Hola,
Well I dont even know where to start. Its been
a long 18 months and now its coming to an end. Haha I remember my very first
day in the mission and I couldnt even speak Spanish para nada!! Y ahora..
mírame! JAJA. Well guys I just wanted to tell you guys a few things a learned
on the mission and along with that my testimony.
So if there is one thing that I have learned on my mission
it is that Christ lives!! He loves each and everyone of us! We are all his
children and we can return back to live with him. I cannot even write my
testimony because there is no words to describe what the mission has done to my
life. I have learned that we need to share the gospel with EVERYONE... Ive even
tried that with the dogs on the streets here in Panamá... not so much the same
but you guys get the point. I love this gospel and for the way it has changed
my life. Im a new person!! I have learned the importance of the scriptures.
They arent just there to sit around and look nice a my desk but to read and to
learn and grow! To help me become more like Christ!! He was perfect and I want
to try my best to be like him. I learned that the first hour of church is SO
important. We get to remember our savior Jesus Christ! Who dont want to do
that?? I would hope and pray that everyone does.
This gospel is here so that we can all have happiness in our
lives! So I have learned that I always need to have a smile on my face. I have
to show everyone else that Im happy and when they see that they will want to
know why Im so happy. We can share the gospel with just one little smile. We
can changes someones life with just one little smile! Here on the mission I
have helped our Heavenly Father change the lives of many of his children. It
has been my honor to do that and I wouldnt change these last 18 months for
anything!! I have learned to pray and know when my prayers are answered. I have
recieved my own testimony of the gospel and know that I will have a happy life
if I try to be more like Christ everyday. Heavenly Father knows and loves each
and every one of us. He knows how many hairs I have on my head! What more could
you ask for!!??
I have meet some VERY humble families here in Panamá!! They
have touched and changed my life forever and I will never forget them. Speaking
of these people I would like to share something about one of these families. So
there is this family here in my area and they are so amazing! Theres a mom, dad
and 2 kids. Kids are 8 and 2 years old. So this family is just the best... like
I said. They have been through some really hard times and are trying to move
into a house a little bigger then the one they have now. There house now is
about 5 yards long and they are moving into one that is about 8 yards. As you
guys can see not much with two kids. But you know what?? They are the happiest
family I have ever met in my life. They come to church every Sunday with the
same clothes they had on the last week and they just have the biggest smile on their
faces! We go to there house every Saturday to help them with the construction
of there new house so they can move into it. They have there 8 year old boy
with a really bad heart condition and their 2 year old daughter just broke her
leg after falling of the bed that all 4 of the sleep in. And you guys wanna
know something else? They never complain. They always have this huge smile on
their faces! I didnt get it... How could this family be sooo happy with so so
little. So I asked them and you wanna know what the mother said to me... she
said "Patrick, I have the gospel and my family. What else do I need?"
Wow!! Can you say that something just smacked me in my face! I realized that I
have the same thing she has but I just am sad or angry. I can smile and be
happy just as she is! She is a great example of Christ to me!
Guys I dont know what else to say. These past 18 months have
changed my life. From living on an island to wonderful food. I have learned
sooo much! These were the best 18 months!! Im so thankful to everyone that has
helped me along my path and just wanted to say that I love you all and will see
you on Saturday haha. This gospel is wonderful and I love everything about it!
The church has been restored on the Earth today and we have a prophet!! Thomas
S. Monson!! We can all find happiness and joy through the gospel. Just open
your eyes and its there!! :)
Con mucho amor,
Hermana Patrick
last sunday in church