Too Many Blessings to Count
So many things are on my mind; this is my last week as a missionary in the Great Utah Salt Lake City Mission and I don't know where to start because my heart is so full of complete joy and gratitude at the incredible blessing it has been to serve as a representative of my Savior Jesus Christ. Heavenly Father has done so much for me, and for the people who I've loved and lifted up. Alma says it perfectly,
"Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."
This last week was so wonderful and full of people to see and lessons to teach. Yesterday miracle after miracle happened as we followed the Spirit and contacted a woman who ordered a Bible on Mormon.org. She invited us in and explained how she is at a place where she feels so lonely, lost and confused and wants to find the right path. She grew up in Boulder, Colorado and moved to Ogden with her husband, but after a divorce she is now in Farmington. We connected with her and shared a scripture in the Bible she could read. She wants to meet with us regularly and learn about what we believe, especially life after death. I was so overwhelmed with love for her and for my Heavenly Father who directed us to her. I'm so excited for her journey to begin!
I have seen countless blessings come to my life through the study, the service, the diligence and the obedience I've practiced throughout my mission. Many say it is hard to adjust to missionary life because you have to leave the world and your old self behind. For me, it was hardly a sacrifice at all to let go of my cell phone, my internet access, my social life, my selfish desires...because the second I gave my all to Christ, it was like a weight was lifted off my shoulders and I was free to go out and serve and spread the gospel to everyone who would hear it! And that is what has brought me the greatest blessings and joy, more than I can ever express!
Some of the things I've acquired from my mission are:
-A greater love for the scriptures; and giving myself adequate time to immerse myself in them
-A greater appreciation for my parents, and all my family relationships
-An understanding of the great importance of covenants and ordinances in entering and continuing on the path towards eternal life
-An eternal perspective on the trials and challenges in life
-A greater faith in the potential and agency of other people, that they can change at any given day or time for the better
-An understanding that there is no greater joy in life than when you participate in the work of salvation
-To look at everyone as a choice, beloved and precious son or daughter of Heavenly Father; not to judge
-Though I may not understand and be able to fix other people's trials and problems, Christ can
-To appreciate and love anything gospel related and love learning!
-That living the gospel and commandments to the fullest will bring the fullest understanding and fullest blessings we can be given
Yesterday in Sacrament I was thinking about how my calling as a full-time missionary has been my entire way of life the last 18 months, and how next week when I'm released I wondered what my calling would be then. I thought about my family, about family history work, and sharing the gospel among the people at home; and the Spirit reassured me that my new calling wouldn't be all that different, but it would be that of a Member-Missionary. That's not all that different from what I'm doing every day here; I know I will be okay and adjust fine.
I'm looking forward to this week; with Riley going to the temple to do baptisms for the family names I helped him find and more wonderful people to see and teach and help! I'm going to miss all the wonderful people I love so much here. They have become just like family to me. I am so grateful for every precious day I've had in Layton, Bountiful, Kaysville and now Farmington. It's been a full, grand, miraculous 18 months. I have come to know my Savior Jesus Christ so much better, and come to know who I am as a daughter of Heavenly parents, too.
Love, Sister Fluegel
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