This is unbelievable for me to be writing my final e-mail as a full-time missionary. You'll find that this e-mail is full of missionary cliches, but I don't know if there is any other way to describe what I am now experiencing.
I have hearing about missions all my life. My Grandfathers served missions, my dad served a mission, my older brother served a mission, and I have associated with many other great men and women throughout my life who have also served missions. I heard so much about missions being "the best two years". I heard that "you'll change on a mission more than anywhere else". I also heard that "it's impossible to adequately describe your mission experience". All of those are true for me. This has been the greatest two years of my life so far. I know that there are many great years ahead, but this mission truly has been the greatest that I have experienced. There is no way I could have fully anticipated what I would experience here in Canada, the miracles, the rejection, the feelings of the spirit, everything was so much more than I ever thought it could be. And it has changed me.
My mission has taught me more of the Atonement of Jesus Christ than any other experience in my life. It taught me that when I'm down, when I'm about to quit, when I'm ready to fall, The Lord lifts me up, He comforts me, He strengthens me, He bears my burdens, and He helps me to rise. I love my Savior Jesus Christ, I love the miracle of the Atonement, and the miracle that it's power and influence has had on my life, especially as I represented His name as a full time missionary these past two years.
The greatest lesson that I have learned as a missionary is how to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. I thought I knew what it meant to be a disciple before my mission. Disciples go to church. Disciples read their scriptures. Disciples pray, they keep the commandments, and they do everything they're "supposed to do". Although those are characteristics of a disciple, I have learned that a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ is so much more. Disciples are on a quest for greater conversion. They are striving to be better all the time, to become more like the Savior, to overcome faults and shortcomings, and to motivate and assist others to do the same. They follow Christ in faith, they obey with a believing heart, they exemplify charity in their dealings with others, they are virtuous, diligent, and they turn their lives over to God. It is possible to keep the commandments and not turn our lives over to God, and that's why a disciple is so much more than a commandment keeper. A disciple is a devoted follower of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I know I am not perfect. I know I have faults, weaknesses, and setbacks that I still need to overcome. However, I want to bear my witness to you all that I know Jesus Christ lives to help me overcome all faults, weaknesses, trials, temptations, and imperfections. And I know He lives for you too. He lives for all of us. If we choose to follow it, and live for it, and give ourselves to it, His restored gospel as taught through His restored church will change us. It will help us overcome all unrighteousness, and it will lift us and lead us to a better way. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a better way. The world may fight against it, but you could not convince me otherwise that this is not the path that God has intended for us. On my mission I have witnessed the power of God through conversion, through miracles, and through spiritual experiences that have changed my life and the lives of those I have come in contact with forever. All of that aside, the spirit has borne witness to my soul that this is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it is true. I know it was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, I know that the Book of Mormon is evidence of that restoration and that it contains in its fullness that very gospel. I know that as we come unto Christ, He takes us on a path to help us become the best son or daughter of God we can be, He helps us fulfill our potential, and if we hold out true and faithful, He leads us safely home to our Father in Heaven.
I love my Heavenly and everything that He has done for me. I love the mission that He allowed me to serve. I love the family and friends that He has blessed me with and who have been a wonderful support for me throughout my missionary experience. And I love my Savior Jesus Christ. The greatest decision you can ever make is to choose Christ in your life. That is my invitation to you. Choose Christ, hold fast to the faith, and stay true to the end.
With Love,
Elder Kendall
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