last email from the field

July 18, 2012

Hey there!!!

It is a very strange feeling, realizing that something that has been my life for two years is coming to an end.  Serving a mission has been the greatest thing I have ever done and I’ve learned a lot and experienced a lot. Here’s some thoughts that I’ve gathered together as I’ve been pondering my mission:

I learned patience waiting for my visa in LA, and I came to feel the Atonement in my life more.

An old lady hit me in the shoulder and told me that I needed to take a bath.

I broke my ankle. Poor old Toby.

I paid a man 15 pesos ($1) to shine my shoes and then got a 30 peso ($2.50) haircut the next day.

I love God’s creations. As we traveled out of the city and towards Tequixquiac last week, I looked out the window and saw a green field. I just breathed in super deep and realized how much I appreciate the beauty of what God has made for us. Sometimes, being around cement and nothing else for two years makes you forget that nature still exists. 

President Tervort taught me all he knew about having success on the mission and in life. The spirit is the center to all of that. I am so grateful for leaders chosen by God, through revelation.  Sister Tervort cooked awesome food and made me feel at home. The best mission President and mission mom in the world!!!

I wrote all of my spiritual experiences in a small journal President Miller gave to me, and I’ve been able to look back on those moments and find strength in them - SEED - Spiritual Experience Every Day. I know that God gives us a spiritual experience every day and that we just need to recognize it. 

A man told me that my Spanish stunk. We taught him the restoration, the spirit arrived, and he wanted to be baptized.  Mayra, a worried mother listened to us. As we spoke of truths, the spirit arrived and all of her worries left.  A young man listened intently as we explained baptism and his back felt rested, something he hadn’t ever felt. An old man, Arturo, begins to cry as the spirit touches his heart. He grabbed his chest and asked us what he was feeling. The room went still and María de Jesus understood what Christ truly had done for her and knew she needed to be baptized that week. A tired missionary arrived at his house after a long day of being rejected and prayed for God’s comfort. It came. The spirit has the power to help all of us personally. I know that it is our most important constant companion and it will guide us through this life. What a great gift from God!

I love the Book of Mormon. I know that it is true! I have prayed about it probably hundreds of times and every time I do, I feel a quiet, beautiful peace in my chest telling me that it is true. We taught Mirell about the promise of Moroni and the next day she knew that it was true, because she had the faith to ask God and she was willing to follow her answer from Him. She was baptized that same week. The Book of Mormon is powerful. I KNOW THAT THE BOOK OF MORMON IS TRUE!

I have felt so many times in my mission that I can’t go on any more. In my moments of pain, God has sent His tender mercies to lift me up. I know that God truly loves His children, us! He is real and He listens to prayers. I have felt his quiet answers as I have cried to Him for help. He truly wants us to be happy and will help us do it. I KNOW THAT GOD LOVES US!

I feel that the most important thing that I’ve learned from my mission is that Jesus Christ lives. He is God’s Son! I know that through Him we can receive strength to make it through anything. We can never begin to fathom what He went through for us. His suffering was real and personal. I have had many sacred experiences that confirm my testimony of Christ. I feel so much love for Him and what He did and does for me.  I testify that He can take away any stain that makes us unclean. He is humble enough to take upon Him our burdens. He can lift us when no one else can.  I have seen sin washed away through the cleansing power of the Atonement and I have felt His help through the enabling power of the same infinite Atonement. I cannot do anything without his help. Christ is truly the greatest gift to the world. I have come to know my Older Brother. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I love you all so much! Thank you for all that you have done to support me. I especially thank you for your prayers on my behalf. They were felt! I love you!

See ya soon!!!!

Love,

Elder John Pope

This morning we had a really cool mission conference. President Tervort is truly inspired by God. I love being a part of the best mission in the world and having someone leading us who really cares for us and wants the best for us. It is the same with God. 

We talked to an older couple this week with 2 college-aged kids. They expressed their desires to have their kids exceed the success that they have had. It was easy to transition into talking about God’s love for us. He truly wants us to succeed in everything and in the end, have all that he has. God’s love is sooooo incredible. I love Him and I know He loves each of us on a personal level. Christ lives! He is God´s Son! I love you all!

I am so glad that I came on a mission. I have taken some time to reflect and pray to seek God’s approval of what I have done. All we do should be approved of God. I have felt in moments of reflection great joy in the journey that I have had. Just today I felt an overwhelming love for the Mexican people. It is all so great!