For the last time, Hey everyone!
My last 2 weeks as a missionary were awesome. I was very busy and I had a great time doing all my missionary things for the last time. I'll report on the past 2 weeks now. If I skip a day it is because nothing important happened and I have 2 weeks to cover haha
Tuesday (3/12/24)
I had district council in Lufkin which was fun. We went to Chick Fil A for lunch afterwards and then I headed back home. I was supposed to go to the Serenity Garden but something came up and I wasn't able to go. That afternoon I went to the Barringtons and did some yard work and they fed me some really good chicken wings afterwards. One of my favorite parts of the mission were member dinners so I loved being over there for dinner. I have definitely missed being fed by the members in Nevada and being in their homes.
Wednesday-Thursday (3/13-3/14)
It was spring break so we went to Six Flags!! We went during the later afternoon and evening on Wednesday but our main day of being there was supposed to be Thursday. We spent the night and we were all ready to use our VIP entrance to get in 15 minutes before the park opened but the park was CLOSED!!!! They decided to close the park for inclement weather when it wasn't supposed to storm until later that night! We were all pretty bummed but luckily Bailee, Bryce, and I were able to ride the previous night but I did feel bad for Mason though because he didn't get to ride anything and he hasn't been in 13 years.
Friday and Saturday (3/15-3/16)
Both English and Spanish districts had a temple trip day and I went on both of them. I took the Lufkin elders on Friday and the Spanish elders on Saturday. It was an amazing opportunity to go twice in a row with my mission ending and leaving the district once it does end. We went to the Houston temple (which was approved by the mission president even though it was way outside the mission). Both days were awesome.
Sunday (3/17)
I gave a talk in Carthage. Only thing worth mentioning.
Tuesday (3/19/24)
My last district council!!! Wow, that's crazy. I'm so glad I was able to continue on with attending district council and having a group of missionaries to be friends with. That opportunity isn't there for all service missionaries but I was able to make it happen. I have my NRM mission friends and now my TDEM mission friends. To close off the transfer I provided a pizza party!! Homemade and everything. It was great. The friendships you create with those you serve around will always be such a blessing. It reminds me of Alma 17 when the Sons of Mosiah run into Alma again. Their feelings are exactly what I feel for those I served around.
Thursday (3/21/24)
March Madness is here!! I know that has nothing to do with missionary work but dang am I glad that I get to be here for it haha. It was also my last day serving at the Serenity Garden. I had thought that I wouldn't be able to go because of the weather and Mr. Gary never responded to my text but while I was watching the games he finally got back to me and said I could come on over and that he had forgotten to respond that 2pm would work. It was already 3:30 and I was tempted to stay home and watch March Madness but I quickly pushed that thought out and went to serve!!
Friday (3/22/24)
The final day. All 718 days led to this. My mission release interview with President Newman was much better and more valuable than I thought it would be. I had been reminiscing on the past 2 years for a week or two and being able to talk about it with my stake president was great. Talking with him gave me more hope for my future as well. It was definitely a surreal moment when he released me and a tear may have been shed but that tear was a sign that I had done my job. Despite my many imperfections and trials that came my way, I did it. The tag has now been taken off but the imprint is still ingrained on my life. I have loved holding the mantle of a full time missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
I gave my release talk this past Sunday and I think I did a good job on relating my feelings on how I have grown in the past 2 years. I focused on how divine responsibility, if exercised correctly, brings immense blessings, love, and gratitude. This is exactly why missions are so impactful on young members of the church. Being given this divine responsibility of teaching and serving God's children is why we feel so connected to the people of our mission. Why we feel so much gratitude for the work we put in. Why we feel so sad when its over. It's because we have had the sacred responsibility and were given a sliver of what our Heavenly Father feels for us.
Before I end I will let yall know what is next in store for me. I'll be hanging around in Nac until the end of May and then will spend the summer as an FSY Counselor. After that I will head to BYU Idaho in the fall and will be majoring in Recreation and Sports Management. There is a slight possibility that I will transfer over to BYU next year and try to be a student manager for the BYU Basketball program which would help me gain experience for a career in athletics.
Well there you have it. The end of my missionary service. The past 2 years have been incredible. I cannot fully express the amount of joy and love I have felt while serving God's children. From the 20 months in the NRM to the past 4 in the TDEM as a service missionary, I wouldn't change a thing. I cannot wait to look back over all my emails and reminisce about the times of the mission.
Thank you all for everything that y'all did for me while I was serving. To the emails sent and the prayers said on my behalf, I thank you all.
I love yall!!!
Elder Proctor
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