I’ll See You Soon ✌

From: Seth Gifford
Date: Mon, Mar 7, 2022, 3:43 PM
Subject: I’ll See You Soon ✌

Well folks, this do be the last email you will be receiving from yours truly. 😥

My time has come to an end, and I will be dying within a week….If you’re not familiar with mission terms, that means I’m going home! A week from today I will leave this sweet, blessed, beautiful, amazing land and people of Mexico and return to a normal life. I will be going from a super hot and humid climate back to the cold dry climate of Utah. 🥶

I will be super super sad to leave Mexico, especially the people that I’ve met here! They will always have a piece of my heart! But, I will admit, I am also excited to finally be able to be with my family again.

These past 2 years of my life have been filled with ups, downs, loop de loops, and all kinds of wack, crazy, and spiritual experiences. As I come out on the other side, I realize that I am now a different person than when I first started. Who knew?

Before serving a mission, I was always annoyed when missionaries or returned missionaries said “on my mission…” or when they said “my mission is the best” etc. Well, now I can understand why they said that. It is because my mission was the best for me! God knew that North Carolina and México were where I needed to go in order to grow. The mission is such a growth experience. Instead of focusing on yourself, you deny yourself a lil’ bit of comfort and focus on helping others. I feel like my mission was tailor made from God just for me. Does that mean it was all sunflowers and daisies? Quite the contrary. In fact, I think everything I didn’t want on my mission is what God gave me, and everything I did want is what God didn’t give me. 

Just a couple of examples; beforehand I was excited to leave technology behind. I didn’t want to worry about distractions. But then a pandemic hit and the only effective option during this time has been to use LOTS of technology. 

This one is a lame one, but I didn’t want to eat beans, and yet here in Mexico I eat beans almost every day. When I didn’t want to get transferred I got transfered, and when I wanted to leave, I stayed put. There are lots more, but those will suffice for now.

Anyway, I hope by sharing just a few small things I’ve learned in my time on the mission, it may be at least somewhat beneficial to you.
Something I’ve seen over and over again is that most of the time, God takes my plans and breaks them in front of me, only to give His much better plan. I’ve had to learn how to accept His will. I’ve learned that His will and His plan is always better. God is so good. He knows what’s up.

During this time, I’ve also had to learn how to fight against opposition and the adversary, or in other words, how to stand firmly on the path, and how to get back up when I fall. I learned that the gospel path, no matter how hard it is, is the right path.

I’ve learned that it’s never too late to repent. Obviously that does not give us the excuse to go and sin, but if we find ourselves stuck, and it seems like there’s no hope, there definitely still is, and it’s found in Jesus Christ. The best time to start is now!

I’ve learned a lot of patience and charity. I love the saying; “If you don’t love someone, it’s because you don’t understand them.” Super true. I’ve learned to see things deeper than the surface and love people for who they are first; a son or daughter of God with divine potential.

The most important thing that I’ve learned, or better said, the most important thing that I’ve reinforced, has been my testimony and knowledge of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know with certainty that they are real, and I know that they love me.

I have learned that everything in the gospel points to Jesus Christ. The symbolism of His love is so beautiful. I could literally write a book about it. I might do so one day if I feel inspired.

To end off, I wanted to say that I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I had to do my best to help other people to experience the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to extend a huge thank you to all of you on this group email. Thank you for being part of my journey. Thank you for supporting me. Thank you for being awesome! 

See you soon!

Love,

Elder Gifford

P.S. My homecoming talk will be March 20th, @12pm, and y’all are invited! 555 S. Averett Ave, Springville, UT

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