I Love Being a Missionary!

Hey mom and dad and family,

How are you doing?..... good me too. This week has been a good one. I went on an exchange with Elder Wilbur again, which was good. Things have been very good in general. I love being a missionary and I love the Gospel. I have learned so much in the short time I have been a missionary and am eternally grateful for the opportunity I have been given as a missionary. I can see already how it has shaped me as an individual and how it will set the pace for my life. I love serving the Lord each and every day. I love the closeness that I feel to him as I give him all that I have. I am humbled every day. I have experienced hard times, even pain, but I know that it is for my good. I am thankful for these experiences that allow me to grow and appreciate all that I have in life.

As a missionary you see a different side of life. You are constantly in the presence of those who are miserable. Some of them don't even know it. I have been blessed with a knowledge that there is a better way, that there is a way to have peace in this life. I know where true happiness lies. I know what it takes to experience joy. I have the privilege to share this with others, to show them how to correct their errors. This is a task that cannot be taken lightly, in fact it is of the greatest importance. I am thankful that the Lord trusts me enough to be responsible for the salvation of every person in my area. This is a responsibility that is great, but so is the strength He gives me.

I feel closer to my Father in Heaven than I ever have, and know that his love for me is beyond any I could comprehend in this life. That love he has for me is shared with every one of his children. We all have divine potential. We are all his children. I am so grateful to be an instrument in His hands and will always look for opportunities to serve. I have decided that I don't want to serve the Lord for two years, I want to serve him my whole life. I owe that to him. All who are members of his church are blessed to play a role in building his kingdom. We are all individually unique and important. Of this I know and testify.

Love, Elder Tilley