AAAAHHHH!!!

WHAT A WEEK!!! Holy cow! I don't know how I survived it! We had TWO exchanges with our sisters, my last zone conference which included my departing testimony, girls camp (the stake leaders asked Sister Petersen and I to speak...SO FUN! :) ), stake conference (which I was asked to put together a missionary musical number 2 days before we had it...of course haha), AND it's been in the 100s, complete with humidity high enough to swim in! PHEW.....it was great haha. Seriously, this week was one of those testimony building weeks. President and Sister Shumway gave their departing testimonies as well. I'm SO grateful to see how they close this chapter of their life so that I can follow their example! For the past few well...months really I have been worried that I'd get to the end of my mission and not feel confident that the Lord was proud of my efforts. I was worried that I'd feel like I hadn't done enough. I tried my best every day and I keep trying my best every day to make the Lord proud and to follow his promptings but sometimes I just fell short and I was so worried about having regrets but literally as we were walking off the stage from saying our testimonies president Shumway looks right into my eyes and grabs my arm and sys "I am SO proud of you. You did it." And then because it was their last zone conference president gave himself and sister Shumway permission to hug everyone! It was the best. But once again, as I'm giving him a hug I go to turn and leave and he pulls me back and he says "Really Sister Moreno, I couldn't be more proud of you. I love you.".......:') It made me sob AGAIN! I was crying the rest of the day because I knew, and I KNOW now that truly the Lord has accepted my mission. He has taken my offering and it is good. I want you to know that I have loved my mission with all my heart. There's never been anything so challenging and uncomfortable and lonely in my life that I've ever had to go through, but as I said in my departing testimony, I'd do it all over again and I wouldn't change a thing. Never in a BILLION years did I think I'd have to do so many hard things. For 15 out of 18 months I have served in TINY branches in the middle of NOWHERE and I learned SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much! These last two transfers have been so rewarding. I've seen how ALL wards and branches can be as members and missionaries unite their efforts. I've learned how I want to be and who I want to be like. I've taken note of the blessings that come into lives as they read the Book of Mormon and keep the commandments. There's been countless times I've felt and witnessed the spirit touch the hearts of God's children when they read and hear the truths their spirits are already familiar with, and most importantly I've learned how to keep going. I've learned that there's nothing that can stop the work of the Lord from progressing and we're either going to be a part of it, or we're going to get left behind. I'm SO thankful for the many times I've felt the Savior carry me through my trials, fill my mouth with the words needed, and strengthen my weak efforts as I attempted to be as he is. I have SO SOOOOOOOO much to learn. This is FAR from my stopping point, but I am confident in whom I've become and I know that if I were to stand before the Lord tomorrow I would be recognized as one who has accepted his atonement. He's the only way I've been able to do this work day in and day out for a year and a half. Now the key is to keep going again! May we all strive to make our Sabbaths more meaningful so as to strengthen our resolve to BE like the Savior every day, and to continue to progress and share the gospel with all those around us. I LOVE the Lord with all my heart. I know Heavenly Father is directing my path as he has my whole mission. There's not been one place he's accidently put me, and I know that will be the case with the rest of my life. Thank you for teaching me to pray Mom. :) You started all of this and I'm SO grateful to you. Your testimony was what I needed to find my own. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH and I'll see you soon.

Love

Sister Moreno