I have a few minutes, so I thought I would start putting up our story so that those who are interested can enjoy it, and so I can start having a permanent record of it.
Ellis and I met my first Sunday back in Provo after my mission. He was the executive secretary in the ward, and asked me to come in to meet the Bishop (or something like that). I remember he took my picture for the ward directory and we started chatting and he told me his brother had just written a flute choir piece. I thought that was cool but didn't think much more of it.
He says he remembers being interested that day, and so a few days later he invited me to come to a party over at his apartment where some guys from the ward were going to be playing in a band, and of course, he was going to be one of the people playing.
I remember debating if I wanted to go. I was the most awkward returned missionary of all time, and the thought of going to a party at some guys house where there would be music with a beat terrified me. I actually walked over two or three times that night before actually going in. During the intermission Ellis came over, sat by me, and we started talking. I remember figuring out after about 10 minutes that he was flirting with me and freaking out a little. He remembers seeing me suddenly look like a deer in the headlights, and so he backed off.
From the point on he would invite me periodically to things over at his apartment, I remember going and watching movies and a few other events running into each other. I remember thinking he was cool, but not really being ready to date so soon after my mission. Honestly, I'm not sure I even registered that there was a real possibility for anything more until the end of the summer.
I was at the cougar eat grabbing a snack before going back to the practice rooms when I ran into Ellis. We were getting food at the same place and started chatting while waiting for our food. After our food came I decided I didn't want to eat alone, and just sort of followed him to his seat... I figured we'd chat a little and be saved the boredom of eating alone.
Three hours later we finally left for our separate destinations. We talked so much during those three hours and I remember thinking it was so fun. We had so much in common and so many similar interests. He could talk classical music with me, which I thought was so cool, and I specifically remember talking about the Black Death in the Middle Ages and being impressed that he was fairly knowledgeable on the subject.
After that experience we both remember going back and talking to roommates about each other, but not really knowing what we wanted. It wouldn't be until almost 3 months later, with plenty of random running into each other in between, before we actually went on a real date....
To be continued....
Friday, July 26, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Life Updates!
Okay, so it has been forever, like really, FOREVER, since I last wrote. The past year has been crazy, and honestly keeping a blog was not my idea of a good time. But after all the crazy comes a whole lot of great.
My big exciting news is: I'm getting married!
Maybe if I get my act together I'll get our story up here. That would be fun. Although probably not until after the wedding, since I'm planning a wedding in a month. Why a month? Because when your family lives in China you get married when they are around, and right now they're in the country so we're going for it.
Anyhow, I didn't have a lot of time. But maybe this is a sign of things to come. Maybe I'll start posting a little more. But don't get your hopes up.
Aaaaaand what you actually want to see:
My big exciting news is: I'm getting married!
Maybe if I get my act together I'll get our story up here. That would be fun. Although probably not until after the wedding, since I'm planning a wedding in a month. Why a month? Because when your family lives in China you get married when they are around, and right now they're in the country so we're going for it.
Anyhow, I didn't have a lot of time. But maybe this is a sign of things to come. Maybe I'll start posting a little more. But don't get your hopes up.
Aaaaaand what you actually want to see:
The Fiance and I. Right after he proposed.
My ring!
Aren't we cute.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Gratitude
November is the month of gratitude. I've noticed since the month started, many people have put different grateful posts on their facebooks... I'm not much for putting a whole lot on facebook, but I've had a lot on my mind, and I figured maybe it was time to actually get on here and publish something.
Three years ago this month I first decided to serve a mission. I've thought a lot about that decision over the past few weeks, and I have been amazed at how grateful I am that the Lord placed me somewhere I originally didn't want to go. A mission wasn't in my plans, and actually, when I first got my answer to go on a mission I argued about it with God for a while. I told Him all the reasons I didn't want to go, all the reasons I shouldn't go, and exactly why a mission didn't fit into my plans.
I'm so glad He let me get all that out, and then gently told me again that I needed to go on a mission. At that moment I felt the most overwhelming sense of love, particularly directed towards those I would serve. Three years later I can still feel that, and it was that love that carried me through some of the hardest points in my mission.
My first answer to serve a mission wasn't the last time I needed to know that I really was called to serve. There was a second time, and once again my answer to serve came in a "no" to something else I wanted. Looking back, I guess I often don't know what I really want or what is really best for me. But that, I think, is what I am most grateful for this year. I grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows me well enough to say "no" because He has things for me that I couldn't have imagined.
