Monday, October 3, 2016

Into the last few days

Dear Mom,

There are only a few days left and it feels like a super strange transition. It's amazing to think back on all of the experiences and events that have happened up to this point and see how fast time has actually past. This past week we've had zone conference, our P-day was Wednesday, and as we were biking back home, my companion strained or pulled a muscle in his back which caused him so much pain he could hardly stand up. We spent the next couple of days resting, applying ice, visiting the hospital again, and taking it easy. It's been an interesting change in pace from the usual speed of missionary work. It has given me such an opportunity to sit back and reflect. We've (I've) started saying a lot of good byes here in Thailand, a lot of final testimonies and it's a super strange feeling. there has been so much that has happened, and it's time to prepare to move onto a new chapter in the book of life. As things change and happen around us, I've realized it's entirely our choice how those things affect us. We either progress in becoming more like our Savior and develop the qualities of light, or move farther away and each day we have the choice in what we will do. We don't always get to choose the consequences, but our actions most definitely affect our journey in this life. We have all of the say in who are and who we will become, no matter what happens to us that are out of our ability to control. There was a great quote in Zone Conference: "Desires dictate our priorities, priorities shape our choices, and choices determine our actions. The desires we act on determine our changing, our achieving, and our becoming." We have the power to shape our own destiny, and it starts with our desires.

I can summarize the entire past two years by saying that I now know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is our savior. We all grow up with basic beliefs of right and wrong and religion when we grow up. That basic belief is enough to get us through many of the challenges and trials that we all face in life, but I've seen that there comes a point where we need to establish for ourselves who we will be and will become. The basic beliefs we have are not enough. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be a missionary, help others know Heavenly Father, and also for the opportunity to come to know our Heavenly Father and our Savior for myself.

See you in a couple days.

Picture:
The Chiang Mai Squad

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ขอแสดงความนับถือ,                                           Sincerely,
เอ็ลเดอร์ ซัน                                                        Elder Sun
ผู้สอนศาสนา                                                                 Missionary 
ศาสนจักรของพระเยซูคริสต์แห่งวิสุทธิชนยุคสุดท้าย         The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
คณะเผยแผ่ กรุงเทพฯ, ประเทศไทย                                   Bangkok, Thailand Mission

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