To: The world 

Hello World,

Guess what. This week (Thursday, to be exact) I turn one year in the mission. One. Year. It's slightly terrifying, and I really don't know what to make of it. I only have 4 more transfers left, which means I only have one more area left after this one. And probably only 2 more companions. Maybe 3. And I feel like I've learned so much, and helped people, and tried to be a good example and a good disciple of Christ and everything, but I still lack so much that it's kind of terrifying to think about. But hey, that's the thing. I just can't think about it, and I'll be fine. 

This year in the mission has probably been the most tumultuous year of my life. There's really no way to explain it. I feel only people that have served a mission understand what the mission is like, and even more, only people that have serve in Mision Mexico Hermosillo understand what this mission is like. I wouldn't trade these experiences for the world. Would I do it all over again? Absolutely. Have I learned bastante? Yes I have. I'm a completely different person, but I'm a better person because of it. I'm made my mistakes, and I learned about repentence. I learned what it feels like to truly be a disciple of Christ, and I'm happier because of it. I've felt the joy of helping a lost soul find his way again, and there are no words to explain the love and satisfaction. 

I suppose that I'm still young and inexperienced, but the way I see the world is clearer, with a little less innocence and a little more pessimism, but also with a lot more hope. Never before had I quite understood so deeply the necesity of the gospel. It is probably the strongest promise God has ever made to us- that if we will follow Him he will give us everything He has. Christ is the only way to happiness. It is so simple, but it is so true. Blessings in this life, blessings to come in the next, the point is that they only come through Jesus Christ. Sometimes I just want to hit people over the head with my Book of Mormon and yell at them, ''Would you please just listen to me (or better, to the Spirit) because I'm trying to give you Eternal Life here! It's slightly important. It's only the destiny of your soul.'' 

I`ve learned that the only thing that really has the power to change people is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the healing power that comes through Him. I've learned that we shouldn't try to change people to form what we think they should be, or what we view as perfection, because this world is full of an infinitely drasticly distinct humanity, each one of us completely different than the other, each one of us beautiful, individual children of God, and it`s beautiful. I've learned that the human heart is hurting, and is looking for something it thinks it'll never find or achieve, but that that eternal peace that we so desperately seek really does exist. We just have to accept where to look for it. I've learned that every human heart is broken in some form or another, and that everyone of us has a form of expressing ourselves and trying to heal ourselves, but the only real way to do it is just give in and let Him fix it for you. When we try to fix it ourselves it just ends up looking like an old cardboard box stuck together with scotch tape and sent through the Mexican mail system. Nobody can survive that. 

I've learned that the most important and profound things are really the most simple. That God loves us, that He lives and is an active part in our lives. And that anyone who begins to believe on that, however proud or stubborn or hard or hurt they may be, can feel that love and that presence. I've learned that there is nothing more important in the world than the primary answers- pray, read your scriptures, go to church, serve your fellowman. Listen to your primary children. They haven't been changed by the world, and they know what's up.

I love you all, and I wish you all the best. I'm sure you can survive 6 more months without me (haha), but if you can't, the good news is that Christ will always be there, even when I'm not. 

This video made me cry.

Gracias A Él (It's better in Spanish)

Because of Him (But here's the English version if you don't understand Spanish)

Hermana Day