The beginning of an adventure... and continuation of a friendship.

Today, I was given one of the best gifts ever. Great timing being that this is considered the season for giving. So, I want to share the way this gift made me feel. However, I believe I need to share how this came about... Three years ago, I rediscovered the best thing my Father has ever given me. I discovered my testimony and the love I have for my Church, for the Gospel of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Due to a very rocky year, in a string of rocky years, in a time of loneliness, I turned to the only thing I believed was available. Being 900 miles away from my family, losing all of my best friends in a very short period of time, and feeling like I had truly lost who I was, I turned to the only thing I could truly consider familiar, my church. More specifically, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also know as the Mormons. Over time, I rediscovered my testimony but also who I was, and who I wanted to be. This has led me on a journey of self-discovery, one I'm still working on. But when I discovered I would be graduating from my University a year earlier than originally intended, too early to actually be able to enter the Law Enforcement Academy, my intended next destination, I decided I had some decisions to make. Now if you know me, you know I hate making decisions. In fact, I loathe it, a LOT. However, I realized maybe I should give back to the people who have done so much for me, have done everything for me in fact, my Heavenly Father, and my Savior. I believed this was the right option, going on a mission to share this gospel, which had given me so much love and strength, which had helped me to heal as I wasn't sure I would ever be able to. That was the true beginning to this adventure, in September of 2009. However, it wasn't until recently that I was actually able to turn my papers in, earlier this year, which ended in my receiving my Call to serve in the Taiwan Taipei mission in the beginning of August. I get to report to the MTC 2 1/2 weeks from today. Which brings us to the amazing gift I received today. But now I must explain my gift... I have lived at home for the past year and a half, growing closer to many of my family members. But after my friend moved home in August, I was able to grow closer to him again. To remember how much we used to laugh and have fun, but also how much I could trust and rely on him as we grew up. A friend who would always be there for me, who would keep my secrets, be a true friend. As he confided in me, but more as I found someone I could confide in again, someone I could believe in, I've been able to grow as a person. Then today, Riley gave me the greatest gift he could have. He bore his testimony in fast & testimony meeting, as a gift to me. To hear from him the things he believes and holds dear, to hear how he feels about our friendship. It was the greatest gift he could have given me, for he has given me his friendship, but he's also given me the ability to trust again. To believe in good friends who stay, who continue the give-an-take relationship that a friendship should be. To believe that not everyone betrays and walks away. Thank you Riley, for the gift of your testimony, but also the gift of your friendship. I don't have adequate words for my gratitude.