My Farewell Talk!

Hello brothers and sisters today I will be giving my farewell talk and I've really been not super excited to give this talk for two reasons; One because It means I'm leaving real soon and Two because its the last time I will stand up here and speak with you all for a very long time. Which means I'm probably going to cry and my crying face is not so pretty so im just warning all of you before it happens. At the same time i am also really excited to give this talk so i can share my thoughts one last time before i leave. So really im in a bit of a struggle here. Well Most of you if not all of you know that i am going on a mission to Zambia Lusaka and I'm very excited and scared,  its bittersweet. I really wanted to Utah I wanted temple square very badly, but I got africa instead. I guess there not all that far apart just a two day plane ride. But I'm extremely grateful for my calling. Recently I've decided that I was not going to write my talks and do it the missionary way and wing it by the spirit; and I did once and it went really well I talked for an half an hour it went well, but since this is such a sensitive talk I had to write it out that way if I get too emotional I can look down for some help.

This is my farewell talk if you didn't know so I thought what a better topic than missionary work. I just wanted to say there is no better work than missionary work and now when I say missionary work I do not just mean full time missionaries. I'm talking about all of you who have ever told someone about our heavenly father and his son or about the book of mormon, and just sharing your testimony sometimes we over look the small things but its usually those that matter most. I have an example of that now I'm telling this story not to build myself up or brag, but because its a great example of how the small things matter and it just happens to involve me. There is a girl in my mission and I read her blog and its truly inspiring . One day I wrote her mom so I could tell her how her daughter has changed my view on my mission. The i wrote the sister and we have been writing ever since. Just a few days ago I got this message on facebook from her mother it read;

"Hi Tiandra, I just wanted to let you know what a small world it is. My husband's cousin Michelle Freeman saw your photo on Dominica's blog and sent him a message saying that she had a class with you last semester.  She is the cousin that we talked to about the gospel and gave a Book of Mormon to when we were in Minneapolis.  She mentioned that you also talked to her about the Book of Mormon. So, your missionary work began before you even submitted your papers!! Thanks for being such a great example and we will send Michelle your blog also so she will continue to investigate.  We love her and her sweet family and we know she would find such joy in the gospel. Thanks again for the great example you are!."

Now I remember talking to her about serving my mission and she was one of the first people I told I was considering it and she asked me why and I told about how I wanted to humble myself and about we talked The Book of Mormon. I explained to her what it was and I wasn't trying to convert her or anything I was just sharing what I know to be true and it got her to talk to her family who were mormon about it. I'm telling you its the small things. Do not doubt the power of your voice. Your testimony is what you know to be true and no one can argue that. It’s people like who are serving missions and converting others.

Full time missionaries are truly amazing I wouldn't be standing up here giving this talk and getting ready to leave to the other side of the world if it weren't for the help of all missionaries. Who have changed my life specifically two missionaries who will be sitting in here next sunday that are coming from utah and idaho to see my family get sealed and endowed it all started with them. And the help of Sione Hafoka which is another great example of how you can help. Sione isnt a full time missionary. But he is a man who strongly believes in this gospel and heavenly father. And that shows when he speaks about the gospel he’s beliefs radiate and its written all over him that he is a man of strong beliefs. he also great man whom I love very much and means so much to me. He didn't have to read scriptures to wayne or anything special he only had to tell him about this church and from there my family has come so far. and for that i am eternally grateful. I have never thank sione for what he did but today i do.

Sometimes I wonder why I got the calling I got and I'm not ungrateful but curious as to why africa I never considered it as a option like I said I was all about utah. It makes me remember something Sister Hurley said to me when our wards switched to here from white bear and when we first got here i was pretty upset that we moved here because thats the church that i knew. There were the people that i had grown to know and love. But brothers and sister there is one thing that i have learned its that the gospel is the same everywhere and anywhere. It doesnt really matter that i dont get to worship in that building with all of those same people, but what does matter is that i get to worship that is what is most important. I bet you guys are wondering what she said to me so ill tell you, she said  "you were sent here because you have gifts and talents that are needed here." That is What I think about every time I wonder why I was called there. i was called there because I am needed there. And that was just a small thing that sister Hurley said to me and I'm sure she had no idea that it would stay with me but it has. And now I know that my ward came here because you guys have gifts and talents that I have needed in my life. You guys have all the same love and knowledge that the other people in that ward had. You have all the spirit and happiness that i could ever ask for.

Brothers and Sisters I'm not a scriptorian I don't know every story in the bible or the Book of Mormon, but I know what I know and i will figure out what I don't . But you should know that all of you have taught me something and been apart of my spiritual growth; My teachers the missionaries and all of you who have given talks or testimonies so know that when I am teaching this gospel I teach with not only the knowledge that I've learned from the mtc or my scriptures but from What I have learned from you all of  the doctrine love and understanding.  We are not perfect teachers but we give our best and most of the time that's enough. People ask me all the time why am i going on a mission and i say because i want to humble myself and become closer to heavenly father and help bring others unto christ. but thee other day I was talking with sister gardner thee other day and i've known her for awhile now and she's amazing she really is she is hemming and adding pockets to some of my mission skirts free of charge bless her heart! So thank you again sister gardner. but we were talking and we talked about serving our missions and how we wanted to give back to heavenly fathers and how every time we think we are giving back to him from all of the many wonderful things he's done for us, hes already ten steps ahead of us giving us new things. Therefore we can't keep up and I said it just doesn't seem like its enough and she said to me it is enough to him. It doesn't seem like half of what he's given me for me to serve a mission but I'm trying to catch up and its a good place to start. Sometimes i fear of being inadequate or that i wont wont be a good enough missionary to help.And one of my favorite scriptures Is in words of mormon in one seven to be exact this is the scripture that I want on my missionary plaque so be sure to write that down brother black.

7 And I do this for a awise bpurpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord cknoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he dworketh in me to do according to his ewill.

Back when I was getting my interview done with president baker for my mission he asked me a question and he said "are you ready to go on a mission?” and I sat there for a second and I said “I don't think anyone is ready to leave their life behind and dedicated themselves fully to a whole new one, but I am ready to allow heavenly father help me so I don't do it alone and that way I know I can't fail. If the lord is with me my worries will be small.” I love the saying that “God doesn't send out Missionaries to convert everyone. If he wanted to do that he would send angels. instead he sends missionaries out for the sake of the missionary. To change them, to make the better and for the people in which they are sent to, to be impacted and touched.” I do not only just want to serve a mission but i need to serve a mission. I need to serve a mission because i love this gospel i love my heavenly father. I want to help people come to christ i am so thankful for his all that he has done for me. I am so thankful for what it has done for my family. I only want all of these blessing that this gospel has given for other people. I've seen this church change lives. I have seen it change mine.

This is the true church, heavenly father is real, Christ is real. This gospel is vital in returning to our heavenly father. There is no other way. There is no other church. I know this to be true and i know it like a when a mother knows her child is in danger. I don't need evidence to back it up because i can feel it because i live it. I know that the book of mormon is true and joseph smith was a prophet of God. i know that Thomas s. Monson is a true prophet of God. and i know that because all these things are true and that if you share what you know to be true that it will change someones life. I know that heavenly father will be so proud. I am so grateful for the atonement and all that Christ has done for me. I love this church i love this gospel and i love all of you. Thank you all who have been here with me. Thank you for all being such great examples to me and my family. Thank you for making me prepare to become better missionary then i could have been without you.  I wouldn't be serving a mission if i did not believe it with all my heart. And i say all of these things in the name of our savior jesus christ Amen.