Wow, these last couple of days have just been a complete
blur. It kind of feels like a dream. I keep imagining that someone is going to
tell me, hey Elder Stout, you actually still have a year left. I can´t believe
it. I honestly can´t. I am so excited yet so sad at the same time. Leaving
behind the wonderful Mexican people and the friendships that I have made here
is going to be one of the absolute hardest experiences of my entire life. I
have honestly been more sad and anxious in these last couple days then I have
in my whole life. I have been a nervous wreck, that is until my super spiritual
final interview with President Mecham which I will talk about later on.
This week was one of the most intense and spiritual of my
mission and my life. On wednesday we gave our final zone conference. I leearned
so much from the missionaries that were there and from our beloved President
and his wife. It was such a great way to end. We also had fun getting
completely soaked (see the video on Sister Mecham´s facebook).
Friday, I had my chance to go to the temple before going
home. I have never had the experience that I had this friday. I went pretty
sick and I was worried that I would be numb to the impressions that would come
to me and such things, but I had one of the most illuminating experiences of my
life. I just felt so strongly that the Lord is happy with what I did. I know
that I wasn´t perfect, but I just felt as if he accepted my offering, and that
was such a strong spiritual confirmation.
On Saturday, after months of prayer and fasting, the Lord
opened the windows of heaven and allowed Alexa and Zoe to be baptized. This has
so much to do with an email that I sent about the 22nd of March. Words cannot
describe the Spirit that was present in the room. It was the pinnacle of my
entire mission, it was such a great way to end. I cant wait to talk about it in
person, because an email does not do it justice, but it was incredible. I
cried. President and Sister Mecham both had tears, and it was just so
spiritual.
Which brings me to my final interview today. (obviously
there were some other things, a cool farewell in church, a going away party,
sick elders that had to be visited even though it took 5 hours), but nothing
tops my interview. There are many sacred words that were shared there. But,
there were a couple things he said looking back on my mission that really
touched me and helped me understand how the Lord blessed me as I changed to His
will. The part that struck me was he talked about how at times I had been
looked at as an option to be his AP and he wondered why the Lord hadnt chosen
me, he told me that as he sat in my baptismal service and saw me with the Lopez
Morales and Olivares Puebla families, he knew exactly why I was needed to stay.
He told me, Elder Stout, your mission was completely worth it.
I am so thankful fo rthe calling I recieved to serve among
the people of Mexico City. I am thankful for the prayers and support of family
and friends at home. I am thankful fo rthe gospel of Jesus Christ. I am
thankful that He allowed me to be His representative and for all the blessings
He gave me to be able to bring to pass His work. I know that this church is
His. I know that this gospel is the single most important thing in our lives. God
lives and answers our prayers. He answered the prayer fo a 14 year old boy
about 2 centuries ago, and that has changed the face of history. I know that
Joseph Smith restored the church,a nd that he was called of God. I know that
the Book of Mormon is 100% the word of God. I know that it testifies of Jesus
Christ. I know that Jesus is the Christ, the living Son of God and that he
gives us the chance to always get better and improve. These things I know and
testify as a representative and missionary of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and I do
so in His name. Amen.
Elder Stout
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