Three years ago this month I first decided to serve a mission. I've thought a lot about that decision over the past few weeks, and I have been amazed at how grateful I am that the Lord placed me somewhere I originally didn't want to go. A mission wasn't in my plans, and actually, when I first got my answer to go on a mission I argued about it with God for a while. I told Him all the reasons I didn't want to go, all the reasons I shouldn't go, and exactly why a mission didn't fit into my plans.
I'm so glad He let me get all that out, and then gently told me again that I needed to go on a mission. At that moment I felt the most overwhelming sense of love, particularly directed towards those I would serve. Three years later I can still feel that, and it was that love that carried me through some of the hardest points in my mission.
My first answer to serve a mission wasn't the last time I needed to know that I really was called to serve. There was a second time, and once again my answer to serve came in a "no" to something else I wanted. Looking back, I guess I often don't know what I really want or what is really best for me. But that, I think, is what I am most grateful for this year. I grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows me well enough to say "no" because He has things for me that I couldn't have imagined.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Blessings
I've been doing a lot of thinking and reflecting recently. Mostly about my mission and my post mission life. Neither one turned out or has turned out exactly as I planned. And it is so much better this way. I remember how scared I was to leave on my mission. I felt like I was giving up everything to go (yes, I can be melodramatic sometimes but that really is how I felt). I had a lot of doors that were open to me when I left on my mission and I wasn't sure that they would still be open when I got home. Everyone told me I would be soooo incredibly blessed for serving a mission, and sometimes I believed them and sometimes I rolled my eyes.
I didn't really begin to get an idea of what blessings I would be given until I was set apart as a missionary. I was promised some wonderful things upon the completion of a mission. I remember hearing those blessings and finally saying, "Okay, you can do this, just let go and trust in God." So, I marched into the Provo Missionary Training Center, and thought all would be well. It was hard. Especially when I watched a heard things in letters from friends at home and wondered if those blessings I had been promised really would be there for me when I returned.
Since coming home I have felt so blessed. Not everything has worked out exactly as I imagined, but thus far it has been so much better. I've been faced, and am being faced with choices I never expected making and while things are intimidating, I know it will all work out. If I learned anything on my mission, it was that God often puts us in hard situations to make us grow in ways we would have never imagined. And that, often, is the biggest blessing of all.
I didn't really begin to get an idea of what blessings I would be given until I was set apart as a missionary. I was promised some wonderful things upon the completion of a mission. I remember hearing those blessings and finally saying, "Okay, you can do this, just let go and trust in God." So, I marched into the Provo Missionary Training Center, and thought all would be well. It was hard. Especially when I watched a heard things in letters from friends at home and wondered if those blessings I had been promised really would be there for me when I returned.
Since coming home I have felt so blessed. Not everything has worked out exactly as I imagined, but thus far it has been so much better. I've been faced, and am being faced with choices I never expected making and while things are intimidating, I know it will all work out. If I learned anything on my mission, it was that God often puts us in hard situations to make us grow in ways we would have never imagined. And that, often, is the biggest blessing of all.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Happiness
Confession: In the last two months I've started a bazillion blog posts, only to not finish them, or publish them, or forget about them, or who knows what else.
So, I've now survived a term of classes back at school, gone home for a super fun family vacation, and now I'm back in Provo in the midst of recital prep work. Besides flute, I'm just job hunting and trying to get everything in order for school in the fall. Life has been pretty good.
I've been thinking a lot about a conversation I had with my Mission President's wife (there has to be a better way to say that one) I had Friday. I was texting back and forth with her, and she was asking me what I'm up to these days and such, and then she asked me a question that really caught my attention. She asked, "are you happy?"
Sister Taylor talked to the missionaries all the time about happiness. She would remind us often that missionaries are as obedient as they are happy, and then say that that equation doesn't just apply to missionaries. I spent a good deal of time towards the end of my mission talking with Sister Taylor about happiness and finding joy in the journey as I was going through what were easily the hardest months of my mission.
After Sister Taylor asked me if I was happy, it left me to do a lot of thinking. It's funny how you remember things one way when you're looking back, when at the time your interpretation may have been a little different. I really miss being a missionary, even though looking back, I'm not sure I was super super happy all of the time. In fact, I was cranky at times, grumpy during morning exercise, and in the last few months of my mission, completely exhausted all of the time. But I was filled with so much joy because of the work I was doing. I think that's what I've missed over the last few months. But, I am happy here, it's just taking some time to adjust all of the way. And, as I learned on my mission, it's not necessarily about being giddy happy all of the time, it's about finding the small miracles and joys each day. That's what I'm working on.
