It seems unreal that the time for Elder Scott to come home is actually here. The past 2 years have gone by faster than I ever imagined, and ending almost sooner than I'm prepared for. It has been a marvelous ride, and one I'll forever be grateful to my Heavenly Father for providing.
In Elder Scott's last email home he included this sweet testimony about....well, testimonies, and he would like to share it with all of you.
So yesterday the bishop surprised us by saying Elder Quispe and I would both be giving talks in Sacrament Meeting 30 seconds before the meeting started. And I had the 15 minute talk. On top of that I got a call saying that President would be stopping by our house with the two assistants within an hour, and would need lunch. Talk about juggling, lol. But, I took this as my chance to share my final testimony as many didn't even know I was heading home this week. I chose the topic of the importance of a testimony.
Each and every one of us has a testimony. Some are bigger than others. Testimonies are kind of like a dimmable light, sometimes they are lower in brightness, other times they are brighter. We need to do everything we can to always help our light shine as brightly as possible. This is done through praying, reading the scriptures, and attending church.
Heavenly Father helps us grow our testimonies with the expectation that we use it to help our fellow brothers and sisters. That's why it's so important that in every chance we are given we share our testimonies with others. A magical thing happens when we do that. Because when we share our testimony it not only helps the testimony of the other person grow, but it also helps our own testimony grow. It's kind of magical how it works!!
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we have an even greater duty to share our testimony in every possible time presented. There is no such thing as coincidences. Heavenly Father puts people in our path for very specific reasons, and we should do our best to never let those opportunities slip by us. People will see that you have something different in your very eyes. Something that shines and sets you apart. And thanks to the light of Christ that they have, they want to know what that is and also how they can have it. It's natural. So we need to be ready to always share our testimony. The salvation of another person literally can depend on it. That's something that I've come to know very well during these past two years and I have to say I love to share my testimony. You just feel the Spirit so strong every time you share it because the Spirit is always there testifying that the words you speak are true.
I know that the Church that Christ himself established has been restored to the earth today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This Church has Christ at its head and is guided by a living Prophet with the same organization that Christ himself established when He was on the Earth. I know The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and can bring us so much peace and happiness in our lives. I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have a love perfect for us. They always want what is best for us and are there to help us at every second of every day. I love my Savior and am so glad for everything he has and continues to do for me. I
I want to share this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Elder Scott will miss Peru, but there's good news to be found during this tough goodbye and that is the guarantee that the Lord will continue to provide many opportunities for him to serve wherever life might take him. I have a feeling Peru will be back on his list to visit in the near-future (and he better plan on taking his dad and I!) and this goodbye is really a "see ya real soon!"
Some photos from Elder Scott's final month in Peru.
Elder Scott's final full day in Peru.
He'll miss the delicious food he's had in Peru,
and miss the people even more.
