Sunday, March 29, 2009

It's Official!

Well, I met with President Stuart this afternoon, and my papers are in! It's just a matter of weeks now before I find out where I'm called to serve! Any predictions of where I'll be called?

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Waiting

It has been a good week. My interview at Mrs. Powell's on Wednesday went well. Audra called me this morning and said that they would like to hire me. I need to take my schedule for next week in sometime so I can let them know when I'm available the week after. They kinda wanted me to start this week, but I have something for school every night this week. I'll be able to work every night other than Monday the week after... but I'm going to say that I can't work on Thursday, just in case something comes in the mail. I may work Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights that week though. I am excited to start my new job, and pray that I'll be able to find a second job as well. Mrs. Powell's wants me to work nights, so I'm really hoping that I'll be able to find a job as a substitute teacher as well. That would give me some really good experience and give me a shoe-in above other candidates when I'm applying for a job after I graduate.

I met with Bishop Larson Wednesday night to finish up my papers. I have an appointment with President Stuart tomorrow afternoon. After that my papers will go in and I'll just be playing the waiting game. That is so exciting! It was five months ago today that I decided to go on a mission. Looking back at the past five months, they have been so good. I have learned so much and have grown in ways that I know I couldn't have if I weren't going on a mission.

Kesha came up with me Thursday morning and has spent the weekend with me. She went to my classes with me, and we took her Latin Dancing last night. That's right, I took my almost 17 year old sister dancing with college boys. Mom's probably not going to appreciate it too much, but we really enjoyed ourselves. It's been fun showing her the ropes of going to college since I won't be here next year when she really is getting ready to go away. It has been so fun spending time with her. We have gotten so much closer since I moved away to college. She really is one of my best friends... my little sister who drove me crazy just a few years ago. She is so beautiful and fun. I'm really going to miss her while I'm on my mission, but know that it will help us grow closer.

This morning we went up to the temple and did baptisms for the dead. We had about a 3 hour wait, but it was so wonderful to be able to just sit in the temple and think about my life, my love for my Savior, and how much His sacrifice of the Atonement means to me. I spent the time waiting reading my scriptures. It was such a good experience. And it really meant a lot to me to attend the temple with my sister.

After we left, I introduced her to the Cocoa Bean. I've created a monster! That was her deciding factor to come up here for sure. Okay, not really. She's known that this is where she wants to come to school for a long time, but really was in heaven when she tasted her Irish Carmanilla Cocoa Bean and Better Than Whatever cupcake. Actually, we both got a cupcake and split them, so she also tasted a Turtle cupcake. They were yummy! That was my birthday present to her, and she was perfectly fine with that. So was I, 'cause I'm poor.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Starting to realize how real it is...

Well, I've been saying that it still doesn't seem real that I'm going on a mission. Yeah I'd started on my paperwork and knew that the time was quickly approaching that I'd be turning my papers in. But it still didn't seem real. I've changed my mind. I went today and had my doctor and dentist appointments taken care of. That's when it hit me. I'm going on a mission. And I'm starting to freak out like I did about 5 months ago when I had that feeling that I need to go. I've been totally unproductive, which isn't a good thing this close to finals. Yeah. But I've got my appointment with Bishop Larson tomorrow night. I'll go back to the doctor to get the results from my lab work on Thursday morning. My papers will then go to President Stuart and I'll meet with him on Sunday. So in less than a week I'll be playing the waiting game. For those who read this, any guesses as to where I'll be sent?

So after I calmed down a bit last Friday morning, I talked to my professor about my test and grade in World Civ. He pretty much gave me a run down of what's going to be covered on the next test and said that if I do the extra credit that I should be able to pull out of the class with at least a B-. That certainly made my day. I thought for sure that the best grade I'd get would be a C, and that would be pushing it. So I'll be doing some extra credit assignments but hopefully able to pull out of the class with a better grade than I was expecting.

