Monday, January 4, 2016

No hay Verdaderos Finales, Solo Comienzos Eternos

Well I decided I need to start writing this as soon as possible so that I can have all the time I'll need! 

President Uchtdorf once said, 
"In light of what we know about our eternal destiny, it isn't any wonder that  whenever we face the bitter endings of life, they seem unacceptable to us?  There seems to be something inside of us that resists endings.


Why is this? Because we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless13 and who promises  eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny.

The more we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ, the more we realize that   endings here in mortality are not endings at all. They are merely interruptions—temporary pauses that one day will seem small compared to the eternal joy   awaiting the faithful.

How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in His plan there are no true   endings, only everlasting beginnings."

Remembering this, helps me to see this in a different light. I know that my time in Chile as full-time missionary is coming to an end, but technically its just an everlasting beginning of my new life as a member missionary and applying all the things I've learned is these 18 months. Before I was feeling knots in my stomach to think of the wonderful people and experiences that I've had here not being within my reach anymore, but the truth is, CHANGE IS GOOD. It's what helps us to progress and now I have more challenges and trials that await me in a new setting, with different people, and with a different perspective.  

I left on my mission thinking I was going to be able to see a huge miracle with a huge family that changed their whole lives when they heard the gospel... but what Heavenly Father knew I needed was to try my patience, my charity, my understanding of the Atonement, the love I have for my Savior, my CONVERSION, and much more! He knows me best and I'm so grateful for this time I have had to soften a few rough edges, cool a few hot hairs, and find love for people who I don't really like. I testify that our Heavenly Father LOVES us. He KNOWS us. And He NEVER leaves our side. I thought I knew that before my mission, but now it's a SOLID TRUTH embedded in my soul. 

My testimony is unshakeable, our Savior LIVES, He has set the way so that we can return into the loving arms of our Beloved Heavenly Father. And I canNOT wait for the glorious day, according to my faithfulness. 

I was called to serve the Lord, to be an instrument in His hands, to share the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. And in the words of President Holland, "When I called you it was FOREVER." And so I will follow in that mission for which I was called, which calling has no end. 

I love you all with all my heart and I am excited to see you all again. :) I won't have time to write, maybe to read emails, but I doubt it really. So until we meet again, which is sooner than we think,

For the last time,
Hermana Logan 

Antonella's baptism:)
Some pics from Christmas

La Ulti-ma Nav-i-dad... en Chile

From December 21, 2015

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Just a beautiful picture of us Sisters during our choir practices!!! Which they finally put on the blog! This is from October! Lol. I LOVE these beautiful ladies! 

And I found a pretty cool scripture for all of you:)) 

Mosaiah 12:21-23

21. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, They God reigneth;
22. Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion;
23. Break forth into joy; sing together ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem; 

This was for us missionaries who sang in the choir. I think music is definitely one of the MOST powerful ways people can feel the spirit, it is INCREDIBLE!

So as you all know this week we had our Christmas concert! It went pretty well! Yesterday was the greatest! There were over 1200 people who showed up and we did three encores because the audience was soooo great! But it was such a beautiful experience! It was crazy because the concert ended around 10pm and we had to get back to our houses and we usually ended up getting home at like 12, yesterday we got home at 12:30am! And we had to wake up early in order to go to our Christmas activity that we just had today with our Mission Prez and like five other zones here. I'm exhausted! But it has been super fun and espiritual! 

I'm sending a lot of pic this week because I know I've been super negligent these past weeks, but where we sang for our concert was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! And they filmed it and said they are going to make a CD and give it to us, so when I get home you can all see it:) 

Oh, so this past week we were able to invite a 10 year-old girl to be baptized, from a part-member family. Her name is Antonella and she came to church on Sunday! It was sooo cool! Her parents are less actives and her mom came with her! It was sooo cool! I'm super stoked! So basically the mission is great, the people here are wonderful, it's almost christmas and I still can't believe it! Man one learns SOOOOO much on their mission but when it comes time to go home, it's all about applying all the things you've learned. Which I think will be the hardest part...

I'm not perfect, but thanks to my faithful friend Jesus Christ, that's okay. I can screw up, I can fall down, I can cry, I can make mistakes! Because thanks to Him, I can overcome it all! And so can you! This Christmas discover that unto us a SAVIOR is born. Do you realize WHAT that means???? If He had never been born... we would all be FALLING, dying... to never live or rise up again. That's why every christmas we sing praises to His sacred name. We give gifts, do acts of service, dance, share, and get together to celebrate! For unto us a Son is given, unto us a Child is born, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. 

I KNOW He lives and LOVES me and EACH ONE OF US. SO raise up your voice this Christmas in wondrous praise to the one who SAVED you, me, and all the human race. 


PICS:
My comp and I
My Sister Training Leader, Hna Hughs and I during my last Intercambio.
Here is a Chilean bus that we take ALL the time! Here they are called "micros"



Las Últimos Seis Semanas han Llegado

From December 7, 2015 

Well I'm not sure wether to laugh or to cry... I pass by so many emotions sometimes I think I'm bipolar hahahaha. 

Okay so my new companion is Hna Moreno. She is from Chubut, Argentina. We actually know each other from when I was in my first sector (La Serena) because she arrived at the same time as the hermana that I trained (Hna De La Torre) but she was in Coquimbo which is next door to La Serena and when we had a conference with President they always had coquimbo and La Serena together. I was also in a trio with her with my comp Hna Mayorga while Hna Moreno was waiting for her new comp to arrive. Crazy, huh? 

