Friends and Family,
I hope you all had an amazing week! This will be my last newsletter, next week I will be in trainings/meetings on Monday in Cuiabá then next week I fly home. This week should be awesome though, we have a lot planned, Paulo and Marlene will be getting married and baptized on Friday if everything goes right, and we might have another baptism on Saturday or Sunday as well, we are super excited! Also we have an awesome churrasco planned, cant forget that! haha :)
It is hard to describe my feelings as my mission comes to an end. It has been by far the most challenging and intimidating thing I have ever done, yet it has been the most rewarding, fulfilling, and fun experience of my entire life. Every single person I have met has had an impact on my life, be it big or small. I am so grateful for the opportunities I have had as a missionary.
I am especially grateful for my companions, my brothers, who have done so much for me over these past two years, and for all of the things they have taught me. Each and every one of them has taught me something and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to serve alongside them.
I am grateful for my Mission Presidents, both in Montana and here in Brazil, for giving me opportunities to grow and become a more dedicated servant of the Lord, as well as helping me understand what it means to be a Disciple of Christ.
I am grateful for the members in each of the areas I have served, for doing so much to help the missionaries and helping this work move forward. I am also grateful for the investigators and members I have been able to teach, who I feel have taught me more than I have taught them. Seeing them make changes in their lives and choosing to follow Christ has had such a huge impact on me personally, it builds my faith to see the gospel working in their lives and seeing the blessings that come from being obedient to the commandments and making covenants with The Lord.
I am grateful for the opportunity God has given me to serve in Brazil, and in Montana while I waited for my Visa. I have absolutely loved my time here in Brazil, the people, the culture, the language, and I will never forget my experiences or the people I have met.
I am grateful for my friends, who have been such great examples to me and have supported me so much throughout my mission.
I am grateful for my family, who have also given me so much support and shown so much love for me. I have often felt that I didn't treat my family well and didn't spend as much time with them before my mission as I should have. But being on a mission has really helped me understand the importance of families and spending time together. I know that through the sealing ordinances of the temple that families truly can be together forever. I know that no matter what happens, as long as we keep our baptismal and temple covenants that we can be together for eternity. I love my family and I want them to know how much I love and appreciate them.
I am grateful for old and modern-day prophets, for the scriptures, and for the inspired men and women in the church who dedicate their lives to serving The Lord.
Most of all, I am grateful for God and my savior Jesus Christ, who have made all of this possible. I am so grateful for the sacrifice of our Savior and Redeemer, that allows all of us to be forgiven of our sins and return to live with our Heavenly Father. I know that no matter what happens to us in this life, we can always turn to Him, he understands our pains and sorrows and will always give us comfort and strength when we need it. I am grateful for the wonderful life that God has given me.
I know that this is Christ's church. I know that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, and that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. I know that by living the Gospel, that through Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End we can receive eternal life and live with our Heavenly Father and Savior once again.
I know that God lives, that He is my Father, and that I am his son.
No Regrets.
Elder Kyle Scott Payne
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