Stewart, Madison

BFFS!  It is my last full week as a missionary in Seattle! WOW. I am so excited to be home but also sort of in denial that I am leaving. I am going to miss my mission!!!  Overall my thoughts and feelings are similar to Ammon in the Book of Mormon.  In Alma chapter 26, Ammon describes his missionary experiences.  He says "Behold, who can glory too much in the Lord? Yea, who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men? Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel."  Like Ammon, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel. I cannot fully comprehend or sum up what I have experienced in the last year and a half! I wish I could emphasize to all of you how real these experiences have been.  Washington has become my sanctuary, my Road to Damascus, where Jesus Christ has revealed Himself to me through so many different faces and miracles. He's carried me and my efforts in trying ...

This week full of "lasts" for me!  I went to my last zone conference/ mission conference! They have all the departing missionaries bare their testimony and I sang in a musical number. I have loved all the little meetings my entire mission. We always get great trainings and its so fun to see all my bffs!!! I had to say goodbye to lots of them there too. RIP  Then we had Thanksgiving! We spent Thanksgiving with the Fisher's. Jenny Fisher has the best laugh and makes the best. I am VERY spoiled in Sammamish!!! On Sunday, it was my last fast Sunday! I got to bare my testimony and of course all my gratitude for this ward came out of my eyes through tears... I have served here for about 8 months in total. They are my home away from home!  The mission conference was basically all about gratitude! I love the quote from Elder Uchtdorf that says "we rarely find what we are not looking for." FACTS I could always use more gratitude so I've been workin on that extra sinc...

Holy! I have quite the update this week!! get a load of this. On Tuesday night a "bomb cyclone" hit the Seattle area. Sammamish got hit really hard. I haven't seen as much damage anywhere else. Winds were above 70 mph and coming from the east which apparently... the trees aren't equipped for! We were aware that the power was going to be out but we didnt know how serious it was until our zone leaders showed up at our door. Along with the power being out for serveral days, we didn't have any phone service either so it was difficult to know what our mission leaders wanted us to do. They decided to have all the missionaries without power stay with other missionaries that had power. We traveled between Seattle and Sammamish for about 3 days. One day I drove for 5 hours!!!! It was not fun! The traffic was horrible everywhere because all the traffic lights were out. We would wake up in Seattle pack all our stuff back up in case the power came back then head to Sammamish ...

Dear Brother and Sister Stewart, Thank you for allowing your daughter to serve alongside us here in the Washington Seattle Mission.  We have grown to love her and she will be sorely missed.  She has been an outstanding missionary.  One of the great blessings of being a Mission President is the opportunity to get to know the wonderful missionaries that are sent to the Washington Seattle Mission.  As they learn to fulfill their purpose, their lives are forever changed.  We have loved having Sister Stewart here with us and I am confident you will see the great change that has taken place in her life. As you welcome your daughter home, we trust she will have the opportunity to share her strong and vibrant testimony.  As part of her daily service, she has shared that testimony with countless individuals.  Her selfless service, obedience, dedication to the Lord, and reliance on the Spirit have helped her grow in many ways.  She has developed many habits...

Happy Monday!!! Just a short update today :) This week was sad! Sister Duryea left me. We had so much fun together and I'm adjusting to her being gone. BUT  Sister Feletoa is my new comp! She is the cutest Togan from Salt Lake City!! She is super funny so this transfer should be awesome!!!!  Plus, its my last! However, its a quickie so i only have 4 weeks left. Thats crazy. I had my last interview with President Henderson yesterday. Dont worry. He prayed that I will find a husband. Phew!!!!!! My parents sent me a picture of our Christmas tree and now I'm ready to be home tomorrow  On the real, I am pumped for the next 4 weeks! This time of the year is THE BEST for missionary work. So many festivities and so many things we can invite people to! It's easy to keep busy and have fun near the holidays. Wahoo! Also, I'm so blessed to be ending my mission in Sammamish. My people are here! I LOVE this area so much!!!!! A QUOTE I LOVE: "Will we stay bound to the Savior rega...