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Monday, March 3, 2014

March 3, 2014--Week 104--The End!

To my dearest family,

So, I can´t believe that I´m writing my last letter as a missionary today.  The time went by much faster than I expected.  As you can imagine, this week is very full of mixed emotions for me.  I love being a missionary.  At the beginning this style of life--most of all living such a scheduled life--it was hard for me.  I´ve now come to love it.  I love the people here of southern Mexico.  So many of the things that surprised me or scared me about the culture I now feel are mine.  As cliché as this is, I´ll be leaving a very large piece of my heart here in Mexico.  

At the same time, I know that my time as a missionary has come to an end.  Last Saturday I hit my two-year mark.  I understand that there are other things that I need to do with my life.  So, while I will miss so much this beautiful style of life and this land and people that I love, I´m happy and at peace.  I did what I was sent to do, and now it´s over.  Contrary to popular opinion, I haven´t been a perfect missionary.  Actually, more than ever in my life I´ve learned about my imperfections and weakness. But despite those imperfections and weaknesses I am satisfied with my work and I leave the mission field in peace.  I am so incredibly grateful for everything that I´ve learned and become.  With a very different understanding than I had as I started my mission, I now consider myself capable and ready to live the rest of my life as a disciple and servant of Jesus Christ and do the part that corresponds to me personally in the progress of His great Work of Salvation.  I know without a doubt that as long as I love the Lord and always have as my first priority over all other things being obedient to Him, I will live a happy life and I will progress.

I´m very excited to see you all on Thursday.  I never knew how much I loved you all until I didn´t see you for an entire two years :) 

See you in a couple of days!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Andrew Nickerl