Well, being the practical thinker that I am and always staying on the ball, I've started applying for jobs. I normally wouldn't really care about starting to look this soon before I get out of school (in 17 days now... counting weekends... oh crap) Anyway... I really need a job so I can earn money for my mission. Last Wednesday I put on my facebook status that I was looking for a job and that if anyone knew about any place that was hiring to let me know. Not 2 minutes after I posted that, I got a text from a friend asking if I'm looking for a job. She works at Mrs. Powell's (they sell cinnamon rolls and other yummies)and said that they were hiring. I was going home on Friday to go to the David Archuleta concert with Kesha so I took in a resume and filled out an application. Well, I was pulling out of the driveway to come back up here this morning and my phone rang, and well, I have an interview tomorrow at 4:00. I really hope they'll let me wait to start until after school gets out if they hire me because I can only work nights right now anyway and the way my life is so crazy I don't really have time to work. Though if they need me to start now I can be flexible. I just won't sleep at all. But being positive, at least I have an interview. I had a feeling in mission prep last Wednesday that if I start looking for jobs I'll be blessed. I'm kinda hoping to get a job as a substitute as well so I can work 2 jobs and earn more money to put away for my mission, since I've only got 2 months to earn anything. I have the faith that Heavenly Father will bless me because I am doing the right thing by going on a mission. He will take care of me.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

SOOO done it's not even funny

So today was another of those days that started out great. Started out being the key words there. It’s Thursday, and therefore I only have one class at 12:45 so I was able to sleep in. The sun was shining and the wind wasn’t blowing, and I woke up to birds chirping outside my window. That’s a very happy noise. And okay, I also woke up to the construction across the street, but I’ve pretty much learned to tune that out kinda like I never hear the airplanes fly over my house because I’m so used to them. Anyway, I went to class and got to pretend that I was in kindergarten. That’s always fun. And I came home and did some homework. I read an article and wrote a response to it. And I did a study guide for a test that I’ve got on Monday so I can study over the weekend. Then I started studying for my World Civ. test. This is where my day starts going downhill. I sat here for 3 hours going over that 3 page study guide before I went up to take the test and was feeling pretty confident. Then I get to the testing center and sit down. I looked over the test and wanted to start crying then and there. I only knew 3 of the short answer questions, and we have to answer 6 of the 12 options. I guessed on another, so I have answers for 4 but had no clue on the other 2 so I didn’t write anything. There’s 8 points I’m not going to get, and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to get full points on the questions I did answer. Say I get 3 points on them. Well, that’s only 12 out of 24 possible points on that section of the test. Then I start on the multiple choice questions. Half of the questions on the test were things that weren’t even covered on the study guide! I was so mad!!! I hate that class anyway because the teacher, who shall remain nameless, doesn’t teach! I am the kind of student who needs very direct instruction and I don’t get it in that class. No matter how hard I study or how hard I try, I’ve failed every test this semester! Yeah, he offers extra credit, but it’s watching a movie and writing a cultural reading. I don’t get the cultural readings and how to tie them into the baseline culture like I know I’d have to do. It doesn’t say online so I guess I’ll talk to him tomorrow after class to see, but I don’t think I have time to even try to do an extra credit thing. Not with the number of trips I’ll be making home in the next 2 weeks and everything else I have to do. I’m praying that I get a C in the class so I don’t have to retake it after my mission. Not to mention if I do have to retake it I’ll have to do it online, though that would be okay because then I could probably get things figured out… but then again I’d have to motivate myself to do it and with the attitude I’ve got toward that class right now that probably wouldn’t be a good thing. Anyway… I’m really hoping that I get a high B or low A on the research paper I turned in last Friday because that is worth 