All Beginnings have an End

A couple months ago, I began teaching at the Missionary Training Center.  Shortly after that, my first district (group) of missionaries came in.  I look back on that day, greeting them in Hiligaynon, watching their faces as they tried to understand, seeing them change.  For 9 weeks, I've watched them grow from teenagers to representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I feel so blessed from this opportunity.

From them I have learned of faith, the faith it takes to do what you must when you know you can't.  I've learned patience as I've watched them deal with adjusting to the personalities they were surrounded with.  I saw sins lead to repentance, intolerance grow into charity, and fear become the ability to rely on the Lord.  

For them, I have changed.  Every week is filled with ideas of what I can do better to serve and help them.  Every day is filled with preparation on study to know better what I am to teach.  Every second (at least an attempt at every second) is laced with alterations to better live what I've learned.  I've come to understand the path of change is much longer than I can imagine.  

Work began, I changed, I grew.  But beginnings lead to ends.  That was today.  I taught them for the last time today, Monday they will get on a plane and fly to the Philippines and change others lives, just as they have changed mine. 

Good Luck, Elders!