Chapter 76: Foundation for the Future

April 18, 2024

Chapter 76: Foundation for the Future

Hi y'all! Here's the promised epilogue! Comin to ya from West Jordan, Utah! Weird. But let me tell y'all about the best last week in South Carolina.

What's a more epic way to start off than with a solar eclipse!? The district got together and we went to this suuuper pretty river in Roebuck. We climbed out on some rocks in the middle of the river and we played mafia while we waited for the eclipse. So much fun!!

Tuesday was dcm! My final one! That was kinda sad. It was a really good meeting though. I love love love getting to talk about Jesus Christ and His Gospel with other missionaries. It's just so wholesome. They also had my "funeral". It was a happy "funeral" with lots of bubbles and airplane journal writing. Only a little bit of sad.

Wednesday and Thursday were my last pros days. And Wednesday was kinda hard. It kinda felt like I was dragging myself part of the day. Which was a little frustrating. Like come on! This was one of my last days and I was just struggling to get through it. But my God is a God of tender mercies, and He slipped a lot in throughout the day. And my companion is literally just amazing.

Sister Ward and I had made a goal about halfway through the transfer that we were going to pass out an entire box of Book of Mormons by the end. And honestly that was what kept me going that day. We didn't have lots of lessons that day, but knowing that there were children of God we needed to give this Book to kept me pushing.

The Book of Mormon is the greatest gift I could honestly give to anyone. One of the most important things my mission has taught me is how vital the Book of Mormon is to my personal relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Reading it's words has brought me peace when I couldn't find it elsewhere. It has given me direction and encouragement. And it just brings so much joy to give one to someone and tell them that God loves them.

Thursday was a beautiful day. The Lord blessed me with so much peace. Got a few more South Carolina rain storms throughout the day. Ya know, that intense heavy rain that you can hardly see in. Sis Ward is a queen for driving through all that. And it was sunny when it wasn't raining! Got the best of both! Literally South Carolina is just such a beautiful place. I'm definitely going to miss just how green it is.

Friday was transfers! Again, the Lord blessed me with so much peace! It was weird driving down to Irmo knowing that was the last time I would be doing this. It was so good to see so many missionaries who have made impacts on my mission! After transfers all us departing missionaries got whisked away in the big van to the mission home where we had some lunch before going to the Temple. Oh how I love the Columbia Temple so much!! I'm so grateful we got to go in and do baptisms. I had a lot of good reflection time while inside.

I'm going to add my plug for the Temple to all the ones from conference. Go! Even if you're not able to go inside, just go be on the grounds. The Temple is such a special holy place where we can feel an added measure of the Spirit as we serve. It is a place of worship, a place to find peace and answers. Go.

After the Temple we went back to the mission home and did some departing testimonies and slideshows along with dinner. I cried. It was good. I'm definitely sad to leave, but I know it's time. I've done what the Lord has asked me to for these last 18 months and now He's asking me to go home and find other ways to grow in my discipleship. So I will go and do.

We also played some games, President Hamblin read us a bedtime story, and then we stayed up much too late. But oh well. It was good.

Saturday! This day was such a dream!! Some of us went on a walk in the morning with President, then we got ready and did a scripture study with both the Hamblins. That was so good! I love them with all my heart, and I love the missionaries so much too!

It was hard saying goodbye to them at the airport. Sister Hamblin cried. I cried a lil. We spent a couple hours waiting for our flights then got on our first plane. Short little flight to Atlanta. Then from there a longer flight to SLC!! Y'all, when I got off that flight, just knowing my family was right around the corner made me shake, haha. It seriously didn't feel real. My normal was living away from family, doing missionary work in SC for so long that it just felt like a dream.

I cannot tell y'all the flood of emotions that came when I saw my family. It just all came out, and I was definitely crying then. Those were some of the BEST hugs ever.

I love being back with my family. It's weird for sure, and I do miss South Carolina. But I know this is where God needs me to be now. My mission taught me so many things. One is to trust God and to keep moving forward with faith. I know that everything I learned in South Carolina just solidified my foundation and made my testimony even more unshakable.

I'm grateful for the Savior. I'm grateful for the chance I had to proclaim His Gospel. I know every bit of it to be true, and no one can take that from me.

Always remember. Remember and hold onto the knowledge that God loves you, and Jesus loves you. I love you too.

-(Sister) Jayden Ray, RM🌙🌴