"The Hardest Think I've Ever Loved To Do"

  I can't believe that it is actually time to email my last letter home. Its been a crazy 18 and a half months, hasn't it? Time has just flown by! The title of the email is from a song on The Nashville Tribute CD The Work. It seems fitting for the occasion. Coming home really and truly is the hardest thing I've ever loved to do. I am so so so so so so so excited to come home and see everyone and do everything, but I am also terrified beyond reason to be leaving the mission field here in Washington. I am all packed and loaded into the car. All I have left to do is write this email, have some fun with my zone and then drive to Vancouver to the mission home. Everytime I think about it my stomach gets more and more upset. All I can think about is did I do all that I could for the Lord? Is He pleased with my efforts? Of course the answer is yes, but the thoughts are still there. I know that I could have done better at times, but overall, I was obedient and I worked hard. I was tired every night. More tired than I have ever been in my whole life. Every single second of every single day was worth it! I know that I had some hard times: bouts with homesickness, bouts with my companions, frustrations with the people I was teaching, heartbreaks when people told me that they didn't want to see us anymore, or doors just simply being slammed in my face as they cuss me out and tell me I am going to hell and that I don't believe in the "real Jesus." To anyone else that hasn't been a missionary, those things may seem like enough to just come home and not worry about those hard times. I can say with all of my heart that even those hard times were wonderful. I have learned more than I ever thought that I could. There are the best of times to think of as well! Times when your companions become your best friends, when you see someone you have taught get baptized, when you find someone who is seeking for the knowledge of the gospel and they let it change their lives, when you make friends everywhere you go with members and nonmembers alike, times when you are so down and out then the Lord provides you with a miracle, when prayers are answered in ways that are just perfect for the situation, when you get out and work and it doesn't matter what the results were as long as you knew that you did all that you could, and times when you feel the Spirit of the Lord so strong that there is nothing on heaven or earth that could possibly change the way you feel about your testimony. I want to end this email with my testimony.

           I know that my Savior, Jesus Christ, lives. I know that He loves me and because He loves me, He has taken upon Himself all of my sins and my pains. I know that He will never leave me alone. I know that God lives and that He loves me so much that He willingly gave His sinless son to atone for the world. God provided us with His wonderful plan of happiness. I know where I came from and I why I am on this earth and what will happen to me after I die. I am so grateful that I will be with my family for eternity as we all hold fast to the covenants that we have made. I am so grateful, happy and proud to say that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know that the fullness of Christ's gospel can be found within this church. I am grateful for the young farm boy Joseph Smith and his simple question that lead to a spectacular answer that I can not deny to be true. I know that the power of the holy priesthood was restored to the earth. I know that it still is upon the earth today and that all of the keys are held and used by a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. It is through the power of the Holy Ghost that I know that these things are true. I have felt the burning answer in my heart more times than I could even hope to remember. I love the scriptures! I can't imagine a day with out reading at least a line from them. My soul hungers for the words found in The Book of Mormon and the Holy Bible. I love eveything that prophets both ancient and modern have said to us. All they are doing is teaching us what God wants us to know for our eternal salvation. I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to devote 18 months of my life to the one that gives me life.I have been able to share my knowledge and testimony with people from all over the world, just here in Washington. I am grateful for the love and appreciation that this time has given me towards my family and friends. You all have done so much for me and I am eternally grateful for you. I have been blessed with so many things and I could start a list and never be able to finish it.  To go back to the first and most important item, I know that Jesus Christ is here for me and for everyone. He invites all to come unto Him. He wants to forgive us when we do something wrong. He wants us to come back home. He is willing to do anything for us as long as we are willing to do what He asks. Its really not hard. Its as simple as His doctrine states, we must have faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repent, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and endure to the end. He is THE way! He has shown this to us time and time again. We can have happiness forever. I so testify in the name of my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I love you all and I will see you tomorrow!

WOW!!!

   I can't even describe what it is like to be a missionary. I don't have the words in my vocabulary to help anyone understand the love and sorrow that you can feel in a single week. This past week was an emotional and spiritual roller coaster! We did so much that I don't have the time to tell you about it. One of the biggest highlights was Shada's baptism on Saturday. The Spirit was so strong and I was so happy for her. Satan was trying so hard to get her to change her mind. He threw curve ball after curve ball it was ridiculous. But I prayed and fasted and I knew that it would happen and it did. Shada, I know you will read this...I know that Heavenly Father is so happy with you that you followed the example of our Savior. Congratulations again my friend, I love you! It was an outstanding baptismal service. I also go to see some of my old friends from Lacamas Creek and Harmony. I loved it!