So, I've now survived a term of classes back at school, gone home for a super fun family vacation, and now I'm back in Provo in the midst of recital prep work. Besides flute, I'm just job hunting and trying to get everything in order for school in the fall. Life has been pretty good.
I've been thinking a lot about a conversation I had with my Mission President's wife (there has to be a better way to say that one) I had Friday. I was texting back and forth with her, and she was asking me what I'm up to these days and such, and then she asked me a question that really caught my attention. She asked, "are you happy?"
Sister Taylor talked to the missionaries all the time about happiness. She would remind us often that missionaries are as obedient as they are happy, and then say that that equation doesn't just apply to missionaries. I spent a good deal of time towards the end of my mission talking with Sister Taylor about happiness and finding joy in the journey as I was going through what were easily the hardest months of my mission.
After Sister Taylor asked me if I was happy, it left me to do a lot of thinking. It's funny how you remember things one way when you're looking back, when at the time your interpretation may have been a little different. I really miss being a missionary, even though looking back, I'm not sure I was super super happy all of the time. In fact, I was cranky at times, grumpy during morning exercise, and in the last few months of my mission, completely exhausted all of the time. But I was filled with so much joy because of the work I was doing. I think that's what I've missed over the last few months. But, I am happy here, it's just taking some time to adjust all of the way. And, as I learned on my mission, it's not necessarily about being giddy happy all of the time, it's about finding the small miracles and joys each day. That's what I'm working on.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Bruce the Buck
Also, I thought you would like to see my accomplishment of the weekend.
Meet Bruce the Buck:
In my apartment we have an... interesting mural on the wall of a forest. Tia, when she first saw it, said it made her want to go buy a deer head and mount it on the wall. When Brianna came over and saw our beautiful wall I told her about the deer head idea, and she promptly told me she knew how to make one out of cardboard. The final result, Bruce the Buck. He's our new apartment mascot. :)
Monday, April 30, 2012
Tender Mercies
Well, I've now survived my first week of school. It's interesting. I think it hits returned missionaries at different times that they are really home and they won't just wake-up back in the mission. For me that reality hit this past week. It was really hard. I think the combination of new classes, living alone (literally) for the week, and just trying to get my life going here was a bit more than I was ready for. The really incredible thing was that I saw so many little blessings in my life that really showed me that God was aware of me and really watching out. I thought I'd share a few.
First, I got an e-mail from a family I taught. Pictures and all. It made my day. Actually, it made my week. It was such a beautiful e-mail, and it was from a family I really love and spent a lot of time with. It was so good to hear from them. I also got to skype with some people I taught. Thursday night was so much fun! It was so fun just seeing them and hearing their voices. It was a little bizarre seeing their house in the background and realizing it will be a while before I actually see them again, but it was still fun.
Second, I am meeting tons of awesome people! My ward is full of Sister Rm's and I've met a few in each of my classes. Many of them have just gotten home like me so it is fun to talk with them and to feel like their are people feeling the same way I do. The funniest was in my religion class. At the end of class I heard a girl call out, "Sister", and well, I still answer to that one. I turned around and she proceeded to tell me that she recognized me from the MTC! So cool.
Third, Hermana Brianna Wells is my next door neighbor! This girl was one of my favorite companions, and now we live just a few doors apart! She sat behind me in sacrament meeting and then when it was over she said hi and I about jumped over the chairs to give her a hug.
Finally, I had just a fun experience Friday evening as I was practicing. I'm still a little sensitive about how I sound on the flute right now. I don't really like playing in front of people because I can tell I'm out of shape. Anyhow, I was practicing at home Friday night, and in the middle of my practicing as I stopped between pieces I heard applause and cheering. I didn't think much of it, until it happened multiple times and I realized the applause was for me. Then I looked up and saw my landlord's grand kids. Not only were they cheering but they had thrown some picked flowers by my window. It made my evening. Big time. I really needed that.
First, I got an e-mail from a family I taught. Pictures and all. It made my day. Actually, it made my week. It was such a beautiful e-mail, and it was from a family I really love and spent a lot of time with. It was so good to hear from them. I also got to skype with some people I taught. Thursday night was so much fun! It was so fun just seeing them and hearing their voices. It was a little bizarre seeing their house in the background and realizing it will be a while before I actually see them again, but it was still fun.
