And So... The Adventure Comes To An End!

One last time with my Big friend Ben...

Well... this is it!

I can't believe that this is my last email as a full time missionary in the England London South Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am so grateful for all the support I've been given throughout these past two years! I can't believe that this day has finally arrived. I would be lying if I told you my mission was easy, that it didn't come with challenges, and there weren't times where things were just straight up difficult. My mission is the most rewarding experience I have ever had and I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

The Other Side...

There are a lot of mixed feelings on the idea of returning home next week. On one hand, I'm so excited to see family, friends, and to begin the next stage of life but... on the other, England has been my home for these past two years, the mission has been my life, and I have had so many sacred experiences in this land which have changed me. There is nothing greater than being able to say that the Lord truly is in this work.

The Super Eight...

Over these past two years, I've had the chance to serve alongside some of the best people and best missionaries I know and I have served closely with seven of them as my companions in 5 different areas in the South of London. So grateful am I for their examples, their fire, their passion and their love for the Savior and His work. They each have helped me recognize and magnify certain gifts and talents the Lord has given me to find success in the work but more importantly, how they would help me throughout my life. They have helped me find myself along the way. I couldn't thank them enough. 

I still have had the most tender feelings toward just how my mission played out. As a convert, I expected opportunities in being able to share my conversion experience with others to help them but I never knew the magnitude of just exactly would happen. The Lord has been good to me. Never did I know how much trust he would have in me with the very little I knew at the time... but over the course of serving 22 months, I have found just how much He truly was there to help all the way across this journey.

The Final MLC...

There really is no way I can expound on what has happened these last two years in only a short email but needless to say... these last two years have been the best two years for my life and I have come to know many great spiritual truths. I have made eternal friendships here. I have come to know that God lives. He is real... and He knows each of us perfectly. We are His children and He is our Father. He continues to guide us today by providing us with living prophets and apostles. They are imperfect mortal men called of God to complete a perfect and immortal work upon the earth. As God lives, I know the scriptures are true. I especially know with a surety that the Book of

Crawley Crew...

Mormon is true. As I have studied, pondered, and prayed about it, I have seen the power it has brought into my life. The Book of Mormon has changed my life and I know it can change the lives of millions who are willing to read and pray about it too. My mission has helped find a lot of these truths but the greatest is that we have a Savior. A perfect brother who was willing to sacrifice His life for ours. To allow men to shed His perfect, pure, and innocent blood was His mission for us. Above all things... I know that my Redeemer lives. He

Rain or Shine... we share the gospel!

can help us overcome the greatest challenges in our lives and as one of the weakest of the weak, I can testify that He lives for each of us. He loves us more than we can comprehend and if we are willing to lay aside every sin, we may come to know Him. I know these things to be true and I testify that they are and I leave my witness that God lives, Jesus is the Christ, and that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's kingdom established upon the earth once again to prepare us for the great and glorious return of our Savior and Redeemer, the very Son of God, even Jesus the Christ, amen.

As one adventure comes to end... there is only another one waiting to take its place.

There are no ends... only new beginnings.

These will be days never to be forgotten.

England London South Mission:
July 9th, 2015-May 10th, 2017

D&C 126:1-3
"Dear and well-beloved brother, [Elder Rivera], verily thus saith the Lord unto you: My servant [Elder Rivera], it is no more required at your hand to leave your family as in times past, for your offering is acceptable to me.
I have seen your labor and toil in journeyings for my name.
I therefore command you to send my word abroad, and take especial care of your family from this time, henceforth and forever. Amen."

I look forward to our reunion in the land of promise this Wednesday!:)

With all my love,
-Elder Rivera