What a fun update from the home front! wahooooo!! Hats off and a golden egg to Amanda! Congrats! That's amazing! And Clinter-beeee! You deserve a "i'm the best dad in the world tee" with a lovely cucumber salad! I'm so excited for Rach, who couldn't be a more adorable prego. As for Dad and Mom, what boring lives you would live if you couldn't help anybody! Amazingly, it seems like all you do these days. Mitch, have you received my little package that i sent by mail a couple of weeks ago? Curt, O SEA, Elder CHILD- you just remember there are a lot of people who love you, and that humility is the best remedy.
Remember that one time, about two years ago, when I realized that God needed me to serve a mission? Remember how I debated for a long time, talked with a lot of people and (sorry for the personal details, boys) prayed and cried a lot to figure out what I was supposed to do to be able to reach my eternal potential and promises? I couldn't have described all of the things that I felt, or the things that impressed my mind, because I myself didn't understand completely what the masterpiece was that God had originally planned out for me. God didn't intend for the decision to be made easily. I had my own personal reasons for wanting to stay and wanting to go, some of them worthy, others selfish and way off the mark. However, despite it all, even the hardy sister missionary jokes, I made the decision. And I stuck with it. If you asked me, I was out to help people using something that had helped me the most.
On December 15, 2010 I went into the MTC, where an older lady asked me my name, "Kelli," I responded, like I had millions of times in my life. She raised her eyebrows and smiled--I quickly corrected myself "Sister Child"--GAH! Daily I was reminded that I was not meant to be taught by apostles of God, study the scriptures deeply and invite others to come unto Christ, being the same person that I had always been.
Chile was greeted on February 22, 2011. Hermana Hardy was greeted by an Hermana Child. And Hermana Child was greeted by an incredible trainer, who taught her her purpose, work, to expect miracles and how to enjoy every minute of her mission, because it goes by too fast! What a whirlwind!
March, April, May, June...I worked in a trio, I worked with Hna. Sieverts, I worked like a chicken with it's head cut off. God blessed us with SO MANY MIRACLES. I had so much fun.
Rain, Rain, Rain. July, August. Was greeted in Hualqui by Hna. Cortez, a big sector, lots of Spanish and lots of responsibility. Worked by God's grace and held my breath for what God had waiting for me next.
August, September, October, November, December, welcomed a lovely flower that was love personified into the mission, Hermana Bustinza. Learned by personal experience A LOT of repentance and humility, found the power of the Atonement, forgot myself and fell in love with missionary work.
December, January, February, Hna. Kemp and I were thrown into the summer heat of Agronomia, Chillan. We worked and laughed and improved. Let the sprint begin! Found true joy in inviting others to come to Christ. Became extremely important to me my own baptismal covenants.
Hna. Bowns came to Agronomia for March and April, we mastered microwave brownies, strove to find the Spirit and teach to others' needs. It was a complete surprise when we found out she would be going and I would be welcoming an Argentine straight from the MTC.
April and May have been a blur of goodness, learning and continual growth with Hna. Daglio. I have learned how to learn, how to apply and how to testify with the Spirit. I have learned that I will never ever stop being a missionary.
Not that anyone actually wants to read this, but there are times I think when each one of us needs to process exactly what we've done and what we are doing and where we are going from where we are at. There is one phrase that has continually returned to me throughout these months, it is "You get to live the gospel that you preach" (thanks Hermano Jed). What an incredible gospel that we have right at our finger tips, and buried deep in our hearts and around each member of our family pulling us in tight. What a peaceful, joyous and comforting feeling comes when we actually choose to follow the incredibly loving and all-so powerful counsel of our Father in Heaven: faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. What a strong buffet is created against temptation and sin and fear and sadness. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is His church. It was restored by Joseph Smith, and by the holy calling he received from God was able to translate the Book of Mormon.
When making the decision to go on a mission, I may not have known these things with the surety that I know now. I may not have understood my purpose as a missionary like I do now. And I may not have loved, breathed, and hoped for the things before, that I do now. But, I hope that in six months, ten years and in fifty, I will be able to examine my testimony and my goals and my past and be able to say the exact same. And that it will mean even more to me.
With all the love I can muster, and all the faith that I can plant like a seed, here's to all of you,
your Hermana Child
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