Second, I am meeting tons of awesome people! My ward is full of Sister Rm's and I've met a few in each of my classes. Many of them have just gotten home like me so it is fun to talk with them and to feel like their are people feeling the same way I do. The funniest was in my religion class. At the end of class I heard a girl call out, "Sister", and well, I still answer to that one. I turned around and she proceeded to tell me that she recognized me from the MTC! So cool.
Third, Hermana Brianna Wells is my next door neighbor! This girl was one of my favorite companions, and now we live just a few doors apart! She sat behind me in sacrament meeting and then when it was over she said hi and I about jumped over the chairs to give her a hug.
Finally, I had just a fun experience Friday evening as I was practicing. I'm still a little sensitive about how I sound on the flute right now. I don't really like playing in front of people because I can tell I'm out of shape. Anyhow, I was practicing at home Friday night, and in the middle of my practicing as I stopped between pieces I heard applause and cheering. I didn't think much of it, until it happened multiple times and I realized the applause was for me. Then I looked up and saw my landlord's grand kids. Not only were they cheering but they had thrown some picked flowers by my window. It made my evening. Big time. I really needed that.
As a side note of interest... I just got out of my first flute lesson since coming home. It went fairly well... I at least now feel like my life has some direction, which is nice.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Things That Bring Me Joy
So I thought I should get on here and prove that I'm not AWOL and haven't just dropped off the face of the earth. I'm now in Provo and more or less moved in. All that I own is in the apartment, but I'm not in my room yet; the girl who is in my room doesn't move out until Thursday... so I'm in a temporary room.
It's a lot of fun and also a little weird being back in Provo. I am getting to see lots of people again. I had lunch with Tae and Chase before they left up to Idaho for Chase's new job, and Tia and I have been running around Provo trying to get everything ready for school and such. I've got lots more to catch up on, and lots of people to see, but things are off to a good start.
Also, un-packing after a year and a half is pretty fun. I've been finding lots of things that I'd forgotten about and it's brought various exclamations of joy as I've discovered things. The most exciting of which being these:
because I LOVE books... a lot. Opening boxes and finding them was wonderful. I'm so excited to read them all again. I might have hugged various books as I put them on the shelf. *grin*
Finding my lovely popcorn maker also made me super happy. I've missed it my whole mission, especially because my trainer and I always ate popcorn when we did weekly planning and so for the rest of my mission I needed popcorn each time we did weekly planning. My companions can attest to that one. So, I'm pretty excited to be able to make air popped popcorn, because nothing else can equal that.
Finding my lovely popcorn maker also made me super happy. I've missed it my whole mission, especially because my trainer and I always ate popcorn when we did weekly planning and so for the rest of my mission I needed popcorn each time we did weekly planning. My companions can attest to that one. So, I'm pretty excited to be able to make air popped popcorn, because nothing else can equal that.
Life in Provo is going well. Next week I'll start classes and also do a huge cleaning of the apartment. It's pretty dirty, and while I'm hoping that those who are moving out will clean, I'm also preparing to dedicate a good chunk of time to some serious cleaning. Because it's pretty nasty. Tia and I went to Walmart and stocked up on cleaning supplies, and so we are ready to attack the grime, because it needs to go. I'll try to post again soon, but no promises.
Monday, April 9, 2012
I'm Home...
Hello All,
Okay everyone. I'm here. It's Nicole again, and no longer Hermana Okeson. And let me tell you what, it's weird. So weird. I think I'm one of those squirrely RM's I used to make fun of. I keep making my sisters bed, and then after I finish my studies I wonder what to do with my life. I've practiced flute and come to the decision that you sound a little (okay maybe a lot) rusty after 1.5 years and that patience that apparently I failed to develop as a missionary is going to have another chance to develop itself in my life.
Coming home was good. The time felt right, and in some ways spending my last transfer in a new area made going home easier, I was less attached and then no one knew I was leaving so there was no huge fuss. I was able to go out working, which is what I wanted. The last night in the mission home was fun, and I enjoyed spending time with the Taylors and the other departing missionaries. It was a little weird because the group I went home with was almost all English missionaries, and as a Spanish missionary I really didn't have much contact with a lot of them. But it was fun none the less. We had a great time talking about lessons learned as missionaries and setting goals for the future. I also had the great opportunity to be taken to the mission home by my Grandma, which was just F.U.N. It was great to get to see her even if it was just for a short time.
