A Mission in Spain

I am leaving for Spain on the 19th of January. It hardly seems real. It's just a couple of days away and yet it still feels like there is no way that I'll get to go on a mission. I remember as a little boy singing "I Hope they Call Me on a Mission" and thinking how cool that would be to serve but that it wouldn't ever actually come. It still feels that way but it is actually here. I'm feeling all sorts of ways right now. I'm not sure whether to be nervous for what's coming next, or sad that I'm leaving my family and friends, or excited to be able to go share what means the most to me in this world.

I get to go out and share what I know to be the cause of my happiness in life, the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for this opportunity to dedicate my life for the next two years to the spreading of the great message that our Savior died for us and then on the third day was resurrected. That through Him we can return to live with our Heavenly Father, who we dwelt with before coming to Earth. I am grateful for the message that after a period of apostasy, or a time when the fullness of Christ's gospel was taken from the earth leading to much confusion, that Joseph Smith saw a vision of God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and was led to the great restoration of Christ's church. That church, His church, is known today as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know this to be true not because anyone has told me that it is true. I know it because I have felt the Spirit testify of these things to me.

The purpose of this blog is to allow others to follow me in my journey as a missionary and to show that God has his hand our lives and that miracles occur as we follow the teachings of His gospel. I will send out a weekly email and my wonderful mother has agreed to put them on the blog each week as I will not have access to it while I am gone. Many thanks to her for her support on this blog. I am grateful to all of you for your support, and am especially appreciative in advance of any letters/ emails/packages that you feel like sending my way. My contact info is on the side bar of the full web version but for those smart phone viewers here it is again.

Email
samuel.gustafson@myldsmail.net

MTC Address (First 6 Weeks 1/20/15 - 3/1/15) - (No Packages)

Elder Samuel Gustafson
Spain Madrid Mission
Spain Missionary Training Center
4a. Planta
Calle del Templo N° 2
Madrid 28030
SPAIN

Mission Address

Elder Samuel Gustafson
Spain Madrid Mission
Calle Fuerteventura 4, 2, Office 8B
28703 San Sebastian de los Reyes
Madrid
Spain

I am more than anything, excited to go and serve the Lord, I wish you all a wonderful two years in which it is my prayer that you will be watched over by the angels of Heaven.

Sincerely,
Elder Gustafson