December 30, 2013

I made your cookies and they turned out soooo good! They all told me I should sell them here. haha We are starting to make thiem to give to investigators and members :) 

This year has been the most amazing, difficult, fun, frustrating, spirit strengthening, testimony building year of my life (so far). I have had a taste of just about every different aspect of life. Both temporal and spiritual. Being with my family for a couple months before my mission, being away from my family for the rest of the year. Serving a mission in Utah, and then serving in Argentina. Meeting new people and growing to love them has been incredible. Feeling frustrated day after day because for the first time in my life I wasn´t able to say what I wanted. I haven´t felt more frustrated in my entire life. But then, having patience and Faith and being able to not only say what I want to say, but more importantly what the lord wants me to say. 

If I ws to sum up this year in just one word it would probably be "Strengthened". Strengthened because the things I have learned have not helped me to just be wiser or smarter, but have helped me be Stronger in my beliefs, and stronger in my testimony. My body may has been weakend as far as physically, but my ability to endure through pain and trials has never been stronger. I lvoe it because I feel like I really am fulfilling my purpose in this life which is prepare to appear in front of God. As I have been able to accomplish that, I have also been fulfilling my purpose as a missionary which is inviting others to come unto christ. I have learned that through my example I have been able to do that. As we all try our best to be the best WE can be, we are able to help others to be the best THEY can be.

I don´t have a ton of time left, but I know that the work that we do as missionaries really is the Lords work. And that as we give ourselves to help others, HE gives himself to help us. The Grace and Atonement of Jesus Christ is the most powerful thing that we have access to in this life. IT is powerful enough to triumph ofver any temtation and forgive us of any sin or wrongdoing. I love this Gospel and know that it has the power to change our lives and to save our souls. In the name of JEsus Christ, Amen.

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~Elder Hazlett