Qha!

-"Qha" my favorite word in Xhosa, meaning "that's all" or "done". This is my last email, crazy. I start the long way home tomorrow morning. Honestly it doesn't feel real. I'm waiting for someone to say, "jk you're not going home". It's been feeling more real everyday though. As I think about these last few months and even weeks here in Mdantsane, my heart Is full of gratitude for the miracles we witnessed. Nothing can replace what these last few weeks have meant to me.

-Before I share a testimony I wanted to share some highlights of this past week. On Tuesday we put our friend Nonkoliso and her daughter Inathi on date for baptism, June 30th! Sad I won't be here to see it, but I'm so happy for their decision to make that sacred covenant with our Father. They are such a strong and humble family. It's incredible to hear them bear their testimonies of the restored gospel. Truly they are made for the gospel! We played street soccer with the kids one last time, bittersweet. They make these cool little balls out of old plastics and bread bags. We got stuck in the mud out in the village lol. The bush boys came to our rescue though, helped push us out. This trio with Elder Roberts and Elder Kennedy has been powerful. We have been able to teach with such a strong spirt. I'm thankful I got to spend my last 2 weeks with these wonderful Elders. 

- How grateful I am to have been a missionary for our Savior. My mission has been the best 2 years of my life, I wouldn't trade this time for anything. If I could do it for another 2 years, I would without a doubt. There is no better feeling than seeing a soul be changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through all those moments and miracles, the greatest change I saw was within myself. A mission is a time set apart to serve and teach others. Yet when you put your whole heart into it you are the one who is blessed and changed the most. The promise the Lord made in Matthew 16 is so true, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it."  I can testify that the enabling power of our Saviors Atonement can empower us to overcome any problem, trial, affliction, or illness. Through it I have been able to be a tool to accomplish things and overcome obstacles that I am otherwise powerless to do myself. His Atonement is wonderfully INFINITE. This is The Church of Jesus Christ, that I know. My heart burns for His gospel. What a blessing it is to be a part of such a miraculous work. And how great a responsibility it is to be true at all times to that knowledge and experience. If we are not actively working on being Life-long disciples than what's the point? This is a testimony and a fire that needs to be continually fueled. A scripture I love is Mosiah 4:11-12,

 "11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel. 12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true." 

Remember the goodness of God! Use the Atonement! Christ can and will change us into who we are designed to be if we just repent. Lastly, I'd just like to say how much The Book of Mormon and the restoration means to me. I am eternally thankful for the immovable faith of the prophet Joseph Smith, I know he is a prophet of God. That those apostolic keys are here on the earth today. The Book of Mormon has changed me forever. The knowledge of our Savior and the relationship I have been blessed with through its amazing pages is something I will hold near to my heart forever. It is so true. God hears our sincere prayers, ask in faith, doubting nothing, and He will answer! All these things and many more I know to be true because our Heavenly Father has blessed me with an undeniable witness! The Church is true, I promise! In the name of Jesus the Christ, amen. 

-Elder Quick