Understanding My Desire

For awhile I knew I wanted to serve a mission but I wasn't sure why I wanted to serve, I just knew that I did. I had been praying for awhile to know that going on a mission was the right thing for me to do. I kept waiting to get my answer and it wasn't coming. One weekend I went home from school for the weekend to visit my parents. While I was home my I went to a meeting with my friends, where we get together and study things from Preach My Gospel. We called it HAT or Helaman's Army in Training. During the meeting we were role playing. Myself and a friend were the missionaries and my two other friends were the investigator and his brother. It was very interesting because we role played twice and the second time was the most amazing experience. As we talked and answered the questions that the two investigators had, we could feel the spirit so strongly. It wasn't until my friend who was the investigator asked me and my companion why we came on our missions; why we would leave our families for 2 years or 18 months. It was then that I realized why I wanted to go on a mission. I answered with saying that I have a happiness and a peace in my life that I want others to be able to have. They deserve to be happy and to feel that happiness that I feel in my life. I want them to know that they are never alone. Even at times when it feels like their is no one their and they are all alone, they are never truly alone. My friend asked what it felt like to feel the spirit and my companion said it was kind of like getting butterflies. It's like a warm and fuzzy feeling. My friend asked if that that was what he was feeling at that moment and we answered yes.

We ended at that point. All of us felt the spirit so strongly that we were silent for a few minutes. Even my friend who played the brother of the investigator felt the spirit and he was a few miles away but he was on skype. I realized after that I had almost no clue of what I had said during the role play. I realized that the spirit had been talking through me and guiding me with what I should say. It was the most incredible experience and I could feel the spirit so strongly. I realized at that point why I wanted to serve a mission. I had a feeling of warmth; of confirmation that what I was doing was right and that it was the right thing for me to do.

I know that I want to serve a mission and I know why I want to serve a mission now. I will serve the Lord with faith and strength in the comfort that the Lord gives me.

 

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, and More Clothes

 I went and did some mission shopping with my parents and we are almost done shopping for clothes. We finished up buying all my skirts and I just need to get a few more shirts. These are some of the outfits that I was able to put together. The brown skirt looks almost black but I promise that it is brown. Several of the skirts and several of the shirts we got at The Missionary Mall. Some of the other shirts are from Down East Basics.

9 skirts
5 shirts
3 sweaters
4 Blazers
2 belts

Almost there!!!!!!!!

Finding My Wish and Dream

I have had many opportunities to contemplate the reasons that I want to serve a mission. I've also watched many friends leave on their missions. They are literally all over the world. From the Philippines to Germany and Canada, England and South America. They also range from everywhere in America. Nevada, Florida, California, Illinois, Virginia, Oregon, and soon to be Arizona. In less than a year I have watched over 10 of my friends, maybe even more, and even more classmates leave on their missions. It is one of the most amazing experiences to watch all these people that I look up to, make the decision to serve the Lord for 18 and 24 months. This decision will bless them for eternity.

As I have watched these people leave on their missions, I have had the chance to ponder why I want to serve a mission. This decision was greatly influenced by the announcement of the mission age change. Before the age change I was not sure if I would be able to serve a mission because so much can happen between the age of 17 and 18 for graduating high school and the age that Young Women were allowed to serve of 21. That Saturday morning session of General Conference completely changed my life.

That Friday I was asked if I would like to help my friend Sam and his family make apple sauce that Saturday. I was happy to help because it meant that I wouldn't have to miss conference, where if I had gone with my parents to a marching band competition I would have missed it. As I sat at my friends table waiting to start the apple sauce making process, we watched the opening of that conference and I was not prepared for the announcement that was to take place. I watched as the following announcement was made:

As I watched the announcement of the age change for Young Men, I was thinking how lucky and happy my friend was because he would be able to serve earlier than expected. I looked at his mom and say how happy she was. I thought, "That is so incredible that the age for young men has changed. It would be awesome if they changed the age for young women as well." As they announced the age change for young women, my mouth hung open in shock and I had tears coming to my eyes. My prayers and wishes had been answered by that one announcement. My friends mom looked at me and asked me if I was 19 but I wouldn't be 19 until the following July. I called my dad and told him what had just been announced and he asked me if that that was what I wanted to do. My answer was a solid and undeniable "YES".

This announcement has changed my life. After that one moment, I knew what my goal was and I have had my eyes set on that one goal since. I started my mission papers at the end of December 2012. I turned my papers in on March 29, 2013. I received my call on April 18, 2013. I have been called to the Colorado Denver South Mission reporting July 31st.

That one moment changed my life. I am on the path to receiving the eternal blessings that come from serving a mission and serving the Lord. Once I leave for the Provo MTC, the next 18 months will be the hardest and most amazing and best 18 months of my life. I look forward to those 18 months.

The work of the Lord is moving forward in great and tremendous leaps. The Lord's children know what they have been asked to do and they are responding with a great shout and diligence. The Army of the Lord is strong and is growing in great and strong numbers. As we, as young women, prepare to serve the Lord, the Lord will help us put on the Armour of God. He will protect us as we do His will.

Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;
Onward, ever onward, as we glory in his name;
Forward, pressing forward, as a triumph song we sing.
God our strength will be; press forward ever,
Called to serve our King.

The Armour of God is strong and will never fail. 

Missionary Dress

Just a few of the things that I have been able to put together for my mission. I've included where I got these wonderful articles of clothing. More to come

 Striped Skirt- Down East Basics

Brown undershirt- Down East

White blazer- Maurices

 White undershirt- Wet Seal

Orange cardigan- Down East

Tan shirt- Down East

Skirt- Walmart

 Sailor skirt- Down East

Blue striped shirt- Down East

Blue blazer- Maurices

Sailor striped shirt- Down East
Sailor Skirt- Down East

White blazer- Maurices

Blue/Gold polka dot skirt- Walmart

Brown floral skirt- amerimark.com

Blazer- Maurices

Striped blazer- Maurices

Black skirt- blair.com

 Black blazer- Maurices

Skirt- amerimark.com

 Tan shirt- Down East

Bow cardigan- Down east

Tan bead shirt- Down East

Bow cardigan- Down East

I received my call on April 18, 2013. I have been called to serve in the Colorado Denver South Mission, English speaking. I report to the Provo MTC on July 31, 2013.

I cannot wait to serve the Lord and the people of Colorado. Serving a mission is something that I have always wanted to do but was never sure if it would be an option. When the age change was announced, I literally cried with joy because I was so happy that I would finally be able to serve. In August I had told a friend that I wished that they would let Sisters serve at age 19 also and then the age was changed. This is such a great opportunity for all sisters. I know that this church is true and I am so thankful that I have grown up with its influence in my life. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and it will bring great blessings to the people of the world. I have first hand experience of the power of the Book of Mormon.

We are called to serve the Lord in this day. Let us put on the Armor of God and win the battle.