"I put my trust in the Lord and in His grace"

This is Susan, Dallis' mom - I can't believe this is the last week of Dallis' Mission. I am so, so happy to get this sweet boy home and I know he is leaving family and friends there and his heart is torn. This little boy has always watched over me and taken care of me his whole life. He will never let anything bad happen to me. I know that he has done the same thing for his sweet members and converts that he has had the privilege of serving! I know he has watched over them and loved them and taken care of them. And just as hard as it was for him to leave us here, it is equally as hard for him to leave them there. I am grateful for Dal's service and his enthusiasm to do whatever the Lord asked him to do! What a great blessing this opportunity will forever be in his life! I love this boy and thank Heavenly Father for allowing me to share his life with him!

Well, fellow friends, this is it. The last week of Elder Quinn in Wonderland. And what a Wonderland it has been. Being able to come back to finish my mission where I started was a huge blessing. When I started here in Setúbal, it was very difficult. I couldn't see the end, and being honest, I didn't want to stay and have to adjust to the missionary life. It was a pride thing on my part. I was used to being able to relax and take it easy, and the mission demands more of us. I had to leave my comfort zone and thank goodness I did. 12 companions later, 7 different areas in Portugal, here I am. I made it. Why? Because I put my trust in the Lord and in His grace. I now know for sure that the Atonement is real, and that Jesus lives, He is resurrected. Yes, He suffered, but that was not the end. Jesus broke the bands of death, meaning if we rely on Him, we can break the bands of our difficulties. It was because of the hard times I passed that I came to know the Lord. All the rejections, all the days of looking and no finding, and Sundays when no investigators would show up to church, was all worth it. The Lord suffered it all, it was only a little that I passed through here, and how grateful I am to have done it. To be able to call myself a representative of Christ for 2 years, the best thing I have done until now. My life and eternity are changed forever because of the mission. The Lord and His tender mercies these past months have been beyond what I deserved. The Lord uses imperfect people to perform His miracles and to help Him with His work. It is an unexplainable joy that I have come to feel here on the mission. It has all been worth it. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lord´s kingdom on earth, The Book of Mormon is the word of God, we can enjoy the blessing of His Priesthood power on earth again, Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God. I know this because I conversed with God, and He answered me. I see answers in my life and the lives of others, proof of His love, that keeping ALL of His Commandments is the only way to live with everlasting happiness in this life.

I love you all, thank you for everything these past 2 years! All the prayers, love and support!

Love Elder Quinn