This Isn't The End...

Hello Friends and Family!

Well...Who would have thought it would ever come to this day?? I swear when I first started I had forever left and now? Days. In TWO days, to be exact. That, my friends, is insane. I cannot believe that after all this time I'll be on a flight home headed for Salt Lake by this time on Wednesday.

It's been with mixed emotions that I've completed this week. I don't have a planner anymore. That's not ok. I soon won't have a name tag, which is not ok. (I waited 5 months for it!) And I've been able to see some amazing people come unto Jesus Christ, to make that commitment and come to the waters of baptism. That is totally ok! I'm so grateful I was called to serve as an Indy Missionary. I never would have thought it would be this kind of ride but man, it was worth the 18 months.

In a grand final review, my mission in a nutshell included 11 companions including the MTC, 6 areas ranging from 6 weeks to 4 1/2 months, and tons of miracles that the Hand of God was willing to give to us as we worked and did all those things that He needed us to do.

Greenwood: 4 1/2 Months, McKendrick and Bulman

Seymour: 6 Weeks, Hofheins

Warsaw: 4 1/2 Months, Bradshaw, Hathcock

Crawfordsville: 3 Months, Anderson

Fishers: 3 Months, Munoz and Thalman, Eralie

Zionsville: 3 Months, Simmons

I feel like it's the hardest thing trying to write out how you felt about the last 18 months of your life when you've been so close to Heavenly Father and are helping Him in His plan to bring Souls unto Him.  I mean I feel like I can catch a glimpse of parenthood because of it.  Spending all this time taking care of people and loving them as well as hoping to see them go places, being disappointed when they say no or push you away, being overcome with love as they take the steps into the font and are baptized then confirmed at church.  I've seen and been to a lot of baptisms.  So many people have followed Christ into the True and Everlasting Church.  I'm so happy to be one of those people and to help my loved ones see that too.

Bobbie, Jesse, Mike, Carl, Michelle, Dave, Vikki.  The list doesn't stop there.  I learned recently that Mike's family in the Philippines is taking the discussions.  Jesse is doing great.  Carl is getting sealed to his girlfriend this October and they're getting civilly married this summer.  Seeing all of these things happen is incredible.  Simply incredible. 

When looking back at it, there were a TON of ups and downs. Hardships, heartaches, and difficulties were not few. Seeing the miracles of Christ help others in their life, or even just adding to the light they already have were many. I've made friends and had opportunities I don't think I ever would have had had I not served a mission. I'm grateful for the experience and for the chance to come to know my Savior a little more. When I was in the MTC someone once said it was My Time with Christ. I can see now how true that statement is. My Savior has helped me see so much and open my view of the world and how merciful the Lord truly is. 

I just think by the end of this I've learned life lessons and values I've been lacking. All these life lessons, all these spiritual lessons, all of these things that happen when you're a missionary.

It truly is incredible. This has been one of the hardest weeks of my mission. It was so hard saying goodbye to the people I've come to love. I'm excited to add them on Social Media, of course, but it will never be the same. I know Indiana is a stone's throw away and I'm grateful to be so darn close to home and have the opportunity to come out whenever I want. It's not going to be the same without the tag. I know it's only temporary to feel like this and I'm going to miss Indy a ton. I'm going to miss everyone so much and to know the people I knew and helped, it's just incredible. I made a ton of friends and have now three bridesmaids for my wedding one day. :) It's been incredible. I'm ready. Let's do this.

I know that this Church is True. It is the Church of God and I've come to know my Savior more through it. I know His love for me and He would go through the Atonement again if only for me. He would do it again for you, if only you. That's how much He loves us. I'm so grateful to know of His love. I know Joseph Smith is a Prophet of God. I know he translated the Book of Mormon through the power of Heavenly Father and Because of Jesus Christ. I know these things are true and if you are struggling, kneel down and pray. I've seen how it helps and affects me. I know it can help you too. I know by the power of the Holy Ghost you can come to know that these things are true too. I love you all and know Heavenly Father does too. :)

In the Name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Monday: played sports, hung out, said tons of goodbyes.

