{My Last Missionary Email}

Well this is quite strange for me... but this is my last email as a full time missionary. Conference was just beautiful, and perfect! I couldn't think of a better way to end my mission. I know with all my heart and soul that this is the work of the Lord. I love it with all my heart. I feel like a changed person thanks to my mission. I cannot thank my God enough for being so good to me, and teaching me to trust in Him. I know that Jesus is the Christ, Redeemer, and Savior. I love Him, and I know that He loves me. My mission has been the best thing that has every happened to me. I find it hard to express my words and feelings that I have. I feel like the words of Ammon explain better than I can. Alma 26 

1 And now, these are the words of Ammon to his bretheren, which say thus:  My brothers and my bretheren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have we to rejoice; for could we have supposed when we started from the land of Zarahemla that God would have granted unto us such great blessings

2 And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon us?  Can ye tell?

3 Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

4 Behold, thousands of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God.

5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.

8 Blessed be the name of our God; let us sing to his praise, yea let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth work righteousness forever.

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever

14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our bretheren from the chains of hell

16 Therefore, let us glory , yea, we will glory in the Lord;yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever. Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.

30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

35 Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.

36 Now if this boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo.  Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land.

37 Now my bretheren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are overall the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God for ever. Amen.

The best part is that I know that my mission has not ended. It has just begun. Maybe I wont physically have a name tag on my shirt anymore, but I will always carry one in my heart. I want to end this email with my simple testimony. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church. I know that Christ organized the church when he was on the earth. I know that Jesus taught us the way, that through His love He suffered and died for us. Through the Atonement we can become clean and pure and return to the presence of God. I know that God restored His church through the prophet Joseph Smith. Joseph also translated The Book of Mormon, and I know that this book is true, and that it will guide us all of our lives. I know that today we have a living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I know if we follow Gods perfect plan, we will live with our families forever. The Gospel is true, in all parts of the world. God loves us, and so does His Son Jesus Christ. These things I want to leave with you all, in the name of Jesus Christ, our redeemer, Amen. 

Love,

Hermana Sanders