have been changed because of those that I have tried to help, they changed my life and brought about much good in me, they taught me the pure joy that can be found through accepting Christ into our lives, and they taught me what it means to live the restored gospel. I am forever changed by the people in which I have served. The names of those in which I have been able to interact with over the last 2 years have been imprinted in my heart forever and the memories in which we shared will forever be in my mind. I love them with all my heart and would do anything for them. Once again although it was me that I thought was the teacher, oh how I have been taught. I have learned a little more of the love that Heavenly Father has for his children. I understand His unconditional love for us because I feel that for the people that I have served. I would do anything to help them in their lives journey.
My mission can be defined by a wonderful scripture found in the book of Matthew chapter 16 v 25:
For whosoever will save hisI know that it is through my mission that I have found my life and the purpose therein. I know who my Savior is because I have done what he would do and I have felt a little piece of what he has felt. I know the name by which I will called at the last day because I have served Him and he has been close to the thoughts and intents of my heart (Mosiah 5:13) I know that my Heavenly Father loves his children because he has expressed that love to them through me in several occasions and has given me the privilege to be his tool. He has performed miracles according to the faith of those around me and because of the missionaries serving. I have seen that because of turning my life to the Savior for the last 2 years that I understand the importance of the gospel and the importance to make it known to all the inhabitants of the earth (Matthew 28:19). I have learned that spread the gospel brings true joy. Oh how I feel as Ammon that I will boast in the strength of my God. As to my own strength I am weak but with God all things are possible (alma 26). It is so hard to explain the feelings that I have recieved from serving my mission but i hope that through a few of these thoughts that you can understand.life shall lose it: and whosoe ver will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
The most valuable things that I will bring home from my mission is that of my witness that God is our Loving Heavenly Father, that Christ is God's Son and the Savior and Redeemer of the World, and that there church and power was given to man on the earth through a prophet Joseph Smith. These are gifts that money cannot buy and that I would not give up anything for. This is a gift that has brought more happiness than ever and also more strength in trials than anything else. I know that Jesus Christ's atonement performed was for us. It can reach the lowest of lows, light the darkest of corners, and heal the hidden scars. This is what I know through experience and I testify of its truth. I know that as we rely on the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can overcome the world. I know that it is only through the merits and mercy of the atonement that we are saved and brought back into the presence of our Savior. It is upon the teachings of his doctrine in which we can access that power and that mercy. Through our faith, repentance, remission of sins through baptism of water and the Holy Ghost. The gospel of Jesus Christ as it is walked can be known by all that it is from God (john 7:17) I would invite all who have not yet to try to walk this path and I promise you from the bottom of my soul that you will find rest. You will find your burdens light for his yolk is easy. I testify again that this path of that has been laid out to us will give you the truth and the truth will set you free.
I want to express my deepest of gratitude to all of you have supported me and done so much for me over the past 2 years. Your support and love was so appreciated and never went unnoticed. I know that it is true the prayers and support of family and friends that I was able to make it past the bumps in the road and to find joy in the journey. I will never be able to express through words the gratitude that I feel for all of you. I would pray that my influence on you might be half of the influence in which you have had on me.
This is Elder Walter signing out
Forever God's Missionary
#welcomehomeelderwalter
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