I mean we dont know each other very well yet, but she's pretty much the opposite of my last comp ahahaha. So it's been interesting but all good:) 

So I am sending a few pics of our last district meeting which was pretty funny because we have pics of when one of the cameras fell down and the picture is priceless. Everyone's faces as the camera was falling... but anyways it was a "Kodak Moment" 

And next week I'm going to send pics with my new comp and everything! But I'm just enjoying my last transfer! Weird... but the mission is just wonderful!  I have grown super close to my Savior and I need His Atonement EVERY DAY and He is always there! 

I love you all soo much and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Hasta luego,
Hna Logan




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El Fin Se Acerca

From November 30, 2015

FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS A:

THE BEST MOTHER IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE!
Kaden Morgan! 

I hope you all have a great birthday and feel my love for you! 

Well I just got back from saying goodbye to my companion... its a weird feeling! Now I'm not going
to know who my last companion is going to be until wednesday! And it's a little scary and wierd that I'm starting my last transfer... my last six weeks... man I just never thought this day would come for ME... lol. 

Okay so just so everyone knows I am a lot better from my sickness. I have been better for about a week and a half, now. And I received something called "trunky papers" which contains my flight plans and the goals and all that fun stuff I have to do! 

So this past week we found a new investigator named Ignacio. He is like 20 years old or so, and we got to teach him a little about the Book of Mormon... it was weird because he likes to talk with us, but he doesn't really believe in Jesus Christ. So he kind of doesn't understand the purpose of everything... so we are going to pass by for him on Wednesday and see what we can do about helping him believe in the Savior. I feel like I would be SO lost with out the Savior! And I love the gospel for giving me that perspective, that because of Him everything is possible! Sometimes we feel like we are completely useless because we keep making the same mistakes and we never get better at anything, but the truth is, we rock. God loves us the way we are, and yes He always wants us to improve, but He allows us to feel good thanks to the Atonement of His son Jesus Christ! And thanks to the Atonement we can be made clean of everything and receive power to keep going, to endure, to get better. Basically Jesus is the BEST! 

I know that this gospel is true! I know that the work that I am doing is the most important EVER and I know that these next few weeks are going to be full of miracles! I love you all with all my heart and this next week I know we are going to work harder than I ever have! I'm stoked! 

Que tengan una buena semana! 
Les quiero!
Hna Logan 

Agradacida por...

From November 23, 2015

Okay So I haven't been writing very much these last few weeks so I am going to write a little bit more today:) So your welcome for everyone who takes time out of their monday to listen to me... lol. 

Just to celebrate the season of thanksgiving:
I'm grateful for: 

So first of all Renato was confirmed a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints yesterday and it was the most beautiful thing! During his confirmation he was blessed to be a great and faithful example to his family (his parents aren't members but his sister is) and I just could see him going on his mission and I started to cry, hahaha. I was just really cool:) 

Also my ward here in Reñaca Alto is struggling a bit. There are a lot of problems in the families and the attendence to church is pretty low... so we decided that we would make a chart to read the Book of Mormon as a ward... we think that the members are lacking a bit in that area. It's just amazing the difference that there is when a family and personally and when they don't. We had a conference with President two weeks ago and we talked all about the Book of Mormon... and it's INCREDIBLE the power of that book. And I know by expereince that if we read it every day and APPLY its teachings in our lives we will be able to experience the power of that book too. I know its true and I know that it was made for our days. It helps SO many people come unto Christ and change their lives. 

I know that this gospel is true and that's why I am here so that the world can know what I know to be true. Read the Book of Mormon and you will feel the difference! Se lo prometo! 

I love you all and have a wonderful week! 

Hasta luego,
Hna Logan

Muchas Cosas

From November 16, 2015

Sorry, don't have much time today but...

This week was super interesting! I got really sick with a secondary infection in my throat. I sound like a man... and it sucks! Last Tuesday I had a fever and was with convulsions all night long. But now its almost gone I think... I HOPE. I really need my voice for the Mission Choir. 

Then we had a Renato's baptism! And it was so beautiful! Renato is just super adorable! I have some really cute pictures! 

Then to celebrate the family had a cocktail and the little kid threw his glass of coke all over me... it was great.

And today as a Zone we hiked to a waterfall and had a testimony meeting. It was really pretty. I'll send pictures. 


El Libro más Correcto de Todos

From November 9, 2015

Hola mis seres queridos!

So this week wasn't anything too special. But my companions Hna Holmes is freaking out a bit because she only has three more weeks of her mission. Which means I only have 9 weeks left! I just keep thinking about how much I LOVE the people here. Especially in this ward. And when I leave it will definitely be a big heart break! I kind of just planned my life up until my mission and never saw it ending... so accepting that is a pretty hard thing! And even though I'm not a perfect missionary and I dont always do as much as I should, its been the BEST thing I have EVER done. I've never grown, learned, loved, testified, or felt SO MUCH. It's incredible the things that I've experienced and I wouldn't change it for the world! 

This week I've been thinking a lot about the importance of the Book of Mormon. We decided we're going to challenge the people of our ward to read the Book of Mormon in three or six months together. Because we are seeing a lot problems between the families in our ward and many of them aren't taking quite serious their callings, etc. So we think that if they can (as a family) every day read the Book of Mormon they'll be spiritually prepared every day to face the opposition. And then they can work on strengthening others. And we are going to start finding scriptures to leave on their doors every once in a while so they can have a happy note every day to lift their spirits. We hope that will help them! 

Well I love this work. I love the feeling of bearing my testimony and feeling the spirit testify of the words we speak. I KNOW this is the true and restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that we have living day prophets that guide us in these latter days. I know that my Savior lives and LOVES me. And that He LOVES each and EVERY one of you. I KNOW He hears every thought you think and every desire of your heart. He knows you. Inside and out! Never forget that of all the GREAT and MAJESTIC creations of the Lord, YOU are His treasure. 

Con todo mi amor,
Hna Logan