The actual flight was long and un-eventful for the most part. I did get to talk with a young mother on the longer flight and help her through security in Japan and then hook her up with the mormon.org website... so my missionary work isn't done. It was pretty fun, I enjoyed chatting with her and getting to invite her to learn more. I've got to do some follow up on that one. Besides that it was just a long experience, being a missionary for a year and a half has made me incredibly not good at just sitting around, so one day of flying and traveling just about killed me. I was pretty excited to get off of that last airplane. The reunion with my family was good, although a little delayed, as my suitcase got lost and so I spent a good hour trying to communicate with the baggage people in Shanghai... I realized pretty quick that my Spanish wasn't going to help me here. Super frustrating to speak more than one language and for neither one to be any good. Oh well. One hour after everyone else had gone through the gates I finally made it through to see my family, video camera and signs in hand waiting for me. I always joked that they sent me out a white girl and I was coming home a Mexican, but when I saw my family I realized it was true. One and a half years later I am now the short brown one of the family. My siblings all really shot up in height and all I did was get brown. haha.
So now I'm home, trying to finish adjusting... Mostly I'm just working at getting myself into some type of shape to start school in two weeks. I think that will be good for me. I'm not so good at just sitting around anymore, and I keep wanting to daily and weekly plan. I also keep wanting to start everything with a prayer, which for my flute playing is probably a good idea. But it's all good. I'm really enjoying the time with my family. I have a year and a half of harassing saved up for my brothers and I am enjoying spending time with them.
I'm enjoying sharing my experiences with them and taking some time to look back over all that I have learned and experienced as a missionary. It sure goes fast, I didn't realize before I left how fast it would go, but man, it has gone by really fast. I miss it, but I know that this is the next phase in my life and I am excited to see what lies in store. I have more to do, and like I said before I was released, just because the name tag is off, doesn't mean that I am done being a missionary, I have had a year and a half of great training and I am excited to continue to look for chances to serve and help others.
Thank you once again to all of you for your prayers and support. I appreciate it so much.
Love,
Nicole
Okay everyone. I'm here. It's Nicole again, and no longer Hermana Okeson. And let me tell you what, it's weird. So weird. I think I'm one of those squirrely RM's I used to make fun of. I keep making my sisters bed, and then after I finish my studies I wonder what to do with my life. I've practiced flute and come to the decision that you sound a little (okay maybe a lot) rusty after 1.5 years and that patience that apparently I failed to develop as a missionary is going to have another chance to develop itself in my life.
Coming home was good. The time felt right, and in some ways spending my last transfer in a new area made going home easier, I was less attached and then no one knew I was leaving so there was no huge fuss. I was able to go out working, which is what I wanted. The last night in the mission home was fun, and I enjoyed spending time with the Taylors and the other departing missionaries. It was a little weird because the group I went home with was almost all English missionaries, and as a Spanish missionary I really didn't have much contact with a lot of them. But it was fun none the less. We had a great time talking about lessons learned as missionaries and setting goals for the future. I also had the great opportunity to be taken to the mission home by my Grandma, which was just F.U.N. It was great to get to see her even if it was just for a short time.
The actual flight was long and un-eventful for the most part. I did get to talk with a young mother on the longer flight and help her through security in Japan and then hook her up with the mormon.org website... so my missionary work isn't done. It was pretty fun, I enjoyed chatting with her and getting to invite her to learn more. I've got to do some follow up on that one. Besides that it was just a long experience, being a missionary for a year and a half has made me incredibly not good at just sitting around, so one day of flying and traveling just about killed me. I was pretty excited to get off of that last airplane. The reunion with my family was good, although a little delayed, as my suitcase got lost and so I spent a good hour trying to communicate with the baggage people in Shanghai... I realized pretty quick that my Spanish wasn't going to help me here. Super frustrating to speak more than one language and for neither one to be any good. Oh well. One hour after everyone else had gone through the gates I finally made it through to see my family, video camera and signs in hand waiting for me. I always joked that they sent me out a white girl and I was coming home a Mexican, but when I saw my family I realized it was true. One and a half years later I am now the short brown one of the family. My siblings all really shot up in height and all I did was get brown. haha.
So now I'm home, trying to finish adjusting... Mostly I'm just working at getting myself into some type of shape to start school in two weeks. I think that will be good for me. I'm not so good at just sitting around anymore, and I keep wanting to daily and weekly plan. I also keep wanting to start everything with a prayer, which for my flute playing is probably a good idea. But it's all good. I'm really enjoying the time with my family. I have a year and a half of harassing saved up for my brothers and I am enjoying spending time with them.
