Goodbye Stockton!

Hello everyone!  I'm now officially gone from Stockton. I served there for 5 months. I learned a lot and will miss it, but I'm so excited to be in my new area of Elk grove. My mission is splitting, and Stockton is going to be in the new Modesto mission. I left Sister Park my Korean companion there and she is joined by her new companion. 

I cannot believe this is my last transfer and I will be coming home next month. For my last transfer I was sent up to a new area and have a new companion named Sister Harrison. She's from Washington DC. She has been at BYU studying Art this last year.  I see why the Lord put us together.  She is a very competent, brand-new missionary. This means that we both are brand new to the area and over two Wards, the Sheldon and Vineyard ward.  One of the wards has not had Sister Missionaries since 2002! Only Elders!  The other had not had Sisters in Five years, the Bishops wife walked up to us and gave us a hug on Sunday and said, “The Lord has answered my prayers and sent us Sisters!”  We hope we can live up to their expectations. 

I have had a few thoughts I would like to share that have been on my mind about things that I learned while serving in Stockton. 

I have learned while serving in Stockton that we must experience service to experience Jesus Christ’s power. Our dear beloved Prophet invited us to minister to the one. I know he did this so we can understand the type of power that Jesus Christ holds. He challenged us to do this so we can understand that he truly can sucker us in our times of deepest needs. Genuine service requires that we look beyond ourselves. It requires that we do more than just say “Hello”.  Rather, that we seek to truly understand another individual. It requires us to be uncomfortable. Genuine service is oftentimes inconvenient, untimely, and uncomfortable. Service rarely comes at a convenient time. We serve so that we can understand. I've been working recently on acting and speaking to understand. 

However, after being in Stockton I've come to know it's a little deeper than that. We don't seek to understand simply so that we can know what they feel, but rather, so that we can understand how the Savior is capable and willing to feel for all of us. A life without genuine personal service is a life without knowing Christ's true character. It's a life without an understanding of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

I wrote this poem to help me remember Stockton-

I will never forget that hot summer day in Stockton California. 

The day when sweat and tears dripped down my face.

The day I felt Jesus Christs redeeming grace. 

The day when worries, fears and cares were erased through his garden prayer.

Forever grateful I am for him.

 I'm grateful for this change. 

This change in perspective on how I bear 

one another's burdens now with much more care.

Now I remember the Savior's blood

Drop by drop 

For me He bled

So, as I leave   Stockton, I look back to the day when sweat and tears dripped down my face.

I see that Jesus Christ was teaching me clearly,

Christ suffered on the Cross so that I can say….. I know him dearly.

I've felt those nail prints very clearly 

And with those hands that felt them clearly, I wiped her tears very dearly

I know my Savior and he knows me.

 I've ministered and saw as he sees.

Hot Stockton day helped pave the way 

For the beginning of a new chapter.

 A chapter filled with lifelong genuine service.

So, with my baptismal and Temple Covenants 

I look forward to a life of fulfillment 

I know it won't be filled with only comfort, but I hope it's filled with lots of serving.

I will miss you Stockton!