This is it !!!!

Boa tarde a todos,

Wow I am just in disbelief that this is my last time emailing home. I feel like everything is just going to continue how it has been all these months but deep inside I know change is coming! I can't believe it though! And I can't thank you guys enough for the support that came from back home the whole time I was out in the mission. I love you guys.

First off thank you mom for doing my registration this week and getting that all taken care of! We are thankfully all back to health and back to work! Kayan on Halloween looked too stinking cute. :) Our Halloween was silly and I will show those pictures when I am home... NEXT WEEK! That brings me to the main subject of my email.

I feel like Jacob by saying that the time passed away with me, and also my mission passed away like as it were unto me a dream. (But not lonesome and solemn like the people of Jacob!) Honestly though it went by so very fast.

These last moments I have been reflecting a lot on what happened and what I learned and what this experience truly means. I will try to be brief and share some of those thoughts.

One of the biggest things that I came to understand better is that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a checklist to be completed. It is the process that we must use to become more like our Savior. I can't say that I was a perfect missionary. Or that I had a perfect mission. I know though that serving a full time mission was perfect for me! This was what I needed. Oh the struggle was too real sometimes. But I know that the spirit was always with us to humble, teach, strengthen and show the way. Along the way I had some experiences teaching people in penthouses filled with all the world's luxuries. More often though I had experiences sitting on a small wooden stool, an overturned water bucket or even a cinder block and testifying of the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. And what I realized is that truly all of us are children of God. From the faith inspiring members to the drunks in the street, God has a plan and loves every single one of us. I was able to feel that love so much. I am so grateful for having served here in the Cape Verde Praia Mission. I had so many wonderful companions (all I can't list here!) that helped me more than they possible know. More important than the places I visited, or the souvenirs I bought, is what I learned as a missionary and who the Lord helped me become. And how I truly realized how much more I still need to do and be! I have hope that this will help me to continue progressing on the path for the rest of my life. I know that God lives, so does his son Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost testified this to me countless times. The restored church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints is the only church that has the prophets and priesthood power to officiate the saving ordinances of the gospel. I love this gospel and the hope it brings us!

Thank you everyone for your amazing examples of faith. I love you all so much. I can not wait to see you all in the coming weeks!!!

With soooo much love,
Sister Turner