Wahoo!! The exciting moment when the long anticipated mission call finally arrives in your mailbox. There are so many things running through your head. First thing I did when I realized my call was in my mailbox at 10 O'clock at night was call my Mom and Dad, who currently were living about 2 hours away from my college apartment. I hurried and hung up with them so that I could call all of my closest friends over to open what just might be the most exciting piece of mail a future missionary could ever receive. I was running around my apartment trying not to look at this big white envelope sitting on my coffee table that would decide my future for the next 18 months of my life.
For some of you, you know this exact moment all to well. Others of you might be thinking what is such the big deal about a white envelope. Well, let me start with this...
When a young man or women who belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints turns 18 years old for young men and 19 years old for young women, they get an amazing opportunity to dedicate their lives to sharing the message of Jesus Christ for 18 months to 2 years. During this period of time all missionaries (no matter where they are called to serve throughout the entire world) refrain from watching the latest TV shows, listening to the newest music, sometimes put their educations on hold and give up wearing 'normal' clothes (church clothes for the WIN!). These young adults, in simple terms, give up everything a normal young adult would do just so that they can be a missionary. They give up themselves so that they can do a greater work of bringing people unto Christ.
COOL RIGHT!!
Well yours truly has taken on this description of a missionary and is getting to serve the people of the Utah Salt Lake City Mission speaking the English Language!
Wait. What?! You mean I don't get to go to some foreign country and speak a different language? You got stuck in the mecca of Mormonville?
Yes. You read that correctly. I have the amazing privilege to serve for 18 whole months in one of the most beautiful places that I could have ever imagined going. Some have asked me how I feel about not going to England or Africa or something exotic. So many things run through my mind when people ask me that and the first thing I tell them is that I am SO BEYOND EXCITED to be going to SLC.
I didn't choose to serve a mission thinking I needed to go somewhere outside of the US. I chose to serve a mission because I want to bring people joy in knowing that they have a Father in Heaven that LOVES them so so so much that he gave His only Begotten Son for you! His Son died for you so that we could live our lives and when we make mistakes, its okay because there is no such thing as being perfect. I chose to serve a mission knowing that it may be hard. I don't know anyone there and won't until the day I get there. I chose to serve through my own decision making and no one forced me by any means. I'm not going to lie, I would have loved to been called to an exotic mission, that's just the traveler in me, but that is not what a mission is about. A mission is called of God. A mission is for those who know the Lord has entrusted His children into your hands for the period you will serve.
The Lord knows where I need to be and I have faith in His works. I'm not one bit disappointed in my call because I know for a surety that this is the exact time and place that I need to be serving. I have faith in my Father in Heaven's plan for me and can't wait for the adventures I will embark on in the Utah Salt Lake City Mission.
Peace out California!
Peace out California!
