Brace Yourselves

This is one of those "let's get real" letters where I tell you what
it's really like to be a missionary. Haha with my companion finishing
her mission in a week, we've had a lot of conversations about how her
mission has effected her and it's lead me to think about the same
thing. She has 18 months to look back on and I only have 5, but a lot
has happened in just those 5 months. I figured that I would share with
you some introspective thoughts I've had about it all.

I was talking with Sister Grover about it this morning and we both
agree that most often it just kind of stinks being a missionary in the
moment, but every time we look back on it all we absolutely LOVE it.
That's a unique way of feeling haha. Let's be honest, I hate our alarm
clock, I don't like getting up early to exercise, I don't like having
to end personal study after only an hour, I don't like having to eat
all the food people feed us, I don't like feeling overwhelmed by all
of the sin that is being committed by these people I love so much, I
don't like having to plan for every hour of the next day, I don't like
going to bed knowing that I won't sleep most of the night, I don't
like waking up exhausted knowing I have to do it over again. There's a
lot more than all of that that stinks as a missionary.

But looking back over the last 5 months of my life, I've met people
that I will literally love for the rest of forever. I've met people
that have become best friends. I've seen a side of the church and the
way it runs that will be very useful for the rest of my life. I've
learned what it really means to be a member missionary and what I will
do when I get home. I've learned more about the Spirit World than I
ever imagined. I've learned more about myself and experienced The Lord
refining me to be even more of what He wants me to be. My testimony
has been eternally fortified and I've learned that it is NEVER worth
it to walk away from the gospel. I've learned that I can be loved and
forgiven for my weaknesses and I've learned that the only person whose
opinion really matters is God's. I've been pushed to my limits and
I've watched the Savior's enabling power fill in. I've felt what it is
to have The Lord pleased with my efforts. I've learned what it is like
to rely on Him when I literally have no one else I can turn to. I've
learned what I want in a future husband and marriage and family. I've
learned how weak I really am, but also how capable I can be when I
rely on the Savior. I've learned how blatantly God has saved me from
giving in to the temptations of Satan and how often He has done so.
I've learned how much I want to always be worthy of entering the
temple. I've learned how important family relationships really are.
I've learned to look past people's sins and weaknesses and to just
love them for who they really are. I've learned how destructive it is
to judge unrighteously. I've learned how destructive it is to compare
to anyone but Christ. I've learned how much I really do believe I this
work that I am a part of.

A mission is exhausting mentally, physically and spiritually. But I
love my chance to be out here sacrificing very little (in the long
run) and gaining very much in return. If you have the opportunity to
serve a mission whether as a young single adult or as an older married
couple, don't do yourself the disservice of turning the opportunity
down. It is so very worth it!

I love you all so so much!

Love, Sister Amber Ricks