SJ Week 19 – Last Full Week – Elder Tate Cannon

The longer I’ve had on my mission, the faster time has seemed to go. I can’t believe that my time of missionary service is almost up. This will be my last full week in the mission. It’s sad, exciting, heartbreaking, motivating, and so many other feelings, but I’m so grateful for everything I’ve learned and continue learning. I’ll save all the mission reflections for next week, but know that I love the Lord and I just want to serve Him. I am so grateful for all that He has done for me.

It has been an awesome week here in San Jose! It’s been clear outside for the first time in a long time, which has been really nice! We’d forgotten what it was like after so much time of smoke hahaha. We’ve been going on longer runs on Saturdays, this week we ran 4 miles in 29 minutes to San Jose State University’s campus and back. I’m not looking forward to the elevation change when I come back home haha.

We had service this week at Second Harvest, like we do every week. They planned a surprise party/presentation for us missionaries after having gone and done so much service there. They gave us gifts, ice cream, and sang a song for us that they’d written! It was super fun and cool to see the difference we had helped make there.

We also had interviews with President Smith this week! I love that guy so much. It was such a good interview where he gave me such a good advice, and said some of the nicest things that have ever been said to me. He’s awesome!

We’ve been getting Roselia ready for her baptism coming up soon! Sadly, some challenges came up this week, so she most likely won’t be baptized before I go home, but that’s okay! Her family, the Cruz family, is progressing so well and are all become disciples of Jesus Christ. It’s been an awesome experience being able to find and teach them, and see their conversion until now.

I had a cool opportunity yesterday to join in on a YSA Zoom call from my second area in Argentina! We were talking about conversion, and Presidente Masello, who was in my ward in Castelli, had asked me to share about Priscila’s conversion story. It was so fun seeing everyone again, and strengthening to be reminded of that incredible experience. I miss Argentina and love all of the people there so much. I also miss the way Argentines speak haha with the “shuh”. It was so nice to hear again.

I love the mission. I’m going to do all I can to take advantage of this amazing opportunity to serve as a missionary. I’m happy with the service I’ve given so far, and I’m excited to finish strong. I love my Savior. I’m so grateful for Him, and I want to be just like Him.

Here is a thought I read in a talk this week… This is “The Visitor,” by Ken Merrell, from the May 2000 New Era.
“When I was 18, as I was preparing to serve a mission, my bishop called me to teach the Sunbeams. . . .One day I invited Mike to come to church and sit in my class. Mike was my age but had stopped attending church completely by the time he was 12. We had remained friends over the years. . . . Once in a while Mike would accept my invitations to come to an activity. It always surprised me when he did, so I kept inviting him.At that time, Mike had long, black hair and a beard. . . . I don’t remember when I invited him to my Primary class, but one day he showed up.“Class, I would like to introduce you to my friend Mike,” is how I began my lesson. “He is visiting us today.”Mike sat next to me in front. The children sat in a semicircle with their eyes fixed on him. They were much quieter than usual. I was about five or six minutes into the lesson when one little boy got up from his chair and walked across the room and stood directly in front of my friend. . . .. . . The other children watched the two of them for a few minutes. . . .Then it happened. . . .With the innocence of a child, [the boy] said to Mike, “Are you Jesus?”The look on Mike’s face was total surprise. It seemed, as I glanced at the children’s faces, they all had the same question on their minds.Mike looked at me as if to say, Help, what do I say?I stepped in. “No, this is not Jesus. This is His brother.”Mike looked at me as if in shock.Then without hesitation the boy . . . reached up and wrapped his arms around Mike’s neck. “I can tell,” the boy said as he hugged Mike.”
The story ends saying that a year later, Mike was serving a mission. He was reminded of something he’d forgotten about, and I think we all need that reminder. YOU are Jesus’ sibling; the Perfect One, the Savior of the world, the Prince of Peace, the Creator of the world. YOU mean so much to your Heavenly Father. Please don’t forget.

I love you all. Have the best week. I will too. Thank you for everything!!!