Mission Call

The big day came! The day that every future missionary dreams so extensively about. THE DAY I RECEIVED MY MISSION CALL! The place to where I have been called didn't even ever cross my mind! Never would've guessed that I would be sent there! It was insane because as you're reading the letter sent to you from the prophet, so many things are running through your mind! You're feeling ecstatic, trying not to read ahead, not to get emotional, and you're also trying not to let out random screeches of excitement. Then all of a sudden you're reading out loud the place the Lord is sending you and your heart skips a beat!! Believe me, I feel like I have skipped lots of beats since then. Hope my heart's okay. I am just so excited!! Sooo here it is...

I have been called to serve as a missionary of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
and have been assigned to labor in the
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Utah Salt Lake City Mission!!
I report to the MTC July 5th!
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I don't normally post personal things, but I feel like I need to share this. I must say that I didn't make the decision to serve a mission on a whim. It definitely came after much fasting and prayer. I actually had other plans. I had just finished my Associates here at CGCC and was ready to move on to BYU-I to continue my education there. However, the Lord had other plans for me. The thought of leaving to school just didn't give me peace. The mission kept coming back to my mind, so I knew it was time to seriously consider it. I prayed for weeks, then finally on Sunday, December 18th of last year, I decided to fast with the faith that I might hear something that day that would help me make a final decision. And indeed, what I hoped for came. The speaker's topic was actually on Jeffrey R. Holland's talk from Priesthood session last October. The talk was on missionary work. Coincidence? I think not. I had heard the talk a couple times before already, but this time it was a whole different experience for me. I felt as though I was being told that I was needed out in the mission field. The feeling filled my whole soul. When the Spirit gives you such a feeling, how can you deny it? There was no doubt in my mind in that moment what I was supposed to do, but after Sacrament Meeting, I was almost left in shock. I felt that my answer came just so quickly that day, it was too incredible! I read a quote, also by Elder Holland, that gave me comfort:
"With any major decision, there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been illumination, beware of the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now."
That evening I met with Bishop Wiltbank and started my mission papers.

I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to serve my Lord and His children and help them know how much He loves them. He really wants them to learn of and receive His gospel to its fullness. I love Him so much and am so absolutely thrilled to be an instrument in His hands and to love all who I will meet and teach. I feel like I already love them with all my heart without having met them, yet. I am just so happy! And I just am so grateful for my Savior who has led me to this place in my life. "I cannot say the smallest part which I feel." (Alma 26:16)