Companions: Friends for Eternity

One of the many blessings that come from serving a mission is the bond that companions have. In my heart of hearts, I believe that companions are not just put together by accident. I honestly believe that our relationship as companions began before this life and is just brought to pass during our time in the mission field. I had some amazing times with each of my companions, and it was often confirmed to me that the "before-this-life friendship" was real.

I trained in my very last 2 transfers. If you read my blog while I was out in the field, then you already know about Sorella Hailey Stott. She is amazing. She's about a year into the mission and she is doing such great stuff. She is currently serving in Collegno, a small town outside of Torino of the West coast of the country. We served together in Bologna, then she was transferred to Genova (I was there from October 2013-April 2014). Now at Collegno, Sorella Stott is taking part in a lot of finding work.  That's honestly the hardest part of missionary work, if you ask me, but I have faith that she is doing all that she can.

I try to e-mail her every week. I'm not perfect at it, but I make sure I get something to her whenever I can. I sent her an e-mail this past week, it was actually a copy of an e-mail that I sent home (it's here on the blog.) I was telling my family about her and trying to "introduce" them to her. I felt that would be something nice to send to her, so I added that. I got the sweetest response:

My turn for a story....

So the other day I was talking to my district leader. I don't even remember how, but somehow we got on the subject of what makes a good missionary. He told me this story about how an Anziano in his last city said that one of the BEST missionaries he had even seen in the mission had every city closed that she served in. AND, instead of seeing it as a bad thing, she saw it for what it really was. She had done everything possible in that city and it needed to be closed....

I just started laughing at him and he was like "WHAT???" I was like, "Yeah Anziano, SORELLA CARLOCK was my trainer and she for sure is one of the best missionaries that has ever served here in Italy." :)

Everyday I am reminded just how lucky I was to have you as my teacher in those first 12 weeks. It feels like forever ago, but not a day goes by as a missionary that I dont think about something that my mamma Carlock taught me. 

You are pretty awesome, you know that? 

And I will never thank you enough for all that you have done for me :) 

I don't post this because I want people to think I was great. I needed to hear this - it was a tender mercy really. Often times, I think missionaries struggle with thinking that they have done enough. We tend to criticize ourselves and that can be really hard, even after the mission. I honestly believe that the Lord accepted my service and is proud of what I accomplished with His help. However, I needed that reminder that I was really doing what I needed to. The fact that someone else noticed a small part of my missionary attitude was really nice for me. I felt that I just walked in and out of the mission, making a difference only in my own life. It was really nice to see that I was remembered. It just feels good!

Heavenly Father has been blessing me with little reminders ever since I moved out to Utah. Every day I feel of His love and I can see His hand in my life. I'm trying to follow His guidance and do all I need to do so that I can make a difference still.

It's a long road that we are on, but with time, patience, and diligence it'll be worth every step taken in the right direction.