2 Countries
2 Missions
2 Mission Presidents
3 Areas
3 Languages
9 Companions
Hundreds of lessons taught
Hundreds of hours of contacting
2 Years

As I'm writing this it still doesn't feel totally real and so it's a really strange feeling coming to the end. This is the last time I'll be sending an email as I'm going home next week. 
My mission really has been the best 2 years. But it really wasn't anything that I had expected earlier. It has been the most difficult 2 years, the craziest 2 years, and the most peaceful 2 years of my life. I've learned so much and so much has changed in myself and others that it has completely flipped my life around. I thought I knew the blessings of the gospel before my mission but I feel like I've come to actually know it and I've come to actually see the change and the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in people's lives. 
I've seen and met and made friends with some of the strongest and greatest people on this planet and I've felt the love that God shares with His children here.

Being a missionary is an interesting experience because I've really learned what it means to forget myself. At first I thought it was just not being trunky and not thinking about home and girls and everything else but I actually came to realize that it means putting complete trust and faith in God with the work. 
The work here has honestly been hard. Hard rejection is common and sometimes I would get really down on myself thinking what I could've done better and basically putting all of the blame on me. But I've come to realize that this is the Lord's work. I've learned that the Lord takes our limitations and he changes us. I've learned that whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies. <-- I read that quote from Thomas S. Monson a while back on my mission and I have a strong testimony that it's true. I have a testimony that the Gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives because it has changed mine. I've actually seen it in action and man it's so amazing to see it on the front lines as a missionary. 

I get super emotional when I think about my mission and everything it's done for me and I know that it's the greatest decision I've ever made. I wouldn't take back any second of rejection or hardness or pain because I've had so many experiences that came from that that resulted in peace, joy and the feeling of the Spirit.

I absolutely love Moldova and Ukraine with my whole heart. It's honestly going to be really hard to leave because I've felt so much love for these people and this culture and this language and this food and honestly just everything about this place. 

I love this Gospel and I love the Savior. I feel like I've grown so close to Him over the past 2 years and I can't wait to continue that path of discipleship with the Prince of Peace, The King of Kings, The Lord of Lords and The Savior of the world.

Thank you all for your support and your love towards me. Thank you to my friends for the amazing examples that they have been and for their testimonies that have strengthed mine. Thank you to my companions past and present who have helped me become the missionary I am today. Thank you to my family for raising me in the Gospel and showing me what true love and what an ideal family setting should be. I seriously love you all!

It's been an amazing two years and I can't wait to see what waits for me ahead.

- Старейшина Уайтинг






















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