This month has been a wild ride and went by in a blink of
the eye, it was so fly.
okay i done rhyming
Interfaith: holidays here are legit MADNESS but it is the
best kind of madness ever! I got to put in LOTS of hours here this past month,
working a few long hours to finish normal tasks and projects, and serving some
extra days to help out with organizing the mountains of donations, serving
thanksgiving eve dinner, and helping be a little elf organizing presents for
"Holiday Adopt-A-Family". It has been so amazing and have been able
to see once again how generous the community is to those in need!
Habitat for Humanity: My job here shifted and i have loved
it. Because they saw how much I was able to help Pam (my BFF here) organize and
make the room look nice, I now do that every week! For my last day we had a
corporate group come to volunteer and I helped lead half of them in our tasks
for the day. And at the end of the day Pam brought cupcakes it was so Sweet!!!
Temple: IT IS OPEN after being closed for some minor
renovations (which I got to help clean up after-so cool) it has brought so much
peace back into my life being there!
Family history: all i can say is dark... haha! So it has
been raining a lot here lately (a lot for San Diego) and one day the power went
out, completely, it was dark. After hearing a scream from the brave sister
vargas (haha!) we walked around and the power was out all around the building,
so we decided to end early, as it is hard to do Family History with no power.
Institute: my favorite part of this class (besides the
amazing teacher and awesome doctrine I learn) has got to be seeing Sister
Barnson as this is the only time I get to see her each week. She is the
absolute best and we always greet each other by saying "hello my favorite
person". She gave me the sweetest necklace as a gift a few weeks ago, and
I have worn it every day since.
Old Town: Things have slowed down quite a bit. Casa De
Estudillo is closed for renovation putting sister Dotter and I back in the
McCoy and trust us we are NOT complaining! It has been so wonderful to be asked
so many questions about our name tags, and service missions, and then always
refer them to the mormon battalion.
Camp Wildwood: scrape, brush, paint, repeat. We are
continuing to work on the fence and have gotten pretty far! at least that is
what I thought until on my last day we took the mule and drove it all the way
to the end of the fence. And now i say we have gotten a real solid 1/5 of it
done. I am going to miss this place and these people so much! (side note:
sister maslin - who is from the south- has this "Y'all need Jesus"
shirt that I am obsessed with and finally made it to Walmart to get myself one
and wore it on my last day)
Mission Conference: Our December mission conference was so
fun! we got to have a little talent show and see all the missionaries talents!
I got to sing "Peace in Christ" with some sisters and I made a video
of the mission! My personal favorite talents were the elders improv, sister
legg on the flute, elder hickmans Christmas jokes, sister vargas' original
song, and sister barnsons' poem. This was such a fun, uplifting conference
hearing lots of Christmas messages, and being able to have so much joy and laughter
with all the missionaries! It was a great last conference!
I cannot even begin to explain the roller coaster of this
mission that I have been on. I have experienced some of the hardest times I
have ever faced in my life. I have questioned my testimony more than I ever
have before. I have never cried more than I ever have. I have prayed more than
I ever have. I have received revelation and answers to prayers more than I ever
have before. I have felt the spirit, the Saviors love and the peace in knowing
that I am a daughter of God, stronger than I ever have in my life. I have been
able to meet some of the most Christlike and humble people I have ever met.
Who, no matter the different abilities they are given or how much they struggle
every day, no matter how big their trials are, they get up and serve. They
follow the spirit, they serve without judgement and with a whole lot of love.
And because I knew them, I have been changed for good (thx elder wilkinson for
the wicked reminder). I will forever be grateful for my Mission.
I testify that service is the absolute best. It teaches to
turn outward, to love everyone, to not judge. It teaches us to become like
Christ. I know that Jesus Christ lives! He is our Savior, and He is the Son of
God. He lived a life of helping others, and gave his life to help us return to
our Father in Heaven. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God at a
young age to restore The Church of Jesus Christ of Ladder Day Saints to the
earth. I testify that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon by revelation
from the Lord, I know it is true by the strength I receive from reading it. I
know that eternal families are the center of this Church, and the purpose of
the Plan of Salvation is for families to be together forever. I cannot even
begin to express my gratitude for my family and the whole lot of patience they
have with me, but mostly for the examples they have been.
The testimony I have in the gospel, the Faith and trust I
have in my Savior, and the love I have of service I owe all to my mission. I am
heartbroken to be leaving the places that I have been serving for the past 18
months that I have grown to love. But sadly as everyone says all callings must
come to an end. And although assignments will not be attended and emails will
not be sent, what I have learned and my love for service will be apart of me
for the rest of my life.
Love you all!
Sister Owsley
p.s. My Homecoming Talk will be on Sunday, December 15th at
9am in the Felicita Ward (2255 Felicita Rd. Escondido, CA 92029) And there will
be a yummy brunch after at my house at 11:30 (2071 Habero Dr. Escondido CA
92029) . all are welcomed to come!
