June 25, 2012

Hello Everyone!,    I am feeling a bit of nostalgia at the moment. Tomorrow will mark my 17th month as a missionary and Thursday will be my 15th in Florida. Not only that, but this week also happens to be my last as a full time missionary in this chapter of my life. I can't believe how quickly it has gone, and that now it is over. I felt like this wouldn't happen to me; how wrong I was. To be honest, I have so many emotions going through my body that I don't really know what to think or feel. I know that I am happy to be returning home, hopeful for the future, tired in my mind, body and soul, sad to be leaving such an important part of my life and family, but more than anything, grateful for every moment that I have had to be a missionary in the Florida Tampa Mission, the best mission in the world, as a representative for the Savior.    In Sacrament meeting yesterday I had a bit of heartburn as I was surprised by a small presentation of gratitude from the Largo Spanish Branch. I was innocently passing out programs when I noticed that my name was inside and that no one had told me anything! I had no idea what to say or do, so I mostly just kept my mouth shut. Inside I was not what could be described as a calm and tranquil person! After the Sacrament was passed President Lopez came to the stand and started telling the story of Ammon. He described the love that Ammon had for the people he served, especially for King Lamoni. He described how even after his conversion Ammon continued to fight for Lamoni, even to death with Lamoni's own father. When he had the opportunity to claim the whole of the Lamanite kingdom, he asked only for the independence of Lamoni to rule and to worship how he wished. President Lopez then asked me to come to the stand and told everyone that he and all of the Largo Branch had felt that kind of love from me for them. I was blown away. I honestly didn't know what to say or do. He presented me with a card that all had signed and a token of appreciation. He then asked if I would share some words and my testimony. As I stood at the pulpit looking out at my family with tears in my eyes and seeing their own tears reflected back at me I had a clear vision that life just doesn't get any better than this. I told them how much I loved them. How it wasn't fair that everyone talks about all the sacrifices we make as missionaries because I had received so many more blessings than things I had sacrificed, and that was largely due to them and their love for me. I told them how proud and grateful I was to be a part of their family. I told them I would love them forever and be grateful for their love and the experiences we shared until the day I die. I told them that this church is true. I know it. I know that there is no other way to find true happiness. I told them that their Savior loves them, and that I will be eternally grateful that He shared the love He has for them with me.    I feel to echo the sentiments of President Hinckley, because like him because of my mission, 'The whole world changed. The fog lifted. The sun began to shine in my life.' I have never felt so much sunshine in my life, and it is not all from this wonderful Floridian sun I see each day! Although I do not have sufficient hindsight at the moment, I feel confident that I will agree whole-heartedly with Elder Holland when he said, "My mission was the most important thing that ever happened to me in my life, that it’s brought so many blessings that have now become important and now take their place in my life, but would not have happened, I’m absolutely confident they would not have happened, if it had not been for the privilege of a mission."    What a glorious opportunity I have had this last year and a half. I look forward to every moment, every second that I have left. While they are few, they are just as important as my first few seconds and moments as a missionary. I look forward this week to bringing souls to Christ, to inviting them to repent, to be baptized, and to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost, and to encouraging them to endure to the end. This will be the best week of my life. How could it not be? I'm a missionary.   With Honor,       Hermana Levanger

June 18, 2012

Hello Everyone!,    What a great week I had this week! I am starting to realize that serving a mission is occasionally dangerous to your health! I have never been more tired in my entire life. I love it. I love being a missionary with my whole heart and soul. I am so happy. I am having so much fun! I love the people I serve and the people I serve with. What a gift I have been given to finish my mission here at this time and with these people. I know how loved I am by my Heavenly Father and it is more than I ever dreamed.    This Sunday was a wonderful experience for me. I love Father's Day. When I opened my e-mails today I had a beautiful e-mail from my Dad waiting for me. He described what a wonderful Father’s Day he had at his home, what they ate and who all was there. I was so grateful to hear that for the first time in probably five years all of his children were there for Father's Day, all that is except me. I thought as I read that letter that I should feel sad that I wasn't there, but I wasn't. I spent Father's Day with my family. I spent Father's Day with my companions, with the Largo Branch, with the people who have become my family. It was a great day for everyone.    Yesterday Elbis taught the Sunday School lesson. It was the first time he had ever taught in his life, and he was incredible! The Relief Society lesson was taught by Elizabeth, and I beamed with joy and pride as she vehemently testified of the power of personal revelation and how she KNOWS this church is true. I felt overwhelmed with happiness as I was invited to the setting apart of Elbis to be a teacher in the Elders quorum, as Lazaro and Elizabeth went to their first temple prep class, and as Lazaro passed the sacrament. I knew that each of “my converts” was a wonderful child of God and that they would make a difference in the church as they entered the waters of baptism. Yesterday was a physical representation of that faith. I can't imagine the Largo branch without any of them and I don't think anyone else could either. Despite the fact that I refer to them as “my converts,” I know that they were, are and always will be the Lord's. I am so grateful for the trust He had in me to be the missionary chosen to help them find their way. They found it, and they are thriving!    Elder Dalin H. Oakes once said, "It is not even enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think. In contrast to many institutions which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something…" I know that I have become a completely different person on my mission. I am so grateful for who I have become and who I am still becoming. I know that I still have so far to go, but that the Lord knows the destination. My trust is in Him, always.    I invite each of you to look for an avenue of growth that the Lord has prepared for you. Seek it, pray about it, and then act. Move forward. Move in any direction. Any direction is better than no direction at all. I am absolutely convinced that as we put our faith in the Lord and take a step of faith, even if it is into the dark, that He will light the way. I love you All!, Hermana Levanger

