Sweetness

So it has been awhile since anyone has posted on here, and I have been wanting to share this for quite some time. I have just been too lazy to actually sit down and write it, so here goes. I feel so grateful and blessed that I served a mission, especially for my time in Austin. It changed everything about my mission, and quite frankly, it completely changed me forever. It was there that I truly learned how to be a missionary and my love for the people grew even more than I thought possible. I was blessed to have an amazing experience in Austin that I will never forget. I had the opportunity to teach the most amazing woman! Her name is Imelda, and she is the sweetest, most wonderful person! My companion and I met her through her fiance in the ward. She was the most prepared and ready person that I have ever met! It was through teaching her that my testimony of the gospel became what it is today. When I first got to Austin I had been out in the mission for 9 months, so about half way through. I couldn't speak Spanish. I had just been with 3 English speaking companions in a row, in an English area. I felt more inadequate to teach in Spanish than ever. I couldn't understand anything and I couldn't express myself and teach the gospel the way that I wanted to. I tried really hard though. I wanted to learn Spanish and I found that the best way I learned was to listen to others. So I literally took 2 weeks and told my wonderful companion that I was just going to listen and learn. I really didn't teach much. I studied, listened, and finally after that time was able to express myself, albeit limited. When we met Imelda I still didn't feel 100% confident in my ability to teach the gospel in Spanish, but I was trying. We were teaching her the first discussion, and it was my turn to teach about Joseph Smith and the first vision. I can't tell you what I said, how I said what I said, but it was one of the most spiritual experiences in my life. It was at that moment when I was bearing my testimony that I knew, without a doubt, that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the only true church on the earth today. I had always known, but this experience solidified my testimony forever. I remember feeling the spirit stronger in the room than I ever had, and probably ever have since then. My companion said that I explained everything perfectly and said things in just the right way. I honestly had no idea what I said. It was just such a wonderful experience. She was baptized about 2 weeks later, and her baptism was so special, she even got up after and bore her testimony and expressed her love for the Savior. I don't know if she still goes to church, and I have no way of contacting her, but I know that I was supposed to meet her. She changed my life, and because of that experience my attitude toward my mission changed. I knew that I was there to baptize. Nothing else mattered.

After I served in Austin, I had the opportunity to return to the border of Mexico to the town of Eagle Pass. I started my mission in Del Rio, which is about 45 mins north of Eagle Pass. So I already knew what border life was like. I loved it! The humble people, the food, the border control....I loved it all! My companion and I were out one day "harvesting" and knocked on the door of a small, half built house. A 19 year old boy came out and started talking to us. He was interested, and had actually met the missionaries before and had always wanted to learn more about the church. He was golden, and his name is Juan. We began teaching him immediately. He was receptive to everything and was baptized about a month or so after we first met him. We helped him through hard times, and helped him to stop smoking. He was so happy. And I was so happy for him. He finally had the answers to life that he had been looking for. His life was not easy, and he was the only member in his family. But he went out with the Elders and tried to be the best he could. He often expressed how my companion and I were his angels and that we saved him. Since I have been home from my mission, I have kind of stayed in contact with him. He used to call me all the time when I first got home. It is sad to say this, and I feel really bad, but there were many times that I ignored his calls. When I did talk to him he would tell me all these horrible things about his life. He had been to jail, had a kid, and was in fights. It was terrible and I didn't know how to help him, so I ignored him. I know, that's terrible. But I really didn't know how I was supposed to help him. Well, about 4 months ago he called me. I didn't answer and just let it go to my voice mail. Then right after I got a text from him. He said, "Hi Alisha, it's John. I want to thank you for showing me the true church. It's amazing how much it has helped me. Ur mission was not in vain. U guys are the best thing that has happened in my life. I am living a good life and I owe it all to you and Karalea. Thank you. I hope you are doing well." I was shocked, to say the least, to receive this text from him. I felt horrible that I had been screening his calls. Really, really horrible. I texted him back telling him thank you, and thanking him for letting us teach him the gospel. It was so good to hear. It made me really, really, really happy to hear this. It is one of the sweetest things that someone has ever told me. I am so eternally grateful that I served a mission. Especially in the wonderful TSAM. My life is better because of it, and the experiences that I had will stay with me forever. I will never regret my decision to serve the Lord. I love the gospel and I know that I am blessed to have it in my life.