January 23, 2017
Hi everyone!
Well, I cannot believe this day has come. This is my last missionary P-Day. I hit my 2 year mark on Saturday. I actually ended up having my exit interview on Wednesday, which was actually my original release date before they added a week due to the MTC adding an extra week for new English speaking missionaries. Tomorrow I go down to St. George with Elder Wells for the temple trip and dinner with President Smith, and the closing testimony meeting. And then Wednesday, I fly home. It's really exciting but still so many other mixed feelings.
Unfortunately, my last week as a missionary wasn't the best. In fact, the powers of the universe seemed to combine against me in every way possible. We had a about half of our appointments cancel, including our one nonmember lesson. We had no luck finding, even though we tried really hard, even resulting in straight up tracting, which is everyone's least favorite form of missionary work. We didn't get any referrals. Actually we got one, but then it was actually rescinded when the members realized he probably wasn't ready for missionaries. So yeah, we found no new investigators and taught only a few lessons. And I was kind emotionally compromised for a lot of the week, just a
culmination of everything I've been feeling for the last 6 weeks. And I felt kinda discouraged for a lot of the week. And to top it off, I got sick AGAIN! This is the third cold I've had in the past 3 months!
But I wasn't about to spend my last few proselyting days sick in the apartment so I borrowed some cold medicine from some other Elders and managed to keep it at bay enough that I was able to still do stuff.
But yeah, seriously, just about everything that could have gone wrong last week, went wrong. I'm kinda bummed about it, because I really wanted to end on a high note, but I guess it's alright. I've accomplished a lot of good in these last two years, and one crummy week doesn't change that. And I put forth my effort, which is all I can do. But it just didn't pan out, which happens sometimes, and Cedar West can be kind of a hard area. I've really felt Satan working on me and trying to just make things miserable and trying to make me discouraged and bitter. But I'm just not going to listen to him. I've had a great two years, and a really enjoyable 4 months in Cedar West, and I've done my best. And that's what matters.
And now for transfer news. Obviously I'm getting transferred home to Michigan. Upset, I know right? :) But as for Elder Cockerham, I was actually a little surprised. I was really hoping he'd stay in Cedar West and keep working with our recent converts and with the investigator who's on date, and hopefully really resurrect Cedar West and get it out of this slow period we're in. But I guess the Lord has other plans. Cedar West is getting a set of sisters, and Elder Cockerham is getting transferred up to the Richfield Zone, covering Salina and Gunnison with Elder Gould. And since AP Prior is one of the group going home along with myself, and Elders Wells, Martell, and Renteria, we have a new AP. And it's Elder Stone, "The Great Stone Dragon"! That's another one that I predicted! Elder Stone is awesome, and I know he'll do great.
And that about does it for transfer news. Obviously, a lot more than that happened, but most of it isn't very pertinent as I'm going home in 2 days.
Monday last week was pretty great though. Elder Cockerham and I went to St. George and got to hang out with Paul Anderson, one of the Piano Guys. I know Paul's assistant, Jeremy, who works for The Piano Guys as their website/operations manager and piano move coordinator. We hung out earlier in my mission (April), and this past week we got it arranged so we could see Paul for a little bit. That was so fun! We talked about a lot of stuff. A lot of funny stuff too. We especially talked about The Piano Guys in general, and especially the recording and videography aspects (Paul is the producer/videographer of the group), which was super interesting. Paul and Jeremy also talked about
their missions and gave me some good advice going home. My favorite bit of advice was from Paul to watch or listen to a General Conference talk a day. So yeah, pretty much one of the best P-Days ever!
Well we still haven't caught Khan. He doesn't fall for any traps! But we're still trying. We've gotta catch him before the sisters come. I really hope we catch him in the next 24 hrs. I will send an update if we do.