2 test scores (retarded, I know) and could really help my grade. So, back to the multiple choice questions… I’m going through and trying to answer them but like I said half of the questions weren’t even covered on the study guide and half of the ones left were things that we hadn’t covered in class and I couldn’t find in the text book or online. How dumb is that? If you’re going to give a test on something at least make it something that you cover in class or can be found in the textbook or online! I walked out of the testing center and saw my score, a 46%, so I only got 12 of the 26 questions right. I walked down the stairs with tears in my eyes. I can’t take this anymore! I’ve never done so poorly on tests in my life! And it’s not like I don’t try, because I do! If we were to get the review sheet more than a week before the test it would help me so much because I could spend more time trying to find the answers and more time studying. Right now I’m trying to juggle 7 classes and 16 credits, a social life, my calling, my mission papers, and I’m trying to find a job. I don’t have enough time in just a week to cover the material that I need to know in order to do well on those tests. I can’t study my notes because very little of what we go over in class a) makes sense to me and b) is even on the flipping tests! It doesn’t help that the review sheets have between 80 and 100 questions when there are only 50 questions on the test—and like I said, there’s stuff on the test that isn’t on the review sheet. I ran into Jill on her way to the gym when I was on my way home and I told her what had just happened. By this time I was in tears. She told me that Spencer had wanted her to make a cake with him so to text him and have him come over and make a cake. Spencer is always good for a laugh so I did just that and he came over and lounged around on the couch while I made brownies and hot fudge… speaking of which I need to take care of those before I go to bed. We were talking and I told him about my test and that I’d failed it and he was like “did you really fail it or is it an exaggeration?” He’s heard me complain about the teacher before because he’s a history major so he’s had a couple classes from him and kinda knows what I’m talking about. When I told him that I’d outright failed, not just kinda failed, he was kind of surprised. He knows that I try. I tell you, there’s something wrong with the teacher. Okay, maybe not so much the teacher, but definitely his teaching style. I’m sure he’s a great person to work with, but with the attitude I’ve got towards him now I don’t want to give it a try. Anyway… before Spencer came over I went in and talked to Emily and told her what happened. I was so frustrated and trying so hard not to cry, but it wasn’t working. I told her that I just give up. I have absolutely no motivation to even try anymore. I don’t get it. I tried. I put forth a good effort and still did horrible. I am so done with that class that it isn’t even funny. I can’t do this anymore. In fact, I think I did better on the last test, and I didn’t even study! Not at all! Actually, I know that I did better on the last test because I was actually able to at least give an answer for all 6 short answer questions. It’s a good thing that I already had all of my homework, except for my art methods stuff that’s got to be done before lab tomorrow, done before I went to take that test because I’ve been so frustrated since I got home that I wouldn’t have been able to focus anyway. I’m surprised that my brownies and hot fudge actually turned out because I sure as heck haven’t been able to focus on anything tonight. I just… I don’t know. I don’t get why I can’t do well in that class. Okay, so I do. It’s because the teacher doesn’t know how to teach. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves about some of the general ed professors up here. I was filling out an application to be a substitute teacher this summer last night and they wanted to know my GPA in my major classes. I was looking at my transcript and realized that the only Education class I haven’t gotten an A in was my Math Methods class last semester. And again, I blame the teacher who didn’t teach and expected us to learn everything on our own. Taking 17 credits and trying to balance that with a calling and a social life I don’t have that much time in the day to spend trying to memorize every little detail. One thing’s for sure… I know what kind of teacher I DON’T want to be. This type of teaching style works for some people but it sure as heck doesn’t work for me.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Mission Update

