Sister Liew

Remember our Sister Liew who's serving a mission in California?  Well, according to her e-mail below, she'll be back soon.  I'm excited and happy about it.  I have surely missed her.

From: Sister Liew
Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 21:42:45 +0000
 
4 weeks to go ... but who's counting right? 
 
So I got emails and this time around, everyone is wondering when am I going to be home. I guess it's inevitable to think about it since it's definitely happening. 
 
So, everyone.. I'm going home in May! So, there better be exciting plans for me to help me not get into PMD (Post-Mission Depression). 

After much praying, as much as I wanted to extend my mission and still be out here serving, I feel strongly that it's time for me to get back into the real world and get on with life. I am excited yet scared at the same time. 
 
Anyways, last week has been pretty good. We went on, what our ward mission leader calls a "maxi-split".. meaning 3-way splits with 3 members of the ward on a few occasions so that went really well. I love how supportive the members are. 
 
I had my last multizone conference last Wednesday. It was a hard one and at the end, all outgoing missionaries for the transfer had to go up and bear our testimonies. I thought about the times when I first came in and having seen so many missionaries bawling as they bore theirs, and now I am up there, doing what most missionaries dread. The realization that we are going home, truly surreal at times. I thought about what I would say, and I didn't want to just bear the basics but I wanted something to encourage and uplift. Brother Marcroft's mission had an Elder who wrote this touching short story about 2 friends with both having 2 different assignment given before reaching earth and the promise that was made. 
 
If that was how it was in the pre-existence, we definitely have a lot of work to do. Think about all the people we meet every day, and how we could have been the best of buddies in the pre-earth life. And we are here on this earth to be tested, some wander through life not realizing what they are missing.. some have it and not want to share it.. and then there are those who are just amazing. 
 
General Conference last weekend was amazing. I love all of the talks. Elder Hales talked about provident living, which I am so grateful for my parents who had taught us since we were little of how important it is to be wise in our spending. Then there's Elder Holland who spoke about the Savior's atonement and how it was a lonely journey for Him, which goes to show that our trials and sufferings can be lonely too and He understands completely how we feel and what we are going through, and there's another one (I have such a bad memory) about how to cope with change, which is what I needed. 

There's so much more but I can't wait for the Ensign conference issue to read it again because I know there were a lot that I could have missed out hearing.
 
I love General Conference and after this it won't be same anymore. I won't have my missionary buddies with me... 
 
Sigh. 
 
Life and change is part of Heavenly Father's plan for us to grow. 
Well, till next week... 
 
lots of love,
Seeeester Liew