Coming Home to Which Home?

Let’s call this my homecoming talk because I just came back to the mission this week.

I went to Colorado for a few weeks for some medical tests as well as some dental work that couldn’t be done here in Peru. I also got to visit my new grandson who was born six weeks ago.  When I left, I was worried that it might be really hard to come back to Peru because it was so difficult for me to say goodbye to my family and friends the first time.

It turned out to be a really great trip and I enjoyed every moment (except the dentist!) and I learned some things that I want to share.

One thing I learned and realized is that I have spent my whole life trying to get comfortable.  I wanted to live in a comfortable city, in a comfortable house, and have comfortable friends and I achieved all of these things as I lived a very comfortable life in Colorado.  Then this mission call came and we were asked to come here to Southern Peru to be mission leaders.  I knew it would be hard, but honestly, I have never been more uncomfortable in my whole life!  But through this process I have come to know my Savior and He is not who I thought he was.  I used to think he was stern and strict with his discipline, but now I have learned that he is very kind and merciful and that he loves all of his children and has a plan for each of them to be gathered as individuals.  He gives us commandments, not to control us, but to help us find happiness and to have access to his power in our lives.  I’ve learned that nobody is gathered the same way because we are all very different and we all have had different experiences, but through the power of the atonement, none of the differences will matter because God is willing to forgive and help all who will choose to follow Him.

I have changed much this past year and when I went home, I saw my old life with different eyes and I do not want to go back yet because I like the changes.  It is such a pleasure to serve a mission in Peru and I am so grateful that I have two more years.  I look forward to more learning and growth and I know that I will draw even closer to my Savior.   When I went home, I could see that as I have served God, He has blessed me abundantly in very unexpected and miraculous ways with my family! I know that this will happen for my young missionaries as well.  It doesn’t mean that the service is easy or that the sacrifices aren’t great, or that 18 months or two years doesn’t seem long,  but as we wait upon the Lord, the sacrifices are worth it because the miracles are of great worth.

Let me share with you one very small but wonderful miracle that I witnessed.  When I came on the mission, I was worried my little granddaughter would not remember me because she was less than two years old when I left, but as soon as I emerged from the airport she came running into my arms without hesitation and she acted as if I had never left her side.  I have since thought about this miracle a lot and just this week, the Spirit strongly bore witness to me that this miracle was a very personal and beautiful gift from my Savior through the power of His atonement and I feel so loved by Him.   I have heard of the principle of compensation through the atonement before, but I have never considered that it could be seen by me especially during my life.  Because of this and other miracles, and the fact that I really missed my missionaries and President Chipman,  it was very easy for me to come back to Arequipa. Knowing that my family is being blessed abundantly in ways that I never expected has shown me that I need to quit worrying and just trust God.