Tuesday: Had dinner with the Bullocks! Departing Interview with President Cleveland :(, preparing for life.

Wednesday - Sunday was a blur of people and seeing them and saying good bye. I made wonderful friends here. I will miss Indy. But I'm coming home and I can ALWAYS come back. :)

It's not about point A to point B. It's about the Journey. And boy oh boy was this a journey. :) Love you all. See you Soon.

Love,

Sister Halverson

Where Did the Last 18 Months Go?

Hello Friends and Family!

So Saturday was a very big day! 18 months ago I entered the Provo MTC as a brand new missionary. Today I'm almost done with my mission. I still have a week left (I'LL BE HOME NEXT WEEK?!?!?!?!?!) and we've been working hard this entire week. We reached a total of thirty lessons, found a new investigator, took not one but FOUR youth tracting with us on Saturday (My 18 month mark!), and have spent a total of 2.5 months together in the land of Zion. Needless to say, we've been busy.

This week was a busy week to be honest. We had appointment after appointment and then adventure after adventure. We managed somehow to get out alive! :) Hope you all had a great week yourselves!

Monday we had another P-day and hung out at Fishers. We had awesome Japanese soup with bean noodles and tofu. It was so good! We also saw a recent convert and spent some time with her too. :) 

Tuesday Was crazy! We taught Seminary, spent time with our new investigator Judy, she has asked us to help her clean up her apartment from her cat and to help her get her life back in order. She's had a hard time with depression and clutter hoarding. So we're helping her get that taken care of. Then we had MORE service and helped Sister Neuton clean up her apartment too. Then a few more lessons later, we taught the Activity Day Girls about Joseph Smith and the First Vision as well as judged the Cub Scout Cakes. It was busy busy busy.

Wednesday, District meeting, Kina and the Fassmanns. Sister Simmons ate a Thai chili and just about died. And it also seems whenever we have dinner with the Fassmanns, the Thompsons are also there. It's too funny. :) We've had dinner with the Fassmann 3 individual times! Too funny.

Thursday was Judy Ellis and Nicole and the Johnson and the Bullock family. We love this area! Pretty uneventful on Thursday.

Friday was an adventure. I had my departing interview scheduled for Friday but they moved it and I never got the text so we drive to Fishers and it's not until 15 minutes after the scheduled time before we realize there was no interview. So we drove 14 miles for nothing. Well, actually we went to Panda Express. :) It wasn't worth the calories lol. :)

Saturday we had a stake youth exchange and we had 4 sisters join us on Saturday and had a ton of fun with them and taught quite a few lessons with them! It was a great experience. We tried our hardest and we have been doing the best we can. It was a great day. :) We spent time with Carla and President Hansen's family for dinner. Enchiladas! :)

Sunday we hit 30 lessons for the week total! WOO HOO! Had Alfredo with Nicole and her family and spent more time with Michelle and Aaron Huff! So much fun! :) I love their cat Spookie. She's too much fun and weirdly enough doesn't give me a reaction. Or Michelle who is REALLY allergic to cats. TI's so funny. She's really talkative.

We found a new investigator named Ryan! It was on the day we went out with the youth! It was so cool. and apparently every time Sister Simmons goes on splits she get the new investigator. just makes me laugh. We're going to meet with him this Saturday. I'm excited!

I go home really soon and it's so bizarre to think I've been out for 18 months! Time has flown by and I can see all the good and the positive things I've learned from each area and companion. Each lesson was unique and I know Heavenly Father had His hand in my life. He still does of course. It just made me more aware of how much He actually is there.

I've been grateful for the time I got to spend with these wonderful people in Zionsville. Even though there have been things here or there that haven't been the greatest we've been able to get through it. I feel like we've been able to do and see a lot here. We're hoping Nicole will be baptized soon. Or at least get her husbands permission. She just wants it. We're hoping a miracle happens this week.

I'm ready for whatever life throws at me I feel like. With only a few days left I think I can take on anything now. :)

Love and miss you all!

Love,

Sister Halverson

SEE YOU SOON!