Week 76: The Final Chapter

Odds and Ends

●We got some mad marriage advice from Sister Leishman!

●After ZCM, we came out to a flat tire...with a nail visibly sticking out. HOLY thats flat tire #4!! Two in one week...yikes. We had a meeting with the sisters, and so by the time that was over, all the elders were gone. Sister Robinson jacked up the car and we called the elders. They let me attempt to take the lug nuts off... I couldn't do it even jumping on it! Thanks to Elder Ellis and Elder Kay for being our super heroes!

●I sang in our ZLC meeting, and MLC meeting! Classic "Savior Redeemer of My Soul" It was such a blessing to bear my testimony through song! And Elder Jones accompanied me, seriously couldn't be more grateful for him.

●We had a planking battle at MLC and I was the 3rd to last Sister to remain. 💪

●We helped Sister Hamblin with the new mission Facebook page!

●We were getting ready for ZCM, and I didn't have time to pause and practice, so I was writing names on the board while singing. Elder Smith recorded me haha!

●An ET was happening so Elder Johnsen and Elder Hampton and one more Elder (I forgot his name) came and had lunch with our ZCM!

●I've been in this area for 7 months so I watched Sister Alsop be barely pregnant, and now she had her baby! Sweet Ava♡

●We deep cleaned the closest from all the old sisters' stuff and now we can actually walk all the way through it!

●I went to say goodbye to Quint and Meghan. They asked me to sing at Kathy's funeral, but sadly it was after I would be home... :(

●I got a final bash text on the way to transfers... woohoo!

●I had 2 very overweight bags... a whopping 65lbs and 71lbs. Just trying to take as much of South Carolina with me as possible... but at a price hehe! Don't judge.

●I almost saw Makena! The departing missionaries always go to do baptisms for the dead at the temple after transfers. We pulled up and another group of missionaries was outside the temple. I asked around and they knew Sister Chiniquy, but she came on the other temple day. So close yet so far!

●Mission home: my last full day in South Carolina we went to the temple, had lunch and dinner, had a mission slideshow and had a testimony meeting. It was the perfect ending to my South Carolina days!

Miracles

★Sister Gibbens and I led out the council at MLC about how we can bring the Spirit and information of our meetings to the missionaries. And it turned out pretty good! We were really happy how Spirit led it was! We received lots of revelation for our zone.

★While we were getting our tire changed, there was a nasty show playing in the background so we walked over to Panda Express. There we met Malike! On his work break he came over and first started talking about his favorite music artists. Then God turned it to a gospel conversation somehow, and he had some deep questions! He had to go because his break was up, but we left him with a pamphlet and our number! It was a miracle. God provided a way to Malike through our flat tire.

★We visited with Lumen and Talon, the first meeting we've had since they've been baptized. We asked Lumen how she has felt and she said "I've really enjoyed making new life habits." I loved that thought! She really is mature beyond her years.

★We were teaching Bella one of her recent convert lessons and we asked her what she knew about faith. She told us she learned at girls camp that Christ is the living water and so he waters our faith and wow our jaws dropped.

★It was so hard to say goodbye to Donna... she missed church on Sunday and so she was sad she didn't hear me sing. So I decided to sing I'm Trying to be Like Jesus for her. I sang the first verse and could hardly squeak out the second verse. Donna was wiping the tears that were streaking down my face. A goodbye hasn't been this hard before. But I told her I could call and talk more with her. I gave her one of my missionary tags and gave her one more squeeze! Then on my way out, Sister Nebeker talked to me about her emotions coming home from her mission and I began to cry. It was so touching as she squeezed me so tight! I'm forever grateful for her. These were the 2 moments that it really hit me that I was going home and leaving this behind.

★Jen and Jordyn are reading the Book of Mormon together and Jen found the Book of Mormon videos all on her own!

★I stayed up til 2:30 the night before transfers to finish the Book of Mormon. And I'm glad I did! The Spirit of peace entered my heart even in the dark hours of the morning and reaffirmed my testimony that it is true.

★I got to see all my past companions at transfers! God is good!

What my companions taught me:

God blessed with great companions who are obedient and want to do the Lord's will and be diligent! Here are what each of them taught me!

♡Sister McGhee: how to love people and how to love the work.

♡Sister Horman: how to consecrate every moment for the Lord.

♡Sister Dayley: how to talk to EVERYONE and be bold about the message we have to share.

♡Sister Bradshaw: how to trust the Spirit above all else.

♡Sister Carter: how to show joy for the gospel and to always leave a note.

♡Sister Wardrop: how to be diligent and all in.

♡Sister Mickelson: how to set goals and organize a great day.

♡Sister Hoyal: how you testify with simplicity.

♡Sister Bruce: how to serve selflessly and be full of pure charity.

♡Sister Gibbens: how to comprise and how to be a leader.

Spiritual Thought

Well... this is the end of my mission. But not the end of my testimony. The way the Lord has changed me in 18 months is indescribable. He really helped me become more of who I can fully become through Jesus Christ. I've had the opportunity to "teach and preach and learn as missionaries do." It hasn't been easy, but it has been beautiful! Only God could take the hard circumstances faced by representatives of Jesus Christ and make them something beautiful. I've seen some hardened hearts and met some people who choose to turn away form God. But I've also met people who have been able to sing the song of redeeming love as they follow Jesus Christ. This is REAL. Because Christ is ALIVE TODAY. I've felt the Spirit and seen God's hand in my life too many times to ever deny that. A few things I've learned from my mission are: God is in control, it's better to be a God pleaser than a people pleaser, specific prayers get specific answers, grace is a multiplier for our efforts, and we can choose to be chosen. I will take these principles into the next chapters of my life. It has been so special to be making eternal impact daily in the lives of others. And I'm not stopping here! I will continue to go forward with faith. I'm not going to let my mission be the most spiritual experience of my life. I'm going to go create more! I will forever prioritize God first and remember who I am in His eyes. I love my Savior and though I have not seen Him, I know without a doubt He lives! I know I found those people I promised to share the gospel with, whether they accepted it or not, I found them in South Carolina! I know God will continue to lead me as I keep my eye single to His glory. One thing that I hope each of you remember is that the gospel of Jesus Christ solves all things eternal. As we live as He did and help others along the way, we will receive the blessings of heaven. This is a great work, but I'm not finished yet. Christ's name is burned on my heart, and my hands are now His. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

♡-Sister Palmer

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