Papers

Well, the mission papers are almost in…just one more interview next week. I just had my interview with my bishop. During that interview as my bishop bore testimony over and over that the mission is hard, but worth it, this whole endeavor become more real to me. I’m actually doing it…sometimes I can’t believe I’m actually going on a mission. The rest of the time though, I ponder upon the months ahead of me, the blessings and the growth to come, and I count my blessings that God persuaded me to go.
When my bishop asked me why I wanted to serve, all I could think to say was that the Lord told me to. Though it hadn’t been my plan, knowing the divinity of God and His love for me, I need no other reason. I know that it won’t be easy. I’ll just have to take the trials as they come. I can’t sit here worrying my faith away, so I don’t worry and I don’t speculate. I simply contemplate, hope, dream, pray, and prepare to share the good word of God to the people I will serve.
A lot of people have been asking if I want to serve somewhere specific. Honestly, I don’t care where I go. I know God has a specific place in mind for me and I trust that I will fulfill my predestined mission there.
I’m really curious as to when I’ll get my call. After sending the call, Salt Lake likes to get an acceptance letter quickly that is signed by both the missionary and the bishop. Being in Alaska for 4 to 6 weeks will make this process difficult, though I don’t really want to wait until I get back to find out. I will have to simply trust that my leaders will know how to make it work and remember that all things come in God’s time, not mine.

My call

                 

During most of my life I never felt like serving a mission was something I needed to do. As a faithful member of the LDS church I had thought about it. I know the good my three brothers gained from serving and I wouldn’t have minded getting to experience what they did. Well, God threw me a curve ball last week.
My family was traveling back from a week long vacation in Moab. We were about an hour into the trip and I was reading a book. As I read the doubts of the upcoming school year filled my mind. I hadn’t heard anything about making it into marching band, I didn’t feel right about the student loan I was applying for, etc. I thought if only I could get away for two years and serve a mission. Then I would have another chance to audition for marching band and my tendinitis would be much better and I would have loads of teaching experience. But I had never felt the draw to serve a mission before…
I felt a strong overwhelming love wash over my soul. Love without doubt. I knew then that I had just been called to serve. Though doubts and fears filled my mind, I knew that God wanted me to go. These thoughts haunted me for the rest of the day and into the next. I knew they weren’t going away, so I had to do something about it. I told my mom I want to serve a mission. She of course got all teary eyed. She had seen me struggling for the last couple days but didn’t want to intrude.
I feel at peace that I am going in the right direction. It came on suddenly and at first I was worried that I hadn’t prepared fully because I haven’t taken any mission prep classes, but I felt again that love telling me that I am prepared. I need to go. I am so excited to go. I can’t think of doing anything else with the next 18 months of my life.