The Call

Well this all started in April of 2008. I was watching General Conference and had the impression that I should go on a mission. All who know me know that this was one of the last things that I wanted to do. So I thought to myself no thanks. I kept receiving these promptings over the next couple months. I so finally decided that I would go on a mission but that i would wait until I got back to Utah to start my papers. When I got back to Utah I got caught up with my friends and making other plans to travel the world and put off the whole mission thing. Well thankfully God doesn't give up when he wants to do something wonderful that will bless your life. All my plans failed and I finally realized it was because I needed to do something else with my life.

I started to change my bad attitude about sister missionaries (that came from the good influence of some really good returned missionary friends that I had in Hawaii) and I changed my desires from doing what I wanted to and tried to think about what I should do. So first I started by praying that my desires would be changed and that I would actually have a desire to go on a mission. I started praying with a direct questions instead of being so vague. I then gained a testimony that we should should study things out in our minds and then go to the Lord with direct questions. I received an answer that I should serve a mission. I realized that my life had been so blessed and that it was time for me to help others find the happiness that comes to my life everyday from the gospel.

I started my papers and withing 2 weeks I had had all my interviews, appointments, and paper work completed.

On Friday, September 21, 2008 I received my mission call. I had been expecting it to come on Wednesday so I had everyone ready to come up. Nancy had made cookies, Brianne had bought a balloon, and the party was all set to go. Well the envelope didn't show up that day. So I assured everyone that it would be there the next day. Everyone saved their treats and were prepared to come. Well on Thursday the mailman was late so I rode my bike around the neighborhood to find the mailman only to hear the disappointing news that my call had not come once again. So finally on Friday it came when we were at my cousin's wedding. I made my parents leave immediately, without eating any of the food when the neighbors called to say that it had come.

So I opened it with Brad of one phone and Nancy on the other with family and friends surrounding me.

There it was: Sister Call you have been called to serve in the Portugal Porto mission!

What a feeling of excitement. I never thought about going to Portugal before but of course I was thrilled to death.