18 Months

This week was a good last week. It's strange to feel the words "last week" leaving my fingertips. 

Last P-Day was amazing... Hermana Barreda and I got special permission to do an intercambio and we went to visit my first area where I also trained Hna Barreda in my third transfer. We got to visit Apolinar and Ana Cubilete, which brought back so many good memories. Sadly others we wanted to visit had moved and there wasn't a lot of time, but I was able to see Maiky and Maicol, the first people I taught that got baptized in the field, on our way home. I love these people. I am going to miss my Dominican friends.

Saturday I had my last temple trip with the other missionaries that are leaving then rushed home to make it just in time for Rafael's baptism, which started at 5. It was beautiful. It was so heart warming to see his family bear testimony that God answers prayers in his own time. They have been praying for over ten years that the day would come when Rafael would decide to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. He finally decided to take that step, and now he and his wife are preparing to enter the temple in a year to be sealed for time and all eternity.

I know that this is the work of the Lord. I feel so many things right now that this journey is ending. I am excited for the future and what is to come yet I will miss my Dominican family so much. The mission was a very special experience. My testimony has grown so much in this restored gospel. I have been faced with difficult questions and rejection but it has only strengthened my faith. I know that this is the church of Jesus Christ. I know that God loves us. He wants the best for us. He offers us hope. It is through Him that we can overcome whatever temptation or affliction. We already overcame the adversary before we came to this Earth, and we can do it again here. 

I love you all, Keep shining, I'll see you soon,
Hermana Shaw