Dear Mission Family

I have so many things going through my head right now. Essentially I just want the world to know and the Lord to know how much I love the Lord and how forever grateful I am to have had the great thrill of serving a mission. It has been the greatest 2 years of my entire life. I love missionary work! I know that it is the work of the Lord. I couldn't be happier. I have been so blessed throughout my mission the people that I have taught and met with have changed my life forever. I love California it owns my heart. I think my heart has grown at least ten sizes these last two years. If there would be one decision that I am happy and grateful I made it has been the decision I made to serve a mission. You know how all of us have something deep in the heart of our testimony that burns just a little stronger then other things. Whether its a power of prayer or the scriptures its different for each person. Well missionary work is right there in the heart of my testimony, and its not just because I'm wearing a name tag right now. When the Lord called me on a mission to years ago it was forever! I am a changed person now and I love it! The past two years have been the best. 

My favorite area would have to be when I was serving either hear in Vacaville because the word is really amazing. Over in Santa Rosa Shiloh park ward were I became so close to those that I was serving like the ward my converts and my companion Elder Buchan. I am so close to the people I taught there and there are some priest that I really saw there lives change. Lots of lives have been changed! Including my own. I am so grateful I have had such a wonderful springboard to the rest of my life of priesthood service in the church  I love Petaluma too. I was a greenie there so I always think I wasn't really as much understanding what was all going on but I have been able to see 2 of the people I taught there that got baptized. One is sealed in the temple now and one still does baptisms for the dead often. While I served in Crescent city I went through the furnace of affliction for sure, it was a trial that I wouldn't want to go back to but that I am so grateful for. In Vellejo I had some of the greatest times and had the greatest companion Elder Ramiah. He is the best. I will never forget the times when lives have been changed even saved at some times. I'm going to miss serving the missionaries the most I think sometimes. Being a leader on the mission has been such a great blessing. The missionaries are so great, I admire them, they are magnificent  I love them. There has been hard times, times that were so funny like when my companion complimented some guys dogs name that he didn't know because I had just told him my dogs name was Newman  Or the times that were tough and I felt like the world was against me. It seemed no body liked us. I love the people here, so many of them are just to "spiritual" for us. (that means one of two things they do yoga or they smoke pot) I LOVE THEM!  But being yelled at was heard but soo worth it! The times I remember most is times when the spirit would guide me. Times when it has truly filled my mouth and helped me solve my investigators concerns. Times when I could think of nothing but how much I love these people and the Lord. I love the scriptures too. I just couldn't be more grateful for all the things Heavenly Father has done fore me. It's amazing. I love my mission I thought this was something I was doing for God I realize now this is something He is doing for me. I don't have any more time and I have to go but I want you and Heavenly father and everyone else. I LOVE MY MISSION, I AM GRATEFUL FOR IT, I WILL ALWAYS BE A MISSIONARY. That is what I am and what I do. I love you all! I will be seeing you soon. I look forward to it.