I should be packing
or cleaning
but instead I am doing a lot of reflecting.
This envelope came towards the end of May bearing the name
Elder Jack Lauck Winn
and it sat on the mantle for what seemed like forever,
waiting for family and friends to assemble.
Opening this envelope began the 2 year 4 month adventure that is about to come
to it's conclusion.
There are no words to describe what I am feeling.
This last email from Elder Winn will always be one that I will treasure.
In it he bore a testimony gained through sacrifice, prayer and service.
It expresses beautifully what is in my heart as well.
Amen my son, amen.
this is a sad and a happy moment.
Hey everyone!
Well, this is the moment that we have been waiting for. With excitement, yet a little bit of sadness, i can tell you guys that this will be my very last email i send home as a missionary. =0 As you guys can imagine, i have many mixed emotions about ending my mission. I truly have loved these two years serving the Lord. I have learned so much about the Gospel, and about life in general.
Well, this email is going to be different, because i am going to do Question Time first. Then, seeing how this is my last email, i will take a little bit of time to write my testimony.
So. Question time! Last one!
1. The hotels we booked all have free internet. I really want to bring my laptop but I am just so afraid of everyone's warnings.I would leave it in the room which I would think would be fairly safe. Do you think that it is a bad idea?
Well, it would be safe in the hotel. I imagine it would be safe. I have never been robbed here. But then again, this country is dangerous. So i dunno. If you bring it, make sure it doesn't have any bank information, or files that you don't want to lose. I doubt someone will rob us though.
2. If you answered yes to that question then are there places that I can go to use the internet that we could stop at everyday so that I can keep in touch and download pictures?
Yes. There are Internet places everywhere.
3. You said that the family you are staying with in Peten has 5 children? Are there really two 15 year old boys or was that a typo?
NO, one of them is adopted.
4. What could I bring 15 year old boys? Would it be stupid to bring a tie or a white shirt? Is the family pretty poor or do they have the basic necessities?
5. Do you have the number of a Mormon taxi driver that can drive us around on Thursday to the mission office and anywhere else you want to go that day?
Yes, i have a few numbers.
6. We get in at like 11:30 so we could go somewhere to visit that afternoon. Do you have an idea where you would like to go that day?
Yes. There are some people we can visit that day.
7. So are you going to the airport with your group when they fly out? Do you have to wait around for us? Will you be alone?
Yeah, i will probably be there. I will probably go to the office, and wait until 11, and then go to the airport. It shouldn't be a problem.
8. Since it is conference weekend do you think that I might see Elder Smith to give him his box. Do the elders from the more outlying parts of the zone come in to Flores for conference. Will we be able to go listen somewhere and will it be in Spanish? (dumb question huh? lol)
Yes, you will see him. I think we will get to watch it in English too. That would be good for you guys. =)
9. Best/worst thing eaten.....next week we can answer that in person to each other. Why am I worried that there will be more worst things than best? Lol
The best thing i have eaten was pizza! We go together last Friday, because we were hitting 2 years that day. It was pretty fun. The worst thing i ate was a tamale. It was again, very gross.
10. Have you been practicing tell people that your awesome mother who is the best mother in the world is allergic pretty much to ALL type of food?
Lolol good luck when you come up here. =)
11. Any last requests on what to bring with us?
No, just pop-tarts. And a chicken biscuit
=)
Well, now i would like to share a little bit of my testimony that i have acquired here on the mission. I am reminded of how Alma gained his testimony. Even though he saw an angel, the way he describes his testimony gaining process was by fasting and prayer. That is how i have gained my testimony as well. I have been able to see miracles, and great wonders here on my mission, but the real way i was able to gain my testimony was through simple and fervent fasting and prayer.
I know through personal revelation that God lives, and that He loves us. I know that He has a plan for each and every one of us, because we are His children. We have great potential, and I know that God is actively helping us become who we need to become. I know that He sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth, to atone and suffer for the sins of the world. I know that only through Him can we ever have the hope of coming back to live with our Heavenly Father. His Atonement made repentance possible, something we all need to be cleansed from our sins. I know that through repentance we can have the pains that we carry healed. That thought makes me very happy.
I also know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only true church on the face of the earth. It is true, because the priesthood authority was restored almost 200 years ago by the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that he, at a young age, saw the Father and the Son, and that through him, the true Church of Christ was restored. That is something very important for me.
I also know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have been able to study it very well for the last two years. I have found many answers to my prayers through that book. I know that it has come unto us through the power of God, and that if we read it throughout our lives, the Lord will bless us, and we will be able to better understand the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I know that through the power of the priesthood, my family is sealed together for all eternity. What a reassuring and comforting truth. I know that only through the restored Gospel can we enjoy these blessings.
Leaving my mission will be sad for me, but i know that there are great things that lie ahead of me. I have developed a great love for the people i have served here in Guatemala.
My future is bright. I know who I am, what my purpose is, and where I am going.
I love my Savior. I know that He lives, and loves me.
I love my family. I know that they know that. I know that they love me as well.
And this, my last testimony as a missionary, i seal up, knowing full well that by it, at the last day, i will be judged. I have thrust my sickle with my might.
I say these things in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Love,
Elder Winn
Amen.
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