On February 2nd, I submitted the above photo (credit to my amazing Branch President, President Lourenco!) with my LDS Missionary Recommendation Forms. A week later, it was looked at by an apostle of the Lord and used as a reference for prayer. Weeks and weeks and weeks later, after many trials of patience, I got a surprising text from my mom. Another few weeks later, after some more trials of patience, I finally got the news I had been waiting so impatiently for...
I have been called to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the California Sacramento mission. I'll be speaking English and reporting to the Provo MTC on June 15th. For 18 months, I'll be serving the Lord and His people, preaching the gospel, and spreading the love of Christ! There's nothing I love more than this gospel, and I simply cannot wait for this wonderful time.
I'm going to expand a bit more on my decision and decision process of going on a mission, so if you want to learn more about me and that, read on!
When I was fourteen, I went to EFY, a three-week summer program for LDS youth. That summer was the summer I learned that I had a testimony of Christ and this church. It was a tiny testimony--a really really tiny one--but it existed nonetheless, so I clung to it. Over the years, I held my testimony really close to my heart and barely ever shared it with those around me for numerous reasons. I think because I held it so close, it never really grew much. It wasn't until I started sharing it with others whether by action or by word did it start to grow. And oh how I loved it so.
Another thing about that summer: when I realized I did have a testimony, I knew it was something special, so special that I knew I wanted to share it with the world. So ever since that summer, I have wanted to serve a full-time mission.
Over the years, my desire was put on the back burner (because I have to be 19 to serve and thus had to wait until at least November 2015). It became more important when I began my senior year, and after an amazing and testimony-strengthening summer at Governor's School, I knew even more so that I wanted to do nothing but serve a mission for the church that I loved so much. At the beginning of the college application process, I knew I wanted to serve a mission as soon as I could. BUT I didn't want to not go to college and "waste time" from June 2015-November 2015 (although I obviously wouldn't be wasting time). So I prayerfully applied to four awesome colleges and planned to go to school for one semester and then leaving for my mission at the beginning of 2016. When I was making my decision between the colleges, I also prayed. So. Much. Regarding both my mission and the school in general!
The summer before freshman year, I prayed some more, wanting to make sure that going on my mission after the fall semester--and even going at all, actually--was the right choice for me. After lots of prayer, pros-and-cons-lists, discussion with family and friends, and even more prayer, I decided that leaving after the entirety of my freshman year was the best choice. And I still believe that it is!
So basically, morals of the story...If you want something enough, just *in Shia LaBeouf's voice* do it. More importantly, prayer is real! And even MORE importantly, Heavenly Father's timing is real. I have so much faith in that.
Throughout this entire post, I've referenced my testimony, so you might be wondering what that entails. And, my friends, here it is (in its simplest form, anyways!)...
I have a testimony that this church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, is the true church of God, and it is the same gospel Jesus Christ taught when he was here over 2000 years ago. I have another testimony that God still speaks to us today through prophets. He spoke to Joseph Smith in the 1820s, leading to the restoration of today's church, and He continues to speak to us through today's prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I have a testimony that Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins during the Atonement so that we can defeat death and live with our Heavenly Father again for all eternity. Also, I know that, through the Atonement, I can find the greatest peace as I strive to become a more perfect person--as I strive to become the person I am supposed to be. I am a child of God, and He loves me more than I, you, anyone can ever imagine. And at the end of the day, I think that's what all of this--this entire blog post, this decision, this life I live--comes down to.
My testimony of that single fact is the greatest constant in my life, and it brings me an incredible amount of peace and joy. I feel so privileged to know something so simple yet so freaking awesome and special because guess what? He loves you, too! More than you can ever imagine. He loves everyone in the same capacity. I feel that too few people know that fact, and I find it a bit disheartening. So, I want to share that peace and joy and love with everyone, especially those around me. And I'm so beyond freaking excited to be doing that and only that for eighteen months of my life as I serve in the California Sacramento mission.
