A final missionary testimony

Well. This is it. The email I've dreaded for 78 weeks now. But as I was writing this, I realized all that dread led up to one huge testimony and a whole lot of awesome stories and experiences. So I guess I'm really super grateful that I get to be at a point where I can share my testimony with more surety and conviction than I ever have before. It's been a long, long 18 months.

But I'd say they'd have to make it in the top 18 out of all the months I've lived.

Cause looking back on this time, the hard times don't seem to matter just as much as I thought they did in the moment. And those joyful times seem to matter a whole lot more than I thought they did in the moment.

I've danced in the rain singing spanish songs.

I've kissed a couple frogs.

I've eaten some really weird food.

I've walked about the same amount of miles as bizcochos and empanadas I've eaten.

I have met some really strange people.

Some REALLY. Strange people.

He aprendido un nuevo idioma.

I've loved a people more than I ever thought possible.

I've consistently woken up every day at 6:30 (my mom knows that's the biggest miracle of them all).

I've absolutely destroyed several pairs of shoes.

I've been confused. A lot.

I've cried a time or two (or three).

I've seen a capybara or two (or three).

I've driven by the temple every day for 5 months.

I've prayed more often and more fervently than ever before.

I've read one book over and over for a year and a half.

I've killed more roaches than I can count.

I've been sweared at, bullied, stared at, hit on, hugged, cat called, kissed, cried on, followed by creepy men, followed by cute kids, proposed to, barked at (a LOT), laughed at, laughed with, etc etc etc.

I've chosen to love.

I've loved without having much of a say in the matter, the love just kinda spilled out of me without me even realizing.

I've tripped a lot of times.

I've been a therapist for a whole lot of people.

I've laughed genuinely a whole lot.

I've prayed for people, lots of them.

I've been prayed for.

I've figured out how the bus system works in a foreign country.

I've had moments of pure bliss.

I've looked in the eyes of people and felt the love that God has for them just burst out.

And all of this because?

I chose to follow Christ.

As far as I know, Jesus never went to Montevideo or Canelones or Silver Spring or Treinta y Tres during His lifetime.

But as far as I know, when I came here, I followed Him all the way across the world.

So maybe He did go to Montevideo and Canelones and Silver Spring and Treinta y Tres.

Cause I've seen Him here.

And I've seen Him there.

Cause I chose Him.

And I keep choosing Him.

Every single dang day of my life.

Some days that's a whole lot easier than others.

Some days I've actually told God I was giving up on Him. (But I think both He and I both knew I didn't actually mean it.)

And some days I've told God that I didn't understand why I was so blessed.

And I think that's the whole point of life.

To love, to see His hand, and to talk to Him.

And to love some more.

Because of the people I have met and the experiences I have had, I can feel that love more than ever before.

God loves you.

So much.

And Jesus loves you too.

So much.

And if you are a human on this mighty fine planet of ours,

I guess I love you too.

So much.

Cause if I have learned anything in the 551 days with a little black tag on my chest,

It's that you are loved.

So much. 

I know that God lives. I know that Jesus Christ lives. That the Bible and the Book of Mormon are true. That I am a happier person when I truly do what God has asked of me. I know that prayers work. That God listens. I know that Joseph Smith really, truly saw God and Jesus Christ in that forest on that day in upstate New York. Call it crazy. But God has let me know quite clearly and quite a few times in that last year and a half. And if I haven't mentioned it in every one of the almost 80 emails I've sent, God loves you. And I love you.

Hermana Annie Linn Allen

Uruguay Montevideo Mission
Washington DC North Mission

August 2021 - February 2023