     We also are teaching a mother and son right now. They are so sweet! The night we got back from the baptism we went and taught them. The Spirit was so strong there as well. We had planned on inviting them to be baptized but we didn't say who would ask them. As we were teaching I kept thinkings to myself, Sister Brox, just be quiet! I didn't say much and as Sister Lierley was teaching she invited "J" to be baptized. Amazing! She said yes and I asked her if she would prepare to be baptized on Aug 31st and she said that it was too soon because she needs to find another job first so that she can come to church every Sunday. It was so cool! As we left and headed home, Sister Lierley was so excited! I was too of course, but she told me that that was the first time she had asked someone if they wanted to be baptized on her mission. She has been out for 4 months and hadn't done it yet. It was a great testimony builder to me to see her grow as a missionary and for me to keep my mouth shut so that she could do it! Wonderful!

     Last night, we had an impromptu lesson with another girl that we are teaching, the Bishop asked her to meet with us. She always seems try to get under our skin with the things that she says. Well last night was no different. She told us about how she liked the sins that she commits and that she doesn't want to change. She asked how many times we had to meet with her and why we wanted to know so much and why we do things the way we do in the church. We asked her what her testimony was and she didn't say anything about Christ. So we asked her what she thinks of Him and she said that there is no way that he can be real. Its all a fantasy story. We talked and testified for a little over an hour and then she got up to leave and I asked if we could say a prayer first and she said no she didn't want to and walked out. The moment she was gone you could feel the Spirit rush back into the room to comfort Sister Lierley and I. We could not believe everything that just happened. But both of us received a very valuable lesson that day about how precious and important our testimonies are of our Savior and Redeemer. I love Him with everything in me. I can not do anything with out Him. HE IS THE WAY!

 I love you all! See you in a week!

It's Going Too Fast!!

I can't believe how fast time is flying! I get out of bed in the
morning and the next thing I know its dinner time and then time to go
home and plan for the next day. I don't even have time to breathe! At
church yesterday everyone was saying things about when I go home in 3
or 4 weeks and I had to correct them and say, "No, its only 2 more
weeks!" I am running out it time and it is tormenting me. I am so
excited to go home and see everyone and be able to relax again, but I
don't want to leave Washington. :( I have so many friends and family
here too! Oh goodness, enough about that. This week was fantastic! We
had p-day in Hood River and played some v-ball. Tuesday we went to
"the 'Couve" for Sister's conference! So AMAZING!!! I got to see my
best friend on the mission, Sister Neumayer! As well as other sisters
whom I love dearly! It was so cool because we got to meet the sisters
that we got when the stakes from Portland joined the mission. They are
outstanding! I am at peace about leaveing because there are so many
great sisters here to take care of our baby the Washington Vancouver
Mission. Wednesday we got to go to girls camp! That was so much fun!
We taught 3 classes on Scripture Study and it went great! We ate lunch
and got some fun stuff! :) Thursday we had district meeting and that
was great! So that made 4 days in a row of driving at least 45 minutes
away from Goldendale! Crazy! But with all of the traveling we were
still able to teach a lot of people and even find a wonderful lady to
teach. She is a big sweetheart and she is totally ready to hear the
gospel and to let it affect her life for the good. I LOVE BEING A
MISSIONARY! I can't wait to see you all again! I love you! I hope you
have a great week! :) Get ready to PARTY!! lol

 Shada and I the morning after exchanges before I drove back to
Goldendale...she wore purple just for me :) and we got a hugging
picture...hahaha! She doesnt like hugs...

Pres Taylor! Love him!

Morgan at Young Women's Camp

We were blessed to have Sister Brox and Sister Lierly come to our stake girls camp this last week and teach a class on scripture study. They did an excellent job, and taught about 1st Nephi chapter 3. How Nephi and his brothers tried first luck, second their own knowledge and wealth, and finally relied on the Lord. They pointed out how often we do the same thing as children of God. But we can learn to skip the first two steps if we have faith.

It was wonderful- and showed how much you can get out of one chapter!

They were wonderful examples to our young women and we were so grateful to have them there! Thank you for sharing your daughter!

With love, 

Sister Corey

The Dalles, Oregon