Well I can't believe I've come to the end of my mission. It really has been great. I've gotten to go to so many places. I've gotten to learn and experience so many things. And I've gotten to know so many people, and feel a little bit of how the Savior feels about them. Of course there were the trials. I've experienced a lot of sorrow as I've had to say goodbye to missionaries going home, as well as those I've taught and worked with in the areas in which I've served. It's been difficult getting along with a couple of my companions. And it has been especially hard to watch so many people reject the gospel. But it's been worth it. I don't regret it at all. The trials have taught me so much and have brought me closer to the Lord. And the good experiences whether it be with those I've taught or with other missionaries or members, have been priceless. I will not forget those who have been part of my journey these last two years. I will never forget the areas in which I've served. All of these people, places, and experiences have become a part of me, and it breaks my heart to leave. But if there's one thing I've learned from the constant changing of mission life, it's that change happens, whether it's 100% pleasant or not, and if we allow Him, The Lord will guide us through it and strengthen us. I still remember the words of Gandalf that comforted me when I was devastated about leaving Mt. Pleasant and when I wished I had more time there: "But that is not for us to decide. All we must decide is what to do with the time that is given to us". The time that the Lord has given me for my mission is over, and I am happy to say that, though I wasn't perfect, I tried my best and reaped the benefits, and I can look back on that time well spent and look forward to the future, trusting in God to direct my paths.
I want to thank those who have been with me on this journey. Some of those people may actually receive my weekly emails. So you know who you are. I want to thank all the members in Mount Pleasant, Enoch West, Snow Canyon, and Cedar West who I've come to know and care about. Thank you for your friendship and support, and assistance in this great work of salvation. Thank you to my companions and other missionaries, for your service, for putting up with me, and in many cases, for your friendship. Thank you to those whom I taught and who accepted the Lord's call to be baptized as members of His church. I've probably learned more from you than I could ever teach you. Thank you to those back home and in various places who have written me and given me support. I won't forget it. And most of all, I thank my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ for giving me this opportunity to serve in this capacity. I literally could not have done even a fraction of this without their guidance and support. In all the highs and lows of my mission, in all of the change, The Lord has been the constant in my life, and so He will be after I'm home, and forever.
Now if I could address the whole world, here's some of the advice I'd give. To members: Please realize how important missionary work is. Please assist in that work. Missionaries can't do it alone. And the happiness that comes from sharing the gospel with your friends and family is priceless, as well as the deepening of your relationship with God and the understanding of the gospel that will also result. It can be scary, but have faith in the message and trust that God will back you up. You don't even have to worry about converting people. That's between them and The Lord. It's our responsibility as disciples of Christ, and as friends and neighbors to simply invite. And to those who are not yet a member of our faith: Please give it a chance. Know that we share the gospel and invite others to learn about it because we care about you. It's not about numbers or anything else. The gospel makes us happy, so like anything else that makes us happy, we seek to share it. Accepting our message is up to you. It's between you and God. But please give our message a chance. Really what's there to lose? It's either true or it's not. If it's not, then you really didn't lose anything except maybe a couple hours learning about it, but if it's true, then all the blessings of eternity could be within your grasp, which you won't want to miss out on. All we want you to do is to, in the words of some of Christ's disciples in the Bible, "Come and see".
I know God is real, and that Jesus is The Christ, "The Son of The Living God". I know that He lives, and is our Savior. I know more than ever that they love us and know us personally, and desire a relationship with us. This gospel that I've spent the last 2 years preaching, it is true, and sharing it is their work. The church, the Bible, the Book of Mormon, prophets and apostles Joseph Smith, Thomas
S. Monson; it's all true. And how I have loved being a full time messenger of that truth.
Well, that's about it. I still can't quite believe my mission is coming to an end. I've spent my whole life looking forward to a mission. And now it's about over. I've gone there, and now I'm about to go back again. Now my task is to remember these experiences, and continue to learn and grow throughout the rest of my life. To the Utah St. George Mission, and all those who have been a part my experience in it, it has been a pleasure and a privilege.
I bid you all a very fond farewell.
-Elder Oswald
Chilling with Paul Anderson and Jeremy Crawford at Piano Guys HQ in
St. Geezy (1/16/2017)
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