Senior Missions are the BEST!!

October 15, 2019

I'm sad and ashamed that I haven't been keeping track of our Mission at the MTC.  It has been amazing,  humbling, and an experience that both of us will never forget.  We are down to only 4 1/2 months left.   Seriously, where does the time go?
We had an experience today that I would like to share.    First, I'd like to say how I have gained a greater testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I have learned that the Gospel message touches so many people from so many countries around the world.  The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ., and anyone who will read it with a sincere desire to know for themselves that it is true, WILL indeed gain a testimony of it's truthfulness!!
Elder Tefteller and I work in Teaching Resource Center.   We are responsible for recruiting volunteers for 12 different languages.  We also recruit for the Senior missionaries, and the Visitor Center Sisters.
These are the languages we recruit for:

French           Italian         Malagasy        Tahitian        Haitian-Creole   Romanian

Mandarin      Cantonese       Hmong      Vietnamese       Cambodian     Burmese

Today we had Italian, Tahitian and French missionaries learning these languages.   One of our regular Tahitian volunteers, brought a young man with her to help Volunteer.    He is from Tahiti.  We learned that he is an only child.    His mother joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  But his father after meeting with many missionaries hasn't joined.   This young man joined a few years after his mother.
But he told us that he was against the Church at first.  He wanted nothing to do with it.   He had been a member of a gang, and had nearly lost his life many times.     One day his mom's Home Teacher came to their home to visit her.    His mom asked him to give her son a blessing.   So with his permission, he received a blessing.   He remembers being told in the blessing if he would listen to his mother, he would be ok.    It was at that time he decided to "Give God a try!"   That's when his life turned around.   His mom told him she always dreamed of him serving a mission.   He told her he would NEVER go on a mission.   But....he finally decided he would go.   He was called to Australia.  He bore testimony to us of how he personally witnessed peoples lives change because of the Gospel, and coming to know their Savior.  This had a great impact on this young man's life.    He told of a man who drank alcohol.   The missionaries found him and taught him.    Two years after he joined the Church this man became a Bishop.   This young missionary saw many lives change for the better and it humbled him.  He loved the service he was able to give to others, and how it not only changed his life, but the lives of those he came in contact with.
As I was sitting listening to his story, tears welled up in my eyes.   Someone who was so hard hearted, and involved in a gang, had his life turn around because he decided "To give God a try!"
We've had so many, many experiences of hearing conversion stories of young missionaries from all over the world.....Mainland China, Africa.....Tawian....France.......Italy......and the list goes on!

I Know that God our Father lives and that he loves us.    I know that Jesus Christ is His only Begotten Son, who died for us that we might return and live with them someday!   I also know he lives and loves us.    Without a doubt, I KNOW that God the Father and His Son appeared to the Boy Joseph in a grove of trees.    Joseph Smith was God's Prophet, chosen, to help restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ once again on the earth!

My life has forever been changed from having served three missions.   Each one has had a different impact on me.   But the one thing that is sure:    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is God's only true Church on the earth today.  The testimony I have is because of the years of study, answered prayers, fasting to know,  and the fact that we have a living Prophet on the earth today.