Saturday, September 16, 2017

With Change Comes Blessings~


Our Life is about to change. We have 10 left days on our mission. We have enjoyed serving a full time mission in the Utah Salt Lake South Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the past 2 years we have had a fairly structured life.During these two years we have had the privilege to work with a variety of individuals and families. Many are families that are less active in our faith, some are non-members who know nothing about what we believe. We visited several that just needed encouragement in their lives. Our purpose has been to invite them to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel and or renew their faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end.
I have served with the best companion ever; my eternal husband. We have grown closer as a couple and learned so much from this experience and from each other. We have witnessed many miracles small and large. We know beyond doubt that our loving Heavenly Father is in the details of our lives. He loves all His Children and that means everyone born on this earth.
We have enjoyed relationships with other Member Leadership Support missionaries like ourselves. We have been blessed to work closely with the younger Elders and Sisters. These young people are incredible. They work hard in spreading the truths of the gospel. We watch as they conduct meetings and guide discussions. We find them to be amazing young adults.
We are finding it difficult to leave all of these brothers and sisters that we have grown to love as we have visited with and taught them about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  We hope since we will remain in the same area that we can have continued associations with them. 
We will be now able to spend more quality moments with our beloved children and grandchildren who have supported us in this endeavor. There have been miracle blessings in our family. We know these blessings have come because we were promised that if we served this mission our family would be blessed. 
Many friends have asked me what we will do with our time now that our mission is almost completed. They wonder if we will feel lost without anything to do. Trust me that will never happen. We will embrace the changes in our lives. We will always be involved in some aspect of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 
I thought  I would share my bucket list of things I want to accomplish in the next few years. 
 1. Enjoy increased moments with our children and grandchildren. Perhaps attend more of their activities than we have been able to. 
 2. Wake up and be happy that we don't have an agenda for the day. 
 3. Work on Genealogy and Family History.
 4. Do both of our own histories
 5. Organize all the photos and movies we have made through the years. 
 6. Work in the Jordan River Temple when it reopens. 
 7. Travel and go to different temples in Utah and surrounding states. 
 8. Visit other relatives that live out of state. 
 9. Travel to church history sites such as Palmyra, New York. 
10.Travel to Hawaii; this is already a plan for December. 
11. Continue to fulfill callings in our church. 
12. Be a member missionary
13. Catch up on all our house hold needs. 
14. Read some novels.
15. Grow a garden.
I will be sad to leave this marvelous mission but look forward to other changes that will surely come. We do live in a remarkable day with so many wonderful things that we can do and become. I will rise up and continue to be faithful in the work of loving and caring about all of my brothers and sisters throughout this beautiful world of ours. 

11 comments:

Mom of 12 said...

Wow! Those 2 years went by so fast! Maybe we can get together for lunch now. :)

Sandy

Debbie said...

i was so happy to see #15, i was afraid you may have left it out!! you have a great list there but don't forget to go for a picnic and a nature walk in the woods!!! 2 simple pleasure you will enjoy so much!!

i love the words you chose for my butterfly, they are perfect for that image!!!

oh and hawaii, that sounds exciting!!!

Deb J. in Utah said...

Thanks for your service! I have enjoyed reading your blog and you are a wonderful role model as my husband and I consider serving a mission in a few years after we retire. Hope you enjoy a little more unstructured time, but know that you will miss being missionaries.

Barb said...

Hi LeAnn~

Has it been 2 years already?! I'm sure it doesn't seem like it's flown by to you and Roger, but for me, it seems like it was just yesterday that you guys are called on your mission. I'm sure that you two will be greatly missed! Amber told me about your new calling, sounds like they are already planning on keeping you busy!

I love your bucket list, I sure hope that you accomplish every one of them . . . more than once! But, that . . . no agenda, number 2, that will only happen once in a great while, I promise you will have something on your, to-do list every single day! But, I do hope that you get to spend more time with your grand kids, and your trip to, Hawaii sounds like a lot of fun!! Hopefully, we will get to see you and Roger a little more often, now that you will have a little more free time?! I would love that so much!!

I love that you are using my photos for your graphics!! I love Elder Holland, and I love that quote!

Love you sweet friend, have a great week!

Hugs and Love,
Barb

Marsha said...

2 YEARS! You're kidding, right?!
I love that you made a "Bucket List". I don't think I have ever made a bucket list.
I told my husband that your mission would be over soon and he asked if it was the person that looked like a Stake President, and his wife. He still remembers you from way-back-then.
I'm sure you were two of the best missionaries, ever.
Take care - Marsha

Christy Monson said...

I'm sure those two years flew by for you just like they did for us. Our inner city mission is for three years. It's so much fun. We have served for almost a year and a half. I'm having a great time. I do love it. It's hard to get any writing time in, though. Lots of love. I do think you have the best bucket list ever. Look forward to hearing about it on the blog. Christy

Susan Anderson said...

Time passes so quickly, doesn't it? You two have done a wonderful job!

Diane said...

Two years sounds like such a long time when you start out, but by the end it seems like no time out all. I am glad that you have been able to serve the people of your community in this way. When I hear the words "Christ-like service" missionary work is exactly what I think of. There is no other service that has the power to help and change individuals and communities like missionary work.

But I think the service never really ends. Your just a little more free to do things like garden and read some good books. I bet your family will be glad to have you bring that ministry and service a little closer to them again too.

Hugs

I love reading your blog.

Tracy said...

What a tremendous blessing of this time in your life, LeAnn. To bring people to Jesus--it is one of our greatest tasks as Christians. You have served in the most beautiful way. Such giving. And yet, you receive so much back. Abundance is the word that comes to mind. And now, in autumn, it seems fitting for this new shift in your life--a gathering time. The Lord offers you time now to refill your well after serving and caring for others for so long. LOVE seeing of the plans you have in mind... and very exciting with Hawaii in winter! Looking forward to what you will share here in the next chapter of your life! With Love, In Christ-- ((HUGS))

Cheryl @ TFD said...

Hi LeAnn, it's good to "see" you again after my long blog break. I loved reading your thoughts and seeing your bucket list. I hope you get to do every single one on the list. A trip to Hawaii would be wonderful! And spending time with your family is very important and I know they will love seeing more of you and Roger. Take care and have a nice weekend!
Hugs, Cheryl

Galen Pearl said...

Great bucket list, LeAnn. Forgive my ignorance but what is your "mission" that is coming to an end? It sounds like it has been very rewarding, and now you are ready to have a time of rest. Well, not much rest since your bucket list will keep you very busy!