The End

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."  -Ecclesiastes 3:1


This morning I finished packing my suitcases, just as I had a little over two years ago.  What has changed since then?  Some of the shirts are stained and some of the pants are torn, but is that all?  I don't think I can name all of the changes and differences that have occurred since then.  I also think that it would be impossible to sum up this great experience in a little blog post.  What I can say is that I have had a lot of little experiences that have made up my mission.  These experiences have shaped me into the person that I am today.

like stones in the river
we are tossed and turned
when the current moves so strong
but stones in living waters over time
are shaped until the edges are gone
polished and smooth, that's what we will be
if we put ourselves in god's hands
each day of our lives is a gift from the giver
to smooth all the edges
like stones in the river


I testify that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives for the better.  I know that living the principles taught by the Savior will help shape us into the great beings that we have the potential of becoming.  Living these principles will greatly improve the quality of our lives and help us find peace and joy in this life.  Being a missionary has helped me see this perspective even closer and I am ever so grateful for the many experiences I have had.  I am also thankful for the many people I have met and for their testimonies that have strengthened my own.

3C



Mongolian CTR ring

Montana Billings license plate

I noticed this the other day and thought that I would post a blog entry about it.  3C stands for a number of things to me.  As most of you know, I was originally assigned to the Mongolian Ulaanbaatar mission.  3C is the Mongolian version of 'CTR.'  3C actually stands for Зөв Сонголт which means 'choose the right'.  Anyway, the other day I was looking at all of the missionaries' cars and noticed something cool.  The number and letter for the cars originating from the county of Billings is 3C.  Somehow there is yet another connection between Mongolia and Montana. 

In one of our last zone conferences we had the opportunity to hear from Elder Allan Packer of the Seventy.  Elder Packer talked a lot about how we were specifically assigned here to the Montana Billings Mission.  He had me stand and talked to me with his back facing the audience for a good three minutes about how even reassignments were inspired and that I was in the right place.  It was very awesome and I am glad to say that Montana is the place that I am supposed to be.  This reminded me of the 3rd verse of the song in the LDS Hymn book 'I'll go where you want me to go' which reads:

There’s surely somewhere a lowly place
In earth’s harvest fields so wide
Where I may labor through life’s short day
For Jesus, the Crucified.
So trusting my all to thy tender care,
And knowing thou lovest me,
I’ll do thy will with a heart sincere:
I’ll be what you want me to be.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
Over mountain or plain or sea;
I’ll say what you want me to say, dear Lord;
I’ll be what you want me to be.

The Lord always has a plan for us, we may not see the whole picture at once, but I know that he has the best in mind for us.  Nothing happens by chance and everything happens for a reason.  Let us do our best wherever we are 'called to serve.' 

Arkoudas' Testimony about Trust in the Lord