Hello everyone!

So, these last weeks and days I've been reflecting a lot on my future. Two of the Missionaries in our apartment are "dying" (going home this transfer), and the companion of one of the Missionaries going home has lovingly decided to remind them of how many days they have left in the field several times each and every day, it even has a song that goes with it. Thankfully, there has not been a dance created to go with it. I beg of you not to suggest that to him. One of the effects of said song and seeing "16" written all over the apartment (the number of transfers an Elder usually serves in Italy) is that I've been reflecting on my own Mission and how little of it is left. It's been making me think about the expectations that I had of the Mission, and how the Mission has measured up to it. It has really changed me. I noticed just how much the other night. An incident happened in which usually, before the Mission, I'd have reacted, with my tongue and who knows what else. But my reaction wasn't to do that. I calmly smiled, and started walking away. My companion was angry, but was struggling to follow the example. I felt sad, but not because of the abuse I was receiving, but because I knew what would be awaiting those people in the future, what they were rejecting, and the regret that they would feel when the Saviour looks at them.  Even the though incident was in no way Spirit-conducing, as I walked away, I felt the Spirit burn brightly inside of me, as though Heavenly Father was sending me a message: I was doing what He wanted me to do. I'm not the same person that got on a plane 19 months ago.
I have these last few months to go, but I'm going to see what other changes I can make, so that when I come back, I can see even more of a difference, and be even happier with the face that looks back at me in the mirror.

I love you!

Anziano Nelson.