Why I Am on a Mission

 It took 1 day shy of 18 months for Heavenly Father to show me why I am on a mission. On January 9th, 2021 my friend Livia 郑 decided to make powerful promises with God and be baptized. They tell you over and over at the beginning of the MTC that you are on a mission to bless someone that is waiting for you. I always found that hard to believe because there are many missionaries that seem more talented and more knowledgeable than I. I now know for certain that if Heavenly Father hadn't sent me to North Carolina at this time, then Livia wouldn't have been able to come to understand and love the gospel. Getting to see Livia grow, from someone from China who had barely ever heard of Jesus Christ before, who had lots of doubts and struggles, into someone who has undoubtedly some of the greatest faith I've seen on my mission, who feels so much joy from the gospel, who attends sacrament meeting in English, not understanding anything, but crying her eyes out because of the spirit she can feel. I someday hope to be as humble, kind, and persevering as she is. D&C 18:15 reads "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!" I've met many people on the mission that I would consider having made an impact on, people I've helped teach have been baptized, but in my opinion none of them counted in terms of just me being there for them, or even them being here for me. I now know why I am on my mission, and I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers, even if it takes 547 days. In closing of this email, I will share some excerpts from one of my favorite stories:

"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.

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.

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.

Now if this is 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 this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land."