24 November 2014 - This is IT!

Well, the time has come. This is my LAST Monday in the mission! This is so....surreal. Well, this week passed by WAY faster than I expected...but it was a great week. And as I'll see everyone in about...75 hours...I'll just give a few details from my week... I had my final interview with president, which helped me stop feeling nervous and stressed about finishing the mission (although he totally made me cry)...lots of closure there. Actually, this week was full of closure. After the interview, we hurried back to Masaya to have zone exchanges and I got to go to...DIRIOMO!!! I was so happy. I felt like I was home when we arrived. But feel free to ask for more details when I get home! Then on Sunday, I had to bear my testimony in church...it's kinda scary speaking in public in a foreign languange...haha. But I bet English will be even harder next week! But yeah, lots of closure. But an hna sent me a poem that expains how I feel...perfectly. The Mission. I stared out the window, The tears still in my eyes, I saw the friends and those I loved, As we said our last goodbyes. The ride was long and trying; Two questions plagued my mind. Do I want the life that's up ahead Or the one I left behind? 1.5 months is such a long, long time, For going door to door. In my reflecting, I thought to myself-- There really must be more. I dragged myself down off the plane and stood smiling at the beach. There a man turned to me, Saying, "Sister, go and teach." I sit reflecting once again As this day is my last. Please, Lord, this isn't fair, The time goes way too fast! I stared out the window, The tears still in my eyes. I see the elders and sisters and those I love, As we say our last goodbyes. The ride was long and trying; Two questions plagued my mind. Do I want the life that's up ahead Or the one I left behind? --Author Unknown Amen and amen. When I arrived to the mission, I had no idea what I was doing...and at times wondered what the heck I was doing here in Nicaragua...a third world country where they spoke a language I hadn't yet mastered. But I decided to go for it and try to learn the mission...and it worked! I LOVE NICARAGUA SO MUCH! I seriously feel a clinching feeling in my heart every time I think about leaving this blessed country. I am so grateful that I was called to serve in this mission...it is the perfect mission for me, because it has taught me to face my fears and reach my full potential as a missionary. I have learned so much the short time I've been here in Nicaragua. I have learned how to speak spanish, how to make tortillas, how to wash clothes by hand, how to shower with ice cold water and not cringe...but most importantly, I've learned how much the Lord loves each and every one of his children. He wants them all to return to live with Him for eternity...and so he invites us to invite others to come unto Him. Yo se que Jesucristo es mi Salvador y que el dio su vida para que podamos ser redimidos de nuestros pecados. El pago el precio para que podamos ser libres y felices para siempre...entonces en realidad, 18 meses no son nada. Se que el Señor ama a cada uno de sus hijos y anhela que todos acepten su evangelio y sigan su gran ejemplo. Estoy muy agradecida que nuestro Padre Celestial me llamo como misionera en Nicaragua. Me ha dejado ayudarle invitar a todos a venir a Cristo...y esta es una bendicion que atesorare toda mi vida. Ha sido un gusto poder servir y seguire en otras formas el resto de mi vida. He aprendido tanto y no quiero olvidar un segundo de mi mision. I truly can't believe that I'm pretty much done. I will treasure every experience that I've had in the mission...the good and the bad. And if anyone at home wants to hear about Nicaragua...that'll probably be the only thing I'll be able to talk about at home. Thank you all for your support and love. And... NOS VEMOS! Con Amor, Hermana MacKay