Dear Family,
I've been thinking a lot about how to articulate my feelings towards these past two years, and I still haven't come up with a good way, but I'll try.
I still remember the MTC, I still remember my first day in Donna, our first baptism, all of it, and it seems so recent. It's hard for me to believe that all of this has gone by. The two years I've had to dedicate myself to the Lord have passed by faster than I ever could have imagined. I look back to who I was at the beginning of my mission, or even before the mission, compared to who I am today and I feel like I've become so much better. There have been a lot of conversions that have taken place in the last two years, but I think the greatest has been in me. I give thanks to God for the man I've come to be.
What mom said about the value of hard work is absolutely right. I hope I can continue with the work ethic that I've learned here in McAllen. I'm sad to leave this place, but I'm excited to bring all the things I've learned back to my life back home. I just pray that I can hold onto the changes I've made and the lessons I've learned. These two years have been the happiest years of my life. Sure I've had ups and downs, frustrating companions and good ones, but overall I've never had such a feeling of peace and satisfaction like I've had in the mission field.
Thanks for supporting me along the way, and all the time beforehand. I'm certain I never would have made it here without your help and prayers. I'll be seeing you Wednesday, and I'm excited for those real hugs =). Love you, see you soon!
Elder Wood
p.s. Church was great! All of our investigators came except for one, and Row got interviewed for baptism. He should be getting baptized just shortly after I leave, sometime within the next week and a half, whenever it is that his mom has a day off. The other companionship also had an investigator get interviewed, all of the investigators come and a recent convert passed the sacrament for the first time. It was an awesome Sunday!
