Happy Day, All is Well!! pt. 2

Hello Hello blogger world 

It's me

elli.

Surprise! 

The last 18 months my sweet momma has been updating my blog with my testimony, pictures, and experiences from my time serving as a full-time missionary in the Washington DC South mission. 

What a miracle that time was for me! Time that I will forever hold sacred and dear to my heart. If you read any of my previous posts, you would know how heartwrenching it was to leave Northern Virginia. A special place filled with special people. An a year and a half long adventure that has shaped and molded me more than any other experience I've ever had in my life. 

And now I'm back.

Everyone warns you about going home. The ups and downs. The fears. The defeat. The anxiety. But yet - you have no idea what you are getting yourself into. 

The transition home has been the strangest thing. Ever. Lots of good, and lots of sad. 

Nothing can compare to the feelings of joy that rush through you when you step off that airplane and run into the arms of those that you adore and hold so dear to your heart. You feel so safe. So excited. And so grateful. 

But just like most emotions you feel in this mortal life, those feelings fade, and suddenly feelings of despair, confusion, and sorrow settle in. 

Something that has engulfed your life and who you are is no longer there. Your purpose seems to have faded and your ability to aid in the work of salvation seems to be dwindling. 

And yet, in the midst of it all, the one thing I have learned to cling to, is the simple knowledge that God is our loving Heavenly Father. His entire work and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man (Moses 1:39) We are still His children. We are still of worth. Our purpose here is the same and He will help is every step of the way as we strive to live our lives in Harmony of His will. 

Although we are not expected to live by the standards in the missionary handbook, many of those truths in that book we should continue to honor. What better way to stay in tune with the spirit than by filling our minds and hearts with music that invites and entices us to do good, to see good, and to be good. 

I can think of no better way to start the day than how we did as full-time missionaries - excercise, prayer, breakfast, and study in the word of God. 

What better way to honor our Lord and Savior than by using refined, dignified language that sets you apart from the world and clearly identifies you as a servant of Jesus Christ.

Brothers and Sisters. I want to testify to you that God still speaks. He LOVES His children. He cares about what we care about and He wants us to find Joy. Every day. "I know that He loveth His children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" - 1 Nephi 11:17. 

He blesses us as we do His will and His work. He did not intend for our missions to be the most joyful and fruitful times of our lives. He wants us to continue to progress. And to prepare to live with Him again. Which comes with it's share of trials, but also comes with it's abundance of JOY. 

God is good. 

His work is sweet.

His love is Real.

HALLELUJAH. 

What a glorious time to be alive and a member of His true and living church.

happy day, all is well.

Thanks for reading :) 

elli