Built Upon Him

Dear Family,

         "Wow" is really all I have to say. This is not easy. I cannot even begin to tell you the peace I have found in dong this work. We had stake conference here last week and they talked about how easy it is to "push aside" or to "explain away" spiritual things. It’s a revealing experience for me to even just be here at the library each week. As we sit here on the computer there is a homeless man with a long beard and worn skin, parents yelling at children, a woman who just walked in to donate a book, trying to hold back tears as she quickly mentioned, "her husband is now deceased and she won’t need it anymore."  Others are working on schoolwork and some are here just to play games. There is so much to distract us in the world. So much that can hurt us. that can make us feel lonely and without hope. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the healing balm for all pain. But only if we will let it be.

         My mission has been so special to me because I have been able to "let it be" in my life. (Of course I have to somehow include a Beatles reference right?) But I just can't adequately explain it. We were over at a recent convert’s house the other day. She has quite a colored past and her children were not raised in the best environment. She is part of an addiction recovery group right now and tells EVERYONE about how happy the gospel has made her. She is so funny. She always says things in such a "matter of fact" way that I find myself on the verge of hysterical tears each time I visit. But on this last visit she said, "Yeah. I used to think that people that were crazy about Jesus were... Crazy!" She continued on to say that you could be "normal" and still humble yourself enough to turn to Him; to try to recognize those small feelings. We all have times where we feel as if we are tossed to and fro. The world deals so much with fixing what is on the "outside." But the outside is just a product of what is on the inside. If we are able to learn about the Savior and to feel Him more in our lives, we will begin to see how we are slowly healed from inside. I have seen that happen in my own life. I am impatient and inconsistent. My urgency ceases. But the more I pour over the scriptures and have experienced on my mission just how aware of me my Heavenly Father is...I have felt a strength come into my life. I can trust Him.

         Last night we had a lesson with Greg & Liz Casey. We were over at the Stewart’s house for what is called a "New Member Lesson." After someone is baptized, the members of the ward teach the missionary lessons to them just as a way to get them connected to the ward and to meet new people. The Stewarts are a family I love very much and, of course, I love the Casey's more than I could ever explain. The spirit was so strong that night. At a certain point in the lesson Brother Stewart pointed to us and said, with great feeling, "These will always be YOUR missionaries." Brother Stewart served in North Carolina. (same mission as you Dad!) You could tell that as he spoke he was thinking about those people that he had come to love so deeply on his mission. Brother Stewart made us promise that we would always be worthy of each other. That even though "Sister Mitchell" is going home, "she is never done with you." It is a special friendship that will last a lifetime. Greg said, "We consider you family." Those words will always resonate with me. I consider so many of my brothers and sisters out here to be my "family." The members, my mission president, those that we have taught. They are forever a part of me and I feel as if a piece of me will always be here in the California Roseville Mission. I hope to always be worthy of the Casey’s. The Fitzpatrick’s. The Tate’s. The Saechao Family. Ericka Duggins. Melody and Gabrielle. Pat Peart. Debi Allen. The Goodsells. The Savery's. Heather Pate. Angelina. I am reminded of the words of Elder Holland when he spoke of the fishermen turned Apostles who had returned to their nets. "Children did not my life and my love touch your hearts more deeply than this?" I hope that His love has touched my heart more deeply than before and that it will continue to throughout my life. Elder Holland’s talk has been at my bedside for the last few weeks so forgive me for over quoting it but... He said something along the lines of, "Every missionary who has ever stood in a baptismal font (or beside it) and said the words "Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ." That commission was to have changed your convert forever, but it was surely supposed to have changed you forever as well." I can say boldly that it has. I feel as if I have been changed forever. I know there are new adventures ahead, but my heart wrenches to leave these people and this type of service. I am so grateful to be a member of this church. I am so grateful that when I have to remove that tag from my chest, I will still be able to bear His name. I know that God lives and that He loves us more than we could ever know in this life. I love you guys so much! The only thing that makes this all okay is that I get to give you all a big hug next week. God be with you until we meet!

Love,

Sister Mitchell

P.S. "This week I had so many fun surprises. The Jones family came up from Loomis and kidnapped us for dinner one night. Then, I showed up to dinner at the Clement’s house here in Auburn and they had planned a surprise party for me! One of my FAVORITE mini little missionaries, Kate & Anna Clement came up to see me.  My jaw was just on the floor!  Then to put icing on the cake, Sister Taylor and Sister Kaupanger came to our Sacarmant meeting on Sunday.  It is just so  fun to have been able to have welcomed so many new members into our family.  

I love the California Roseville Mission!"