Hermana Parry in Houston: THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Lift up your heart and rejoice, for the hour of your mission has come-- I HAVE MY TRAVEL PLANS. Houston better get ready because I get there in exactly a week. I will get there at 12:45pm and March 13th! I am freaking out. I cannot believe I am leaving the MTC. I absolutely have loved it here, especially the people. My teachers were seriously perfect for me and I have been so blessed to have had them these past 6 weeks. But I have learned and progressed all that I can here and I am ready for what awaits me in Houston.

This week I have thought a lot about why I am here on a mission. I have really come to realize that I am God's child- and that is why I am on a mission. I have decided to take the Lord's name upon me because I know I am his child and I want others to realize the potential that they have because of that. People always say that a mission is the closest that you ever get to real life. I think I am starting to understand why. It is because you start to change your perspective about everyone. We are all children of a Heavenly Father and he desires to bless us and have us inherit the highest degree of glory. The love that he has for each of us is so strong. It says multiple times in the scriptures that he weeps. God weeps because of His love for us. How powerful! As a missionary, I have really more fully felt the love that he has for each of us on this earth. I'm obsessed with these feelings. I know that God loves each of us and weeps because He wants us to be happy.

Because I am God's child, I really must surrender to His will for me. I have to commit to be His property, especially for these next 17 months (ya one month has already gone by- crazy right?). It is so easy but like I said before, missionary work is only done right when you forget yourself and go to work. I know that I cannot do this alone. This is hard work! Really hard work. It can be disappointing, lonely, frustrating, etc. But I know that because of the atonement, I can be strengthened to accomplish all that I am suppose to on my mission and in my life. I am so thankful for a Savior who has suffered all pain and sorrow so he can truly know how to succor us. There is a quote that basically says, no matter how dark and dreary your days may seem, remember that Christ's days were much darker. Christ is watching and waiting for all of us to turn to Him. He can be healed and comforted because of the atonement. Something that stood out to me this week while I was teaching is that our message does not promise an easy and happy life. But rather, our message gives people hope and a way to find joy in the journey.

My goal as a missionary is to strengthen people so that they can find Christ and have that conversion to make convenants and endure to the end. I have been praying so much for the people of Houston. I cannot wait to meet them. I am also praying a lot for my new future companion! In TRC this week, we met with a lady and her 2 kids. The crazy thing is that she served in my exact mission! She was saying how all the sister missionaries that she served with were amazing and that the people there were so friendly and amazing. What a tender mercy to be able to talk to her for a while. It has taken me a while to get to the point to be excited about leaving the MTC. She helped me get there for sure.

The MTC has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. It is not just a missionary training center, but rather a missionary fortifying center! The strength and power among all the missionaries here is unlike anything you can ever imagine. I have been blessed so much with the sisters and elders in my zone and district. I know that I was born when I was, where I was, and with who I was because of this sole purpose. Everything becomes so evident that God's hands are truly in the details of our lives here.

On Sunday, I watched the talk Characteristics of Christ by Elder Bednar. It was so awesome! It got me thinking a lot. He said something that really stood out to me. He said that who we are is a lot more important than what we say as missionaries. That is our power as missionaries. We have been set apart to be representatives of Christ. I need to do everything that I can to become more Christlike. He healed people. He turned out when we would instinctively turn in. You see that multiple times in the scriptures. Ex, right after he was betrayed by his apostles, he healed the soldiers ear that Peter had cut off. You need to pay the price to obtain what you need to have in this life. That means that we need to sacrifice all that we can and work diligently to change in order to gain the conversion that will bring others closer to Christ.

I want to share that I have a testimony that when you serve others, your own personal needs are met. I know that our purpose in this life is to love and help others! It is the best work there is!

I am sorry if it sounds like I just am teaching you when I send these emails home. I am just learning so much here and I want to share some of those thoughts with you. I dont even know if my thoughts make any sense! But I am so happy to be here. I know that being a great missionary does not happen all at once. It is a long, hard process and it is only possible throught the atonement of Christ. Our gospel is the atonement of Christ and that is why it is so awesome. I know that he is the center of everything. I am thankful that when I turn to him I can be perfected and made whole. He really is turning my weaknesses into strengthens when I go to him with a broken heart and contrite spirit. I cannot let human fraility obscure my sight of God. It is so important for us all to recognize trangression and weakness because you will fall in this life. But if you strive hard to be obedient, he will protect you from fiery darts that are thrown at you. You cannot slack off for one second as a missionary. You must always remember why you are on a mission. You also have to use the atonement everyday in order to remove all the barriers that could hold you and restrain you from the blessings and companionship of the Holy Ghost. When you sincerely turn to Christ and foresake yourself, you become a new person. I have seen it here in the MTC. We all can be better and it is exciting to think that there is a way for us to become better! I love this gospel so much! I cannot wait to share it.

I am so grateful for the opporunity wear and represent Christ's name. It is a huge honor. I am going to open my mouth and not shut it until I find everyone with broken hearts that needs to hear this message because I know that is what He wants me to do.

I love you all so much and once again appreciate all the love and support!

xoxo, Hermana Parry