Mission Stories - My Last Will and Testimony

When one leaves the Sweden Stockholm Mission, it is customary (mandatory) to write a Last Will and Testimony. Which is basically a two-sided sheet with some questions to prompt reflection. Here's what I wrote.

I, syster Porkka, at the conclusion of my service in the Sweden Stockholm Mission, do offer "My Last Will and Testimony."

1. Advice I would give to a new missionary: You'll find a lot of happiness and joy in doing the work - just remember that the parts that don't always feel like work are also work. And just keep in mind that the Lord works through small means. Do the little things. Just Do It. For Him.

2. You have grown personally on your mission. What pleases you most about your "new self"? I'm more friendly and open now, more able to just open my mouth and make connections with my brothers and sisters; more considerate and able to see the needs of others; and more able to see what are the important things (prioritise THINGS THAT MATTER MOST). And one of the things I treasure most is how my attitude towards my "current" family has changed, that I prioritise them more now.

3. Some people who have had a great influence on my mission (and why):
elder Troy Holland, who taught me about the love of God/God's love.
President Anderson, who helped me over many hard things.

4. A special spiritual experience of my mission was: seeing the change wrought by the power of the Atonement on people prepared for baptism (and on myself).

5. A difficult challenge of my mission was: keeping in mind the things that we have in common (serving the Lord, being in Sweden, having a testimony of the truth etc...) when serving with companions who were VERY different from me. Kept getting lost in the differences.

6. My suggestion for improving the mission: sister secretaries! Just joking, I don't think sisters would want to live with the assistants.

7. As a legacy to the Sweden Stockholm Mission, I leave this written testimony: I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that He lives. That our loving Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us, and hat if we just listen to the things He tells us - through the Spirit, throught the Scriptures, through His living prophet - we will return to live with Him, and we will help Him in His work. This is the Lord's church, and it is needed. I need it, you need it, and everyone here in Sweden needs it.
(signed and dated: Inari Porkka 3. 3. 2011)

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Kind of related to this is LastSundayTalk, the talk I gave in church before leaving on my mission.