Yep. That's right! I'm going on a mission!!
I've been thinking about going on a mission for a while now. I took mission prep during Winter 2009 and was getting really excited for the day when I could submit my papers. As time got closer and closer though for that moment, I began to wonder if going on a mission was really the right thing for me. I had just started dating an amazing guy. Maybe I wasn't supposed to go on a mission. Maybe I should just stay home and get married. Or what if I'm not supposed to do either, but just continue on with school? I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do. I decided back in January, that if I really was supposed to go on a mission, the Lord would let me know. Because of this, I signed up for housing in the fall and signed up for classes; I figured if I did end up feeling like I needed to go on a mission, I could just cancel the housing and drop the classes. I think, deep down, I knew that I would end up serving a mission. It was difficult to discern though what were my thoughts and what was the Spirit. Once I began to think of the possibility of going on a mission, I began to felt a comfort and peace that I have not felt for a while. I know that this is what the Lord wants me to do with my life right now. I am scared, but I know that with the Lord's help, I can do anything.
This was the picture I used for my papers. The picture that an apostle of the Lord is going to see when he makes my mission assignment.
On May 16, I made the actual decision to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is anticipated that I will serve for a period of 18 months.
On May 17, I told my parents and Trent of my decision to serve.
I set up my first appointment with my bishop on May 18.
On May 23, I had my first meeting with my bishop. Because he had just been called as my bishop the previous Sunday, he really had no idea how to start my papers, so he told me to come back the next week, and he would tell me what I needed to do then.
On May 27, I told my siblings of my plans to serve. Laura and Emily were sad, and Laura cried a little bit. Cameron didn't care all that much that I would be gone because we will both be on our missions about the same time.
On May 30, I started my papers.
I counted down the days until June 16, when I had my doctor's appointment. I had never been more excited to go to the doctor's in my life.
This afternoon, I am going to call my bishop and see if he has done everything he needs to so that I can meet with my Stake President.
My availability date is September 15, but I don't think I'll leave until October.
I'm hoping to have my call in about 2 weeks.
Until then, I continue to wait....
According to Trent, this is my "I'm so excited to go on a mission!" face. He thinks it's cute.
I have always heard that a missionary's family receives so many blessing because of their children's willingness to put their life on hold and serve the Lord for 18-24 months. Even though I have not yet left, I feel as if my family is currently being blessed because of both Cameron's and my decision to serve missions (Cameron just started his papers...I'm further ahead in the process then he is, but not by much). On the first day of Spring term, my mom called me and informed me that my dad had just found out that he was going to be laid off at the end of June. I wasn't sure what to think. My dad has had his job for 11, maybe 12 years now. I felt secure in the fact that my dad had a job. And now, my mom would be the sole provider until my dad could find work. It was going to be a struggle for my family. Yay for trials.
A little less than a month later, I decided to serve a mission. I knew my dad would probably not have a job, and I knew that missions were expensive. I had no idea how we were going to pay for it, but I knew that I needed to go and that the Lord would provide. As time got closer for my dad to be laid off, he said that things at work had started to change. I guess they were moving the budget around, and there were rumors that my dad would be able to keep his job. About 2 weeks ago, he texted me and told me that his position was officially retained. I felt like this was a huge weight lifted off of the shoulders of our family. My family has been so blessed lately; whether or not that has anything to do with my decision to serve, I don't know. I do know that the Lord is looking out for me and my family though.
I just like this picture; I had Trent take a bunch of pictures of me, and I thought this one looked cool.
I am so excited to serve a mission! I know this is what the Lord wants me to do. I have had wonderful support from my family and friends, and I value that a lot. Trent has been a huge blessing to me as I am preparing to go as well. He has helped me learn more about myself and more about how things are going to be out on my mission. Ever since we started dating 7 months ago, he's always told me that if I feel like going on a mission is the right thing for me to do, he'll support me 100%. Well, I do feel like it is the right thing, and he giving me the support that I need, especially when I doubt my abilities to be a good missionary. I don't know where things will end up between us, but I do know that he will always be my friend.
I am so excited to share the Gospel wherever I get called. At the end of Mosiah, the sons of Mosiah are asking for permission to preach the Gospel to the Lamanites because "...they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even he very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble" (Mosiah 28:3). This is how I feel about the Gospel, or at least, how I want to feel.
I have a feeling that this is going to be the hardest thing I've done in my life so far, yet it will be the most rewarding. I can't wait!!
