"You're Going on a Mission?! What?!"

I recently (as in Thursday) opened my mission call. It was a moment that I'd been waiting for ever since I made my decision to serve a mission. But what I really want to talk about is all the moments leading up to opening my call, because I feel like its something that I need to share.

First off, let me state this: I feel like everyone needs to serve a mission. NOW, before you freak out on me, and throw tomatoes at me or something horrible like that, let me explain. Every person has a mission in this life. You don't have to leave everything you have, and go preach the gospel in a different place to be a missionary. You don't have to have a fancy letter to be called to the work. We are ALL called. Whether you preach through word, deed, example, or even through your gifts and talents, you are being a missionary. One of my very dear friends has stated when people ask if she's planning on serving a mission, "I feel like my music is my mission." You go girl. (If you know Erin College, its her. She's amazing. Be her friend.) This is exactly what I'm talking about. Find your mission, and commit to it. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 And my favorite quote of all time: "Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words." Dieter F. Uchtdorf 

Now, onto my story. When I was younger, I dreamed about serving a mission. That was one of my top goals in life! I wanted to serve a mission if I wasn't married by the time I was 21. As I grew older, that dream lived on, but became a little less prominent in my mind. Then THAT day came. The day when President Monson shocked the entire world by lowering the available age for missionaries from 19 (Boys) and 21 (Girls), to 18 and 19. When he said that, it hit me: my life plan was ruined! 19 was so young! I couldn't just go on a mission if I wasn't married, because I wasn't planning on being married before I was 19! So I had to decide if I was going to serve. Right then I decided that it wasn't for me. Then people started posting things on social media that said things like, "That moment when boys will say that they will only marry a returned missionary." I was infuriated. It bothered me more than I can even say, and still does. Basically I developed a bitterness towards missionary service. Life went on. 

Eventually I  became a little bitter towards a few other things in the church: Why did I have to cover my shoulders? Why did I have to go to 3 hours of church every Sunday? Why did I have to read a book that I didn't even understand half the time? These questions didn't stop me from going to church, or being modest, but they did stop me from reading The Book of Mormon. Luckily for me, I've been blessed with 1) AMAZING parents, 2) FANTASTIC friends, and 3) INSPIRED leaders. My parents are the greatest human beings you will ever meet. I love them (even though I might give them a hard time). They are my rock and my foundation. They taught me what was right, and then gave me the freedom to discover the truth on my own. I am so grateful for their loving guidance, and their examples to me. My friends are also SO amazing. My junior year, one of my friends challenged me to read The Book of Mormon in 1 month. Sadly, I failed. But that was perfect, because it only made me want to complete the challenge even more. So, when my very inspired leaders assigned me in March of my senior year, to teach the Young Women lesson in April on The Book of Mormon, I decided I should probably read it before I taught about it. So I did! I read The Book of Mormon in one month. It was the greatest month of my life. Like it says in Alma 5:14, I had a mighty change of heart. It was the most amazing thing to discover the truth of that book that I had spent my whole life believing was true, but never truly knowing. I love The Book of Mormon. I invite you all to read it if you haven't, and pray about it with a sincere heart. God WILL answer you, and if for some reason you don't receive an answer, then that is just God letting you know that you already know its true. So keep doing what your doing!

With my knowledge of the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon, came a knowledge of the truthfulness of all aspects of the gospel. My bitterness turned to love, my sorrow to joy, and my pain and lonliness, to comfort and peace. I came to realize that the times that I was the happiest, were the times that I was living a life fully attached to, and engaged in, the gospel. How could I not realize it before?! I spent a good year to two years living a life full of sadness, when I could have been living a life of joy, recognizing my Savior by my side. (Because he NEVER left my side. I was just choosing to ignore Him. Don't do that.) However, I needed this experience. I needed to be able to grow for myself and gain my own testimony, so that when the time came again for me to decide whether or not I would serve a mission, I was spiritually ready.

