Well fam, this is it! I did it! I served a mission! It's so crazy to think that I will be able to hug you all next week. These past 18 months have been the best time of my life. I've learned so much about myself, about God, and His Son Jesus Christ and he love they have for each and every person on the earth.
I thought that I had a pretty good relationship with God before my mission. But coming on a mission has showed me how much more knowledge and how many blessings are available if we trust God and submit our will to His. I know what I need to do now to make sure that I will live with my family and my father in Heaven again.
Looking in the mirror, I'm still the same person. I still like a lot of the same things. But I have become converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ and that has changed the desires of my heart.
More than anything I want you all to know, that I know, that Jesus Christ lives. I know that he is the Son of God and that he was chosen from before the world was created to come to earth and to be Our Savior by paying the price for our sins with His blood. Because he did this he can now turn to us with his own set of requirements and ask that we follow him, to become perfected like him, so that one day we will be able to return to our Father in Heaven and live with Him again. I know that Adam and Eve's role in the Father's plan was necessary for the rest of us to come here and obtain bodies, so that we might make choices that would help us learn and gain knowledge and become more like our Father in Heaven. This life is a probationary period for us to learn how to make the choices that will bring us closer to God, to learn to love and serve like his Son Jesus Christ. The Father's Plan is full of justice and mercy, and is His plan for all His children.
Reading the Book of Mormon has helped me understand that God is my Father, and He loves me like a perfect parent. From reading about how Heavenly Father warns His children, delivers them from bondage, shows them miracles, chastens them, withholds blessings, sends them a prophet to teach them, keeps all His promises, mourns when they aren't making good choices, reminds them of Him, answers their prayers, protects them, etc. From seeing all these things happen in the Book of Mormon, I understand better the character of my Heavenly Father and how He feels about me. The biggest example I've been able to call upon to help me understand this love is the example of my own father.
But most of all, I know that I will see my Mom again. I know that I will be able to run to her and hug her and see her smiling face. I know that because the priesthood of God has been restored to the earth through the prophet Joseph Smith, the sealing power to bind families together for eternity can be found in God's holy temples. One of the biggest blessings that I have received from dedicating myself to the Lord, is how close I feel to my Mom now. If I had know that by becoming so close to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ I would in turn become closer to her, especially as close as I am now, I would never have hesitated to be obedient and do the things that keep me close to God.
But in the meantime, I have 1 full week left as a dedicated full time servant of the Lord set apart to preach his gospel and we intend to make the most of it!
I love you all more than I can say, and I will see you next week!!!
Love,
SISTER Abby MARTINEZ
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