So…. This is my last email as a missionary. It is unbelievable how fast time has flown by. It feels like I just saw all of you like 6 months ago… 😉 But I just wanted to write one last email.

I have learned so much on the mission. My life has been changed forever because of these two years. I have learned for myself that God is real, he answers prayers, he loves us more than we can imagine. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. If someone wants to get closer to God, read it, apply it, live it, and God will work wonders in your life. I know because he has in mine.

I have had so many great experiences. I love the time I have spent here. I love the people who I’ve served and those who I have served with. It hasn’t always been easy but that’s what has made it worth it. To struggle, to have trials, to be able to exercise faith, to show our love to God through our Obedience and Diligence.

The Atonement is real. It can change us if we have a broken heart and a contrite spirit. It will give us hope, a hope to be happy in the face of affliction, to have joy when things get tough, to trust in Him who overcame the world. The pure love of Christ is real. If you pray for it and live for it, it will fill your life, you will gain a new perspective, see with new eyes, have more righteous desires, and be able to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to bring about much good among his children. Hold to the rod, never let go, if you have to you can always come back. His love is real. Never forget it.

Many people talk about how it is a great sacrifice to serve a mission, but I have learned so much that it has been worth it. This quote from President Hinckley explains it so well:

“You are making a sacrifice, but it is not a sacrifice because you will get more than you give up, you will gain more than you give, and it will prove to be an investment with tremendous returns. It will prove to be a blessing instead of a sacrifice. No one who ever served in this work as a missionary, who gave his or her best efforts, need worry about making a sacrifice, because there will come blessings into the life of that individual for as long as he or she lives. I have not the slightest doubt about that.”

I know I am going to miss missionary life, the people, the experiences, the opportunity to fully focus on others, but I am excited for the future. I have been prepared in the MTC for life. I have found my purpose in life, to invite OTHERS to come unto Christ. God has great plans for each of us, different tasks throughout our life to help build his Kingdom, in order to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

See y’all soon!

Elder Bryce
California Long Beach Mission