I'm enjoying sharing my experiences with them and taking some time to look back over all that I have learned and experienced as a missionary. It sure goes fast, I didn't realize before I left how fast it would go, but man, it has gone by really fast. I miss it, but I know that this is the next phase in my life and I am excited to see what lies in store. I have more to do, and like I said before I was released, just because the name tag is off, doesn't mean that I am done being a missionary, I have had a year and a half of great training and I am excited to continue to look for chances to serve and help others.
Thank you once again to all of you for your prayers and support. I appreciate it so much.
Love,
Nicole
Monday, March 26, 2012
Final Thoughts
Hello Everyone,
Wow. I'm not exactly sure what to write about this week. We had a good week. Actually, this past week was my best in this area, this isn't the easiest area I've served in and it really takes a lot more work to get numbers that at other times in my mission have been easy to achieve. Every area has its advantages and disadvantages and it's just learning how to work best with what you have. I'm sad that now that I am finally getting into the swing of things I'm leaving.
Actually, it doesn't feel like I'm going home. Hna Garcia and I were talking about how I feel like this is just another transfer coming up and I'll just go to another area and keep working. Then we started joking about how my proselyting area is being changed and how now I get to go undercover. Haha. Actually that makes a good tie in to what mom had asked about member missionary work. I think I came on a mission to learn how to be a missionary for the rest of my life. That is probably one of the most important lessons I have learned. I think the key to being a good member missionary is just not being afraid to open your mouth. People recognize members of the church at a much faster than we as members think they do. I have had baptisms because of the example and service of members, and I have lost baptisms because of the examples set by other members of the church. The second one breaks my heart.
Two of my four areas were some of the highest baptizing areas in the mission, and two have been some of the lowest baptizing areas. Honestly, a lot of the difference can be attributed to how well the members and the missionaries work together. The Becks used to talk about the M&M candies, and say that it's just like what we are doing, members & missionaries. You can't successfully have one without the other. The other thing I have learned is to always invite others to learn more, regardless of what happens. Just to invite friends to activities where they can see what happens and feel the spirit is a huge help. There is a talk called "The Missionary Next Door" that I absolutely love. I listened to it at the beginning of my mission, and I have plans to listen to it again when I get home. It gives a lot of easy ideas of how to share the gospel, all focusing on the fact that from knocking doors missionaries will baptize less than 1 in 1,000. But from working with the members and teaching in their homes the ratio jumps to 1 in 3. That's pretty impressive.
I had plans to share some great parting wisdom in my last e-mail. I'm not sure it's going to work out that way. But maybe you'll all enjoy some thoughts I've had over the last few days.
One of the key moments in my mission happened just a few weeks after I entered the MTC. I was feeling really overwhelmed and as I looked out at my whole mission I didn't know how I was going to do this. I got to Sunday and I was really struggling. I remember feeling the weight of being a missionary and feeling like I couldn't do it. That Sunday my companion and I went and listened to Music and the Spoken Word, a Sunday broadcast put on by the Tabernacle Choir. In the "spoken word" part it talked a little about how all journeys are begun with a single step, and that no great journey is done all at once, it is done in single steps day by day and it's only at the end as you look back that you can see how far you have come. I remember listening and realizing that I couldn't do the entire mission all at once, but I could live one day at a time and try to do my best. In some of the hard points that came after that on my mission I often would reflect on that and remember that I only was responsible for the moment I was living in and that I could do one more day. Now that I am looking back, I feel satisfied with this time. I feel like my work has been accepted, and I feel like I have done what I came here to do.
I was reading recently in the Book of Alma in the Book of Mormon and I came upon a verse that really meant a lot to me. It's Alma 26:31, "Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us." I would add that I can see the sincerity of my time by the love I feel for these people. In the last week or so I have gotten a few letters from different people I have worked with. Those letters mean everything to me, and the people who wrote them mean even more. I would go through all of the hard days and weeks again for any one of those people. It's really hard to know I am leaving, because I feel like I am leaving my heart here in Phoenix. I love the people I have been called to serve so much. I thought I was sacrificing to come on a mission, but I'm the one who has been blessed.
I have one more week, and if you hear of a fire burning in southern Glendale, just know its Hna Garcia and I tearing up the streets. We have work to do, and I'm excited to do it.
I love you all,
Hermana Okeson
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