Well, I called this morning to get the rest of my appointments for my mission set up. So it looks like I'm well on my way to submitting my papers. I actually got all of the paperwork filled out over the weekend, so it really is just my appointments that I'm waiting on. I should be able to meet with my Bishop and Stake President next Sunday and my papers should be submitted by the end of the month. This is so crazy to think of. I still don't know if it seems real that I'm actually going on a mission. I'll have my call in just a few weeks... Likely no more than 4. I'm excited!

They say that it's better late than never. There has been some contention in my apartment with one of my roommates... and unfortunately I have been one of the contributors. Our lesson in Relief Society this week was on being a peacemaker. All of the other girls were talking about how close their apartments were. My roommates and I hung our heads and just listened because we had nothing to contribute. We got home from church and talked about how much like scum we felt. Well, before we went to bed we resolved things. We decided to start having apartment prayer every day, hence the "better late than never" because we'll be done in less than a month. The Spirit that has been felt in our apartment the past few days has been so nice though. We're friends and don't hate each other! That is such a nice feeling!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

I know it is true!

I have had many experiences to bear my testimony in the past year. When I feel prompted by the Spirit, I get up and bear my testimony in Sacrament Meeting. Through my calling of Relief Society President over the summer and testifying after lessons were given I shared a simple testimony of the principle that had been taught. My calling as Gospel Doctrine instructor this year has given me so many opportunities to bear my testimony when I teach. And this semester every time I go to Mission Prep I am given the opportunity to bear my testimony about some principle, and then as I am sharing what we discussed in class I again bear my testimony. Through these wonderful opportunities my testimony has grown so much. To quote Elder Boyd K. Packer, "Oh, if I could teach you this one principle. A testimony is to be found in the bearing of it." I have put this principle to work, and know that it is true.

I know the Church is true. My knowledge of the Gospel has gotten me through so many hard times in my life. It has brought me such peace and happiness throughout my life. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet who was called of God to restore the Gospel to the earth in these latter days. I know that Thomas S. Monson was called of God to lead His Church today. I know the words he speaks come from God and are for our benefit today. I know that the Book of Mormon was protected and preserved to be brought forth in the latter days. I know that it was meant to come forth so we could have it today. I know that in 1820 a young boy saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. I know that he was called of God to restore the True Church of Jesus Christ to the earth today. I know that he translated the Book of Mormon with help from God. I know that we can learn so much from reading the words written in the Book of Mormon. There is a Spirit I feel when I am reading the Book of Mormon that I don’t feel any other time. The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ. It goes hand in hand with the Bible, the Old and New Testament. It clarifies the things that are written in the Bible and gives us another witness that Jesus truly is the Christ, the Savior of the world. The words written in the Book of Mormon can help us learn what we need to do in order to be able to return to live with our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ again after we die. In reading the Book of Mormon, we can learn who we are. We can learn where we came from, and we can learn where we are going. Our lives have a divine purpose and reading the Book of Mormon can help us realize that divine purpose. I know that as we read the Book of Mormon and humbly ask God the Father to help us know if it is true, we will know. We will feel the overwhelming assurance from the Spirit telling us that it is true. As we pray to know the Book of Mormon is true and accept that witness that it is and come unto Christ through baptism, we open the door to eternal life with our God and our Savior. Nothing in my life means more to me than the idea of eternal life with my family. I know that families can be together forever because of the sealing power which comes through temple sealings. I know that families can be linked together through temple work for the dead. I know that there is life after death, and I know that I will be able to be resurrected and live again so long as I live worthily while I am here on earth. I know that I was blessed to live on earth today for a reason. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for my life and that as I consult Him as I make decisions in my life, I will know what I am supposed to do. I know that prayer has great power. I have felt the Spirit with me as I kneel down to pray. I know that Heavenly Father does hear and answer my prayers. I have had so many prayers answered througout my life. The answers may not come when I want them to come or how I want them to come, but it is always for my benefit and as I accept the Lord's will in my life great blessings can come to me.

The Gospel is so wonderful. I honestly don't know where I would be without it in my life. I am really looking forward to being able to go share the Gospel with my brothers and sisters wherever I am called. I pray that I will have the Spirit with me as I leave my family and home and friends to go out into the mission field and share the Gospel. And I pray that the Spirit will touch the hearts of the people I meet so that they too can feel the Spirit in their lives and receive the blessings it brings. I can submit my papers in two weeks now and should have my call within 5 or 6 weeks. I can't wait to see where I will be going. I know that the Lord has a place prepared for me where there are people whose lives I can touch. This is a very exciting time for me, and while it won't be the easiest thing I could do I know that it will not be something that I will regret.

I taught Sunday School again today. The lesson was on the restoration of the Church. For part of the lesson we talked about the importance of the Sacrament. We read Doctrine and Covenants 27: 2 which says, "For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrement, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory--remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins." We discussed that verse and what it means to partake of the Sacrament with an eye single to the glory of God. Then Kyle directed a question to me. He asked if I think that partaking of the sacrament with an eye single to the glory of God is in any way connected to Moses 1:39 which says, "For behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." As he was asking the question, I freaked out because I had no clue how to answer it. Here I was in a room full of returned missionaries, who likely could give better responses than I, