Last week as a missionary. Really hard to believe that as I
write this I have successfully completed my full time service as a missionary and
Representative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This past week was super
busy. Although a great deal of the week was spent getting ready to come home, I
also was able to teach my last few lessons as a full time missionary.
My investigator Milder is doing super well now. Even though
we have been teaching him off and on for such a long time, he is finally
starting to progress. His wife and him have begun to ask questions about
whether or not they should be baptized again and also be married. As my Companion
and I taught them, there was a very special Spirit as we invited them to put a
goal to be married first. The goal is currently for August with a baptismal
date shortly following. As I taught them the final lesson I would personally
teach, it was a very emotional moment for all of us. It truly is amazing how as
missionaries we can come to love other so much more than ourselves.
Along with teaching Milder and a few other people, my Companion
and I spent a great deal of time trying to help the recent converts in our
area. Russell is doing super well in school and also in the church. We also had
a quick goodbye visit with him and I gave him a pin that said “Called to Serve”
and invited him to prepare to serve a mission. He said he was in the process so
hopefully one day he can prepare to worthy serve a full time mission as well.
Marcia has been super busy lately but I was also able to have a quick goodbye
visit with her as well. She has a lot of goals in life but said that remaining
a faithful member of the church is a big one.
Karina is still going strong as well and just as I have stated before,
is very active in the Young Single Adults program in our ward. She is currently
preparing to go to the Temple in the next few months along with of the other
recent converts in the Ward.
As the week came to an end, the Ward threw a big surprise goodbye
party for me It was a really hard and emotional moment not only for me but also
for each Ward member. They made me a nice cake and all went around the room
saying nice things about me. As I sat there and looked around I felt a very
strong Spirit of peace knowing that the Ward and place I was leaving behind
would be protected and would also receive the help and guidance that they need
at this time.
Saturday morning came around and Elder Haws and I got to the
bus terminal really early where we had more emotional final goodbyes with our Companions,
other missionaries, and Ward members. As we got on the bus it was a really
difficult moment for me as I had to say goodbye to people I can come to love
and care so much about.
Our final days in Cusco were spent buying last minute souvenirs
and also having final interviews with President Herrera. My interview was very special
and the advice I received from my Mission President is something that I will
always remember to apply in my life daily. We were then able to go with him to
eat lunch following the interviews at a restaurant where they serve Ceviche (the
raw fish that we weren’t allowed to eat except with him). That night we then
had a goodbye dinner and shared our testimonies one last time with our
President and his family. Once again tears came to my eyes and I remembered all
of the experiences I have had during the past 2 years of my life.
The next day as I said last minute goodbyes in the airport
and got on the plane and left Cusco, I couldn’t help but think about everything
I had just been through. All of the incredible lifelong friends I had made
along with every experience the Lord had blessed me to have while serving in
the best mission in the entire world. But more than anything I reflected upon
the relationship that I now have with our Savior Jesus Christ. He is my best
friend. There was not a day that went by that I didn’t feel the power of his
love in my life. I know without any doubt in my mind that this is his Church,
that contains the Power of God. I know that power is real and am grateful to
hold it and to have seen tremendous miracles through it. I am grateful for the
Book of Mormon. It is the Word of God and not only the key to our religion but
also the key to coming to know the Savior. At the start of my mission I knew
who he was but I didn’t truly understand who he was. Although I still have not come
to know him perfectly, I will strive each and every day to continue to come to
know him and hopefully someday have the opportunity to know him perfectly. I
love each and every one of you who has been support to me throughout these past
2 years of my life and am grateful to my parents who raised me in the Gospel
and prepared me for this incredible experience that I have had in Peru.
Love,
Elder Fawcett
My Homecoming is at 11:00 am on 15 July 2018 in the Willow
Brook Ward at 1505 Whispering Meadows Lane in Kaysville Utah. I look forward to any of you that can come!
Snapshot of the Past 2 Years!!! Ward Goodbye Party!
