Forever Strong in the Work: December 2015

(A/N: Hello everyone! Alejandra here for the last time with one last email update from Hermana Ramos-Escobar. Thank you all so much for your patience with my updates and for reading these last few months of her mission. But most importantly, thank you all so much for the love you have shown her through out the mission. I know she has felt it and seen it. :) Thank you all again, and I hope you have a wonderful week!)

Wow...

Yup! That's about all I can say right now...

I cannot believe 18 months have already gone by...

I think back to my first weeks out on the field...

I remember making Kitty Litter cake with some members for a birthday party...

I remember getting attacked by a cat named Monkey...

I remember seeing Sister McArthur up on the stand with the rest of the missionaries training and just knowing that she was going to train me. I look a little bit down the road when I got Sister Campos and got doubled into Fresno. I had no clue what I was doing but somehow it worked out. The Lord took over and He just used us as instruments. Sister Campos taught me how to laugh at everything! I remember getting Sister Simonsen as my companion also. That was a great blessing! I got to learn a little bit more about music and playing the piano! All of my companions have taught me something, everyone that I've met has taught me something that I needed to learn. There are so many precious memories that I have made here in the great California Fresno Mission...So many memories that I know I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else.

This past week has been rough, but it's been amazing! I'm not going to lie (I think everyone knows anyways), but I didn't want to go home. I wanted to be a missionary forever! It would be the coolest thing! But as the time has gone by, I've come to realize more and more that there is a reason that I need to go home. I was able to have my final interview with President Clark on Friday and he helped me realize that I've done what I was asked to do. The mission doesn't last forever and it's not supposed to. Later that day, I don't remember what I was doing, but I found a scripture Ecclesiastes 3:1...

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"

To everything there is a season...I had a season to be out here in the field.. and now that season is over. And now I need to apply 1 Nephi 3:7...

"...I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

I know that the Lord has something greater for me and I'm just going to trust in Him and do what I'm asked to do.

I'll be saying my final goodbyes today, and tomorrow morning I will be heading to Fresno with Sister Priestley. Sister Priestley will be getting her new companion on Thursday because she's training!! YAY!! (I was beyond excited for her.) I will be spending the rest Tuesday in Fresno and Wednesday I will be flying home to see my family. My family that has been supporting me in EVERYTHING that I do. I love my family!

I never realized how much I would grow to love so many people. These past days little by little I've had to say bye to people, it breaks my heart every time, but I know that one day I'll see them again! Or hopefully multiple times!

There is no doubt in my mind that I was meant to come on a mission. There are so many things that I have learned, so many things that have helped me grow closer to my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I know this gospel is true. I know that we have it's fullness on the earth today. I know that it was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that we can feel of our Heavenly Father's love when we pray. The gospel is so simple, all we need to do is apply it. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that through Him I personally can return to live with my Heavenly Father and feel complete joy...joy that we can't completely feel here on Earth. I'm grateful for everything the gospel has brought me: peace, joy, love, purpose, the list goes on. I'm thankful for my Savior and for all that He's done for us.

I'll see you all soon!

(Except those that are still out on their mission, you just keep working hard!)

With much love,

Hermana Ramos-Escobar!