Saturday, June 17, 2017

The Last Email!

(Anziano Wilkinson)
Well, the last week of my mission has come and went and now as I write this I'm completely packed and am only hours away from boarding a plane that will bring me back to America for the first time in almost two years. Honestly, it doesn't feel real. I don't think it's really hit me that soon I will no longer be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ nor speaking Italian on a daily basis! I'm really going to miss all the friends I've made, speaking Italian, and helping people draw closer to Christ, but I'm also very excited to see all of my family and friends!

This week one of the people that the sister missionaries were teaching, Marvison, took the first step of discipleship by being baptized! I mention this because he asked me to preform the ordinance, which I was honored to do! He was nervous at first but I helped him through it and after all was said and done you could see in his countenance that he was so happy about it. After the actual baptism took place he and I walked back the the changing rooms to put on dry clothes and he couldn't help but keep saying to me "I'm renewed, I'm renewed!". Marvison's faith is truly so strong and I know that with the covenant of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, he will only continue to grow and mature in his faith in and understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are so many blessings the come from living the teachings of Christ and Marvison is only just beginning to learn that for himself!

I know that this is the work of the Lord. He wants so badly that his children return to live with him forever. I'm humbled and honored to have been a tool in his hands for these past two years to proclaim and teach the principles of his wonderful plan for us.  My testimony of the truth has been strengthen greatly by sharing what I know and believe and although it has not been easy to dedicate this much time, exercise so much patience, or overcome my own many weaknesses, it has been 100% worth it. I hope to never cease to be on the Lord's errand, even if I might not be able to have an experience quite like this one ever again!

See you all soon!


-Anziano Jake Wilkinson

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