Elder Reyes will complete his 2 year mission in just 2 weeks. His story was recently featured in the Central America Liahona. It is a courageous story of determination and perseverance. Hopefully I have done a good job in translating!
Returning to my mission
On August 15, 2015, I was called to serve a full time
mission to Mexico City, Southeast Mission.
I will never forget the moment in which I opened my call; the moment was
special and totally different from most of the experience of others.
I was born on the 20th of January, 1994, to a
wonderful and great people, my parents.
I come from a family in which every day, while on the Earth, we strive
to succeed. When I was nine years old, I
was diagnosed with a disease that would change my life and my family.
After taking many tests and studies to identify the disease,
I was told that I needed to have an operation for a tumor that had formed in my
head. When the day of the operation came
we relied on Heavenly Father that all would be well. We had also hoped that the words from the
doctors following the surgery would be that there was nothing more and that my
recovery would be immediate.
After passing this trial my family and I continued to strive
and progress within the Gospel. Years passed and all was going well until I turned
14 years of age. At this age my family and I did not imagine what was to happen
to me. Five years after the first surgery a tumor was again growing in my head.
No new studies were required. The
doctors already knew what was wrong and another operation was required; only
that this time it would be totally different. On this occasion, Dr. Castellanos
(doctor who saw my case all my life), knew that my illness had worsened.
I remember that he talked with my parents and with me about
what was happening, and he mentioned that treatments of chemotherapy were
needed. I would have to fight this
disease for the rest of my life.
Histiocytosis cancer occurs in several ways. It manifested in my bones, creating tumors.
I did not want chemotherapy at 14 years of age and following
my second operation. However, I started
my treatment that lasted for four years.
During those years of chemotherapy, many tests and trials were experienced
by my family.
I can only imagine the tests that were endured by my family,
but they never passed on the difficult times to me. Every week I went to the hospital to receive
my chemotherapy. My family always was
with me at every moment. I did feel
something special in those moments of difficulties and that something was
hope. I knew hope meant believing that
all will be well and that God would comply with His promises. Hope has the power to fill our lives with
happiness, hope sustains us from despair.
This encouraged me to continue through all the tests.
When I turned 18, after having 4 years of chemotherapy, I returned
often to the doctor to see how my body had accepted the treatment.
It came the time which had to make the decision to serve a
mission or not. I remember that one of the doctors was not in total agreement
that I serve a mission. My body was well, thanks to the treatment that I had,
the disease had stopped and there was nothing more. It was incredible knowing
that all was well, and that I could do the things I’d like to. On one occasion
when I was talking to Bishop of the ward where I attended, he mentioned serving
a mission. I remember that the Bishop asked me if I wanted to serve a mission,
and I said yes, I was willing to serve.
I started filling out my paperwork and be ready to serve a
mission. My papers were sent to Salt Lake City. We waited for the letter to
return with my assignment. With the letter in my hands, it was time to know
where I was going to serve. I opened it
at the time we selected and it was special. My grandmother was sick with cancer
and about to leave this earth. I remember that we gathered around her as she
was in bed being unable to speak. She wanted to know where I was going; so I
opened my call and read it. I felt something special in my heart as I read that
I would in Mexico, and felt a great love for the country.
I passed the time preparing to serve as a missionary, reading
my Scriptures, praying to the Heavenly Father, and attended the missionary
preparation classes that helped to increase my faith in Jesus Christ daily.
Finally the day came to go on my mission and I was excited,
happy and nervous about doing something that my family and I had been waiting
for a long time, serving a full time mission.
I started my mission on August 15, 2012 and it was so special and unique
that I will never forget how my testimony began to grow as I served the Lord
with all my heart, mind and strength.
I loved seeing how the Gospel of Jesus Christ changed the
life of the people. I knew that time was something special and I had to forget
myself and give myself entirely to the Lord's work. Having served nine months
in the mission, without knowing what would happen, once again there appeared a
small ball of dough in my arm elbow. The doctors said that it was a tumor and
had to return home to recover. I returned to a sad home and was desperate to
know what I had, the doctor saw me again and started blood tests and other studies.
With the results in the hands of the doctor, he told me: "you have
nothing!"
I remember that my mother and one of my sisters were with me
at the time, and the two turned to me as my eyes filled with tears to know that
I had returned from the mission without being ill. After spending time at home,
I started to study at the University. I was often thinking that the mission time
that was not over. The leaders of the
Church told me that I had done my part to serve and that it was not necessary
to return, and that I had been returned with honor. Eventually, they called me
as a teacher of future missionaries of stake and when this happened I felt
happy for the mission release I’d received, happy for the desire to help others
with my mission, and that the mission was a success. However, something inside
of me still wanted to help in Mexico, and the desire to return was in me. My
uncle shared his experience when from his mission. I thought so much of my
mission. I decided to go back.
I went to the Stake President and shared with him that I
wanted to return. He helped me a lot and we started to prepare my papers to
return. Two years passed and I remained at home waiting for an answer to see if
someday I could return or not. In those two years, we tried three times and
never got a response. I decided that I had to do something and started to work,
prepare, and focus more on my gospel study.
Finally it happened and my father received a call that I
could return to complete my mission. In June 2015, a Friday, they called me
from the offices of the Church, and they told me that I could now return to the
mission and gave me a date for leaving. The date of departure was the Monday of
the following week. I couldn't believe it. I thanked God for giving me this
great opportunity to return. That weekend was one that I will not forget. I had
to prepare myself to go back to complete my mission. My family and I were so
happy.
At this moment I am in the Mexico City, Southeast Mission,
culminating my mission. Four months before finishing, I have grown to understand
that God and our Lord Jesus Christ are always on our side and that they know
the desires of our heart. I know that Jesus Christ lives and that He came to
this earth to die for every one of us. I testify that God has created this
wonderful Plan of happiness for His children, and that the tests that we endure
in life cannot be compared with the test Jesus Christ faced on this earth. And
that in this moment Jesus Christ guides the steps of both my companion and me.
I testify that the Church of Jesus Christ is true, that the
Book of Mormon is true and Joseph Smith was the perfect instrument by which
this beautiful and wonderful Gospel was restored.
As a representative of Jesus Christ I know that God blesses
us when we are faithful and obedient to all that is demanded, and that He is
always with us wherever we go. All in the life is based on our Heavenly Father,
and God blesses us for our obedience. I Testify of these things, testify of God
the Father, of his son Jesus Christ and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