June 11, 2012

Hello Everyone!    What a week we have had. We are making progress! Yesterday there were 52 people in sacrament meeting! I know what you are all thinking: 52, didn't they have 69 her last week back in February? Yes. That is true. However, because of a number of unfortunate circumstances the attendance dropped down to the 30s and 40s while I was gone, as well as for my first two weeks back. However, we are on the mend! We have gone through the refiner's fire these past few months, and we are now ready to be shaped and molded into the people that we can become. I am so grateful for the love I feel here. I know without a shadow of a doubt that the branch will be fine. I thought at first that I was called back here to teach the other sisters the area and get them into doors. However, I have a feeling that God may have sent me back here just so I could feel peace that my family here would be OK. I have that now, I know they will be fine. They will continue to have challenges and dips, but they are so strong, and they will be blessed by the love and spirit they share amongst themselves. I am so lucky to be a part of that. I love them so much.    I also am happy to report that I am having sooooo much fun! I love being a missionary! I love my three companions and the mischief and ridiculous situations we get ourselves into continues to make me laugh, usually very hard and several times a day! I can't believe that I forgot how funny and silly life as a missionary could be! Per the instructions of our mission president, we are officially a quadranionship. We go on splits with each other fairly frequently, but we also do a lot of work and visits together. Our four personalities somehow seem to mesh into one ridiculous whole. Cracks me up on a daily basis!    Last P-day we went to the aquarium to see the world famous dolphin “Winter.” It was tons of fun. I have to say, a dolphin with no tail is super weird. If you want to read up on Winter you can either check out the movie “Dolphin Tale,” or Google the Clearwater Florida aquarium. I think my favorite part was petting the stingrays though. As you can see from the pictures, I was having a lot of fun!    Well my wonderful family and friends, all I can say is that being a missionary is the greatest thing on earth. There are good days and bad days, but the good outweigh the bad. This is the Lord's work, and I have never been so lucky in my life to be a part of it. I am so grateful for the love and support that I have from each and every one of you. I pray for each of you by name daily. I am so grateful for the prayers you offer for me. Thank you for your love and guidance. Thank you for your support and encouragement. Please take a moment today to find someone who needs a smile, and give them one. Did you know it is almost impossible not to smile when you are looking at someone else who is? Give yourself up, and see how much you get in return. I love you all, Hermana Levanger

June 4, 2012

Hello everyone!    Another wonderful week in Largo! Do we ever have a lot of work to do; it is crazy how much there is to be done and how even with four of us we still can't get to all of it! The branch is trying to pull together and power through the tough times. They have gone through the refiner’s fire the last few months and things are still tough, but they are getting better every day. I know they will make it and be better for it. I was reminded yesterday of how important the challenges of our lives are. We seem to detest the difficult things in our lives, and understandably so. However, we forget that it is through those challenges that growth takes place. How do we expect to grow and be strong and reach our potential if we are not tested along the way? The branch is experiencing this right now. I have a testimony of passing through difficulties, my mission has challenged me every day, and I am so much better for it. I am so grateful to be a missionary and to have the opportunity to grow a little more each day. Thank goodness for the thorns amongst the flowers!    We are working with some really great people, one of whom came to church yesterday. We are, of course, doing a lot of work with the members and planning our next Family Home Evening Activity with the Branch for a week from Saturday (I hope!). I know that there is nothing like fun and food to bring people together, especially all my favorite people in Largo. It should be a really fun activity, although we really need to get on the planning side of things!    Hopefully, over the next few weeks we will see a lot of progress. I know the Lord has so much planned for this branch. I am and always have been so honored to be a part of it. Some of the miracles that happened this week are: Jose P. blessed the water for the sacrament yesterday. When he spoke it felt to me like the prophet speaking! Elbis bore his testimony for the second time, his first time as a member. Aneudy and Judy were at church and he passed the sacrament and bore his testimony. Jose and Elizabeth got their patriarchal blessings! She is from Manasseh and he is from Ephraim. I joked around with them and said, "Oh, so you are definitely going to be going on a mission together then!" Her response was, "Hermana Levanger, how do you know everything?!" I was shocked with joy and happiness! They are so great.    Life as a missionary is the best thing there is. I hope you all take a moment this week to have a missionary moment.  I love you all!    Hermana Levanger