สวัสดี Hello!
Here we are. This is the final email of my mission. It's been a crazy ride. It was never easy and it wasn't always fun, but it was worth it. It's hard to measure growth in yourself, so I'm not going to talk about all of the improvements and changes that I've made. But I will talk about what I have now, and why I love being a missionary.
BUT FIRST A COOL STORY
I had the chance to go to the Seattle Temple this week! It was a great experience and I forgot how much I love being in the temple. The sense of peace and the feeling of God's love is so strong you can feel it. Anyone who is actually reading this, get to the temple! Anyways, on our way out, we were walking back to our car that we decided we would park a the neighboring stake center to walk to the temple from there. Two elders were assigned to ride with us on the way to the mission home, but on the way out, a lady in a trailer ran out and asked us if we could give her a blessing. We did and the spirit visibly hit her hard. Fortunately, one of the elders who was with us was currently serving in that very area, and was able to exchange information to help that lady later. Just a cool mini miracle from this week.
*STEPS ON SOAPBOX*
My mission didn't turn out how I expected it. If you told me 2 years ago when I was heading out for Thailand that I would finish my mission in a tiny town called Orting, Washington, I would've thought my plane was going to crash. But even though the results have been way outside my expectations, it never really felt like it was out of control. Serving in Thailand was an incredible and unforgettable experience. I got to meet the kindest and most sincere people, eat the most stupidly spicy food, and see the gospel touch the lives of people who had never even heard of Jesus Christ. Covid threw me through a loop and I wound up at home, followed by a reassignment to the Seattle Washington Mission. What I thought would be a temporary reassignment became my permanent assignment and I was able to meet people I would have never wanted to talk to before. I've learned that my entire life I've possessed something special and irreplaceable: a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that he is the Savior of the world and that through him, no one needs to go through this world and difficult circumstances alone. No one needs to be beaten down by adversity. We have a Redeemer and he is with us through our whole life. He has restored his church on the Earth through modern prophets and by reading the Book of Mormon, we can come to learn who he is, and what he has done and will do for all of those who put their faith in him. I know these things are true. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
LAST THING LAST
Thank you for all of the support and encouragement you have all given me. Even if you were just an audience for me to ramble to, you've helped me create a record of my missionary service that will hopefully one day be worth looking back on. I've come to learn that we can have an impact for good in the lives of those around us, even if we don't know it. I've heard a lot of people who I never baptized, never reactivated, or never even sat down and taught, tell me that I've made a difference and a lasting impact on them or one close to them by small and simple actions. So keep in mind that by being good, you influence others for good. I love you!
เอ็ลเดอร์ แบร์เร็ทท์
Elder Barrett
