My Last Email

Family and Friends!!!

My heart is so full as I write this....I can't believe I am down to the last 2 days of my service as a full-time missionary. This morning we had a meeting where all of the departing sisters shared their testimonies and gave advice to the rest of the mission. I kept crying throughout it because I saw how each sister in my class has grown and also because I kept reflecting on the experiences I've had on my mission and I just felt so grateful!! This truly has been the best 18 months of my life and I know I'm going to miss it so much. I have gained a testimony of this Gospel and of my Savior, Jesus Christ that I plan to keep and nourish for the rest of my life.

I think one of the most valuable lessons I've learned on my mission is that if we have a desire, God will help us to achieve it.  I remember at a certain point on my mission I was going through a really hard time and I wondered if what I had been sharing for about 5 months was all true or not.  I had prayed my heart out for days to receive answers and guidance.  After one particular morning prayer, I had the thought, "Read the Book of Mormon every single day".  I just sat there and pondered and realized that I had been studying each day from the scriptures, but it was never consistently the Book of Mormon.  I had finished the BOM at the beginning of my mission, moved to the New Testament, and then was reading Doctrine and Covenants.  I will never forget the minute I started reading the Book of Mormon and this overwhelming peaceful feeling came over me and I just started to cry.  I then knew that it was true- that Jesus Christ was my Savior, that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet of God, and that this was Christ's church restored again on the earth- but that if I just continued with faith that I would soon develop a stronger testimony of it.  It took some time, but with fervent prayer, diligent scripture study, and being open to the testimonies of others, I was able to gain a firm and unwavering testimony of those three things I just mentioned.  I know that God was with me through it all.  Not just once, but multiple times I received small and subtle answers to my prayers. I know it took time, but those answers came. I had the desire, I yearned to know, and God helped me every step of the way. 

I know and testify that God can and will do this for every single one of us.  I want to invite everyone who is reading this to come and see what we have to offer, what this Gospel has to offer you for your life. Whether you choose to read the Book of Mormon, meet with missionaries, or come to church...choose something and ask God for help in knowing and finding if it's true. I know and am a witness that Heavenly Father will help us and lead us as we seek to know truth.

Love you all! Mom and Dad, see you SOON!! :)

Sister Asay

Also, it has been a really great and successful week! We have been teaching a lot, Scott is continuing to progress, and we have found more new investigators! It has been kind of sad transferring people I have been teaching to other sisters, but I know they are in good hands! And I wrote down all of their contact info so that I can stay in touch with them once I'm home :)

We went to the Temple as a class on Saturday! It was so wonderful to be there with 23 sisters who I love so much! Plus others I love like President and Sister Poulsen and others in the mission presidency :) 

Love the teaching center :)

Sister Palmer!! My companion in my 3rd transfer :)

Sister Gee!