Bubble Bath Goodbye

Hey everyone.. Well I don't have much time because I have a lot to do. I Leave in 6 hours for Chile and I have a lot to still get ready (I have a huge bottle of bathtub bubbles and I'm going back to the residence to soak in the tub of glory for my last night) I'm stoked! But I just want to quickly give an summary of my experience here in the MTC. I arrived here not really knowing what I was getting myself into. I have little confidence and had a lot of insecurities. It was incredibly odd for me to have someone by my side as a companion 24/7.. I liked to think of myself as a "Lone Ranger" before my mission. Just kinda went by my flow of things. Getting used to the expectations was difficult.. Struggling with my testimony in Spanish feeling like I didn't even have a testimony in Spanish was even more difficult. Just because i couldn't share my feelings. Trying to be the missionary that you all think I am, and at times coming up short was heart wrenching. But these experiences where the experiences that I needed to feel. I have overcome these faults, only because of the Lord. I know as I would kneel down and pray for help in every struggle that I had, the Lord would bear me up and give me all that I needed to get through my trials and then some. My relationship with Jesus Christ has forever changed and will only continue to grow closer and closer. I am so grateful for the spirit that I have felt here! "the temple is the house of the Lord" but "the MTC is where the Holy Ghost lives"... It is so powerful the things you can accomplish here. I'm so grateful for the experiences that I have had and they will forever change my live and soon to be the lives of those I serve. And to end, tonight we had to opportunity to watch the talk that Elder David A. Bednar gave to us on Christmas.. there was no better way to go out of the MTC.. I think I emailed about the talk in my Christmas email. but to some it up.. forget yourself, turn outward. I am going to go serve the people of Chile with all my Heart Might Mind and Strength(in about5 1/2 hours now)! I'm not going to hold 1 once of energy back, and nothing is going to stop me!!! Its going to take all that I have but I will do it! I am proud to say I came into the MTC, I jumped in with 2 feet not holding anything back.. and I can honestly say I've worked honorably hard and I am worthy to now have the chance to go serve the Lord in Chile.

thanks for all you do for me everyone... and I will tell you how great the bubble bath is later!

Love Elder Buck William Howard