1 week 3 days…and counting!
It coming so close I can almost breath down it’s neck! I am super stoked about my mission. I was really scared when we took Rebekah to the MTC. I think I felt as scared as she did. But as we drove onto the MTC campus and I looked around at all the gung-ho, excited, and energetic missionaries there, the Spirit drove away my fear. Now I can’t wait to get there so I can prepare to serve the Lord myself. I’m still a little scared of the unknown (and it doesn’t help that everyone keeps telling me it’s going to be really hard!), but I know I am on the Lord’s errand and as long as I have firm faith in my Savior, I will never have to fear, for I will never be alone. I love my God, and I love this gospel!!!
My mission president, Pres. Holm, sent me a cool little fact sheet on the history of the church in South Carolina, and I thought I’d copy it down for all y’ all’s enjoyment:
Caralana as this area was originally called is a derivative of the Latin word for Charles—referring to Charles I, King of England who granted the land to Sir Robert Heath in 1629. The spelling was later change by King Charles’ son, Charles II in 1663 to Carolina. Over ensuing years (17th century) the area to the South slowly became designated as South Carolina and the area to the North as North Carolina. In 1729 the English officially divided the North from the South and the two became separate colonies. On May 23, 1788 South Carolina became the eighth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States.
Originally South Carolina (also known as the Palmetto State because of the Palmetto trees which grow abundantly in coastal areas) was an agricultural state but has evolved now to be a manufacturing state—particularly of textiles. Today it is home of more than four million people.
In D&C 87 the Lord gave to the Prophet Joseph Smith a revelation in which he was told the time was coming that “war will be poured out upon all nations…beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina.” And so it was almost thirty years later with the election of Abraham Lincoln (who ran on an anti-slavery platform) that the Civil War commenced with an attack on For Sumter in South Carolina by confederate forces. For some, a feeling about the war and “Northern aggression” continues to run strong and deep and is generally not a topic of missionary conversation…
Missionary work began in South Carolina in 1839 with the arrival of Elder Lysander M. Davis, who labored under difficult circumstances to establish the Church and build the kingdom of God. On at least one occasion he was arrested and confined in jail and yet would later write of his experience in a letter dated March of 1840, “The cause of truth is yet spreading in South Carolina, I have baptized three since I last wrote, and trust that the good seed is sown in the hearts of many other honest persons. If you have any elder to spare, who will be faithful as to enable them to preach by the spirit of God, send them here, for they may be very useful in this part of the Lord’s vineyard.” And so with that same spirit and attitude, we continue to labor in building the kingdom and bask in the honor of serving in this part of His vineyard.
Though comparatively small in comparison to the total population of the state, the Church has continued to grow over the years and South Carolina now supports six stakes comprised of forty-seven units, as well as a temple located in the capital city of Columbia.
The people of South Carolina maintain a rich legacy of pride in the way of southern hospitality and are a courteous and friendly folk. You will find them welcoming and warm.
So now you know about as much about South Carolina as I do—other than it gets really hot there. I can’t wait to serve the Lord!
(Speaking of “all y’ all”, my old singles branch president told me on the day we gave our farewells that he bet me an ice cream that I would say all y’all at least once during my return talk….I’m going to keep him to that bet. 
)
