Mijn geliefde familie en vrienden,
So the end has come. This is my last email as a full-time missionary, and I have to say it feels a little strange having come to this point! It's a good thing I've sent an email with thoughts and lessons learned each week while I've been gone, because summarizing 18 months of AP life in a short letter is truly impossible. And in fact, because I've shared so much (and many of you will hear from me in church on Sunday), I'm actually going to keep it pretty simple this week.
First, I want to express how indebted I am to the Lord for calling me on a mission, specifically to the Belgium/Netherlands mission. While I never did have the opportunity to serve in Belgium, I have developed an incredible love for my beautiful Nederland and the Dutch people. I will miss this country, I will miss this language, and I will miss many individuals. I am also grateful to each of my companions, who have taught me valuable things, and for the lifelong friendships I have developed.
Second, I wish to express my excitement to see all you peeps back in America! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your love and support. I have felt it and it means an incredible amount to me. I'll see you soon!
Third, I want to bear my testimony. I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, restored in these Latter Days to the blessing of all the Saints, or in other words, to those willing to follow Him. Knowing that, I also know that it will be my number-one priority throughout my life to stay as close as possible to my Savior, whatever that may take and wherever that may lead me. I have been given too much to not give my life to Him. That may not involve a little black nametag anymore, but that was always really just a piece of plastic anyway. The real nametag is the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father, and our actions by which we show our dedication to those covenants. How blessed we are to live in a time with the Priesthood and temples, through which making those covenants are possible!
I know that I have been incredibly blessed in my own personal life. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the family I have been given. I love you so much, more than I could possibly say. There will be many hugs coming your way this Thursday. :)
I know that Joseph Smith was a chosen prophet of God. Along with the other early saints, his faith and courage brought this about, through the power of God. How I can't wait to express my gratitude to him!
And although there is so much more I wish to write, but I simply don't have time because it would take pages, I know my Savior lives and loves me. I know He loves all of us! I know we are children of God with incredible potential and purpose and destiny, and I know that through the Atonement there is nothing that can go permanently wrong, nor nothing that cannot be made perfect. How great the wisdom and the love, of our dear Father in Heaven. Please, find Him, stay by Him, and never leave, because it is He who brings eternal life, the most joyful of all things!
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
-Zuster Jensen
So the end has come. This is my last email as a full-time missionary, and I have to say it feels a little strange having come to this point! It's a good thing I've sent an email with thoughts and lessons learned each week while I've been gone, because summarizing 18 months of AP life in a short letter is truly impossible. And in fact, because I've shared so much (and many of you will hear from me in church on Sunday), I'm actually going to keep it pretty simple this week.
First, I want to express how indebted I am to the Lord for calling me on a mission, specifically to the Belgium/Netherlands mission. While I never did have the opportunity to serve in Belgium, I have developed an incredible love for my beautiful Nederland and the Dutch people. I will miss this country, I will miss this language, and I will miss many individuals. I am also grateful to each of my companions, who have taught me valuable things, and for the lifelong friendships I have developed.
Second, I wish to express my excitement to see all you peeps back in America! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your love and support. I have felt it and it means an incredible amount to me. I'll see you soon!
Third, I want to bear my testimony. I know that this is the Church of Jesus Christ, restored in these Latter Days to the blessing of all the Saints, or in other words, to those willing to follow Him. Knowing that, I also know that it will be my number-one priority throughout my life to stay as close as possible to my Savior, whatever that may take and wherever that may lead me. I have been given too much to not give my life to Him. That may not involve a little black nametag anymore, but that was always really just a piece of plastic anyway. The real nametag is the covenants we make with our Heavenly Father, and our actions by which we show our dedication to those covenants. How blessed we are to live in a time with the Priesthood and temples, through which making those covenants are possible!
I know that I have been incredibly blessed in my own personal life. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for the family I have been given. I love you so much, more than I could possibly say. There will be many hugs coming your way this Thursday. :)
I know that Joseph Smith was a chosen prophet of God. Along with the other early saints, his faith and courage brought this about, through the power of God. How I can't wait to express my gratitude to him!
And although there is so much more I wish to write, but I simply don't have time because it would take pages, I know my Savior lives and loves me. I know He loves all of us! I know we are children of God with incredible potential and purpose and destiny, and I know that through the Atonement there is nothing that can go permanently wrong, nor nothing that cannot be made perfect. How great the wisdom and the love, of our dear Father in Heaven. Please, find Him, stay by Him, and never leave, because it is He who brings eternal life, the most joyful of all things!
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
-Zuster Jensen
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