That time came around July, when one of my best friends (Elder Pratt) left on his mission to Paris France. Watching his journey of preparation to get his call, getting his call, and then preparing to leave, sparked a mission interest in me again. So the question came to me once more. Ever since finishing The Book of Mormon, the question had been in my mind, but this time it was overwhelming. One day when I was home alone, I decided to ask my Father in Heaven. I spent hours on my knees, reading my scriptures, and reading my patriarchal blessing. When I first opened my scriptures, I had one of "those" moments. The moment when you open up to and read exactly what you need. (D&C 19:37) It was amazing. Then I fasted, prayed, and sobbed. (Crying's a thing I do now.) I knew what my answer was. I knew that I needed to serve a full-time mission.

So, I began the process of completing my papers. I decided that I wanted to go to one semester of school, and turn them in in November, so that I could leave around my birthday in March. I am not a patient person, so the waiting was hard. At first when I made my decision, I started telling people because I was so happy about it. Most often the responses I received were, "What?!", "Are you sure?", "There's no way you're serving a mission." and my favorite, "I can't see you as a missionary." These were all people that were very close to me, so when they reacted in this way it was extremely disheartening. I learned quickly to rely only upon the opinion of  myself, my Savior, and my Heavenly Father. The rest didn't matter. This was an extremely sacred process between my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and myself. So, I kept it a secret. I didn't post on Facebook everyday about it. I didn't use things like "#futuresistermissionary". Not that those things are bad, I just didn't do them because I needed to go through this process alone, so I knew for myself that it was right, and wasn't swayed by all the opinions of others.

October rolled around and I found myself questioning how long I should be in school. I had made the Latter-Day Voices choir, and I was 17 credits away from getting my Associates degree. After more praying, crying, and fasting, I decided to postpone turning in my papers until the first of January. It was a long wait. It was hard. My patience was short, but it grew during those months. I finally turned my papers in on Tuesday January 6th, and received my mission call on Thursday, January 22, to the Taiwan Taichung mission. Woah, what? This can't be real. I have never learned Chinese in my life, and now I'm supposed to become fluent?  How can I do this? Then I remembered Alma 26:12, and I KNEW that I could do all things if I put my trust in God. Now, don't get me wrong, I was
(still am) overjoyed to be called to Taiwan. I cannot wait to serve the people there. But, I was also very overwhelmed, scared, and concerned. I'll be traveling over 7,000 miles to a foreign land, with a very difficult language, leaving everything behind, and for what? To spread to others the joy the gospel has brought me. To let them feel of the happiness that only comes through Christ. To share the message of the restored gospel that is on the earth today! To bring to their knowledge a God who loves and cares for each and every one of us. To show that no one is ever alone. To build up broken souls, and heal wounded hearts. And I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb while doing it. ;) But this is what I want. This is what I need to do. Another thing that crossed my mind when I read my call was, "I wonder what I could have done differently on my papers, so that they wouldn't have sent me to a mandarin speaking mission." (Literally I was terrified of the language people.) But here's another thing that I have learned: It doesn't matter if you put "very" or a "not at all" on your interest in learning a foreign language. It doesn't matter where you want to go. The Lord knows what will be best for you, and what you can do THROUGH Him. You are going to be sent to places you might be scared of (either literally, or figuratively), but you won't be going alone. He will always be right by your side. He knows you, and He loves you. He loves me! And He needs me to learn Chinese and head to Taiwan for 18 months, because there is someone I need to touch there. Whether its an investigator, a less active, a member, a companion, or myself - I need to be in Taiwan. I am so honored for the opportunity to go serve God's children, my brothers and sisters, over there.

I love this gospel. I love my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I know that He died for us, and that He lives once again. He is the head of the restored gospel on the earth today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He is my older brother, and best friend. He will never leave anyone comfortless. He will come to you. I know this church is true. That it is the only true church on the earth today, and that accepting it, and truely embracing it, brings more happiness and joy then you can even comprehend. I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God, and that it works WITH The Bible as another testament of Jesus Christ and a record of His "other sheep" in the ancient America's. I know that Joseph Smith translated that book through the power of God. He sacrificed his life so that we would be able to have it as a guidance and help in our lives. God knows us, and knows what's best for us. Put your trust in Him. He is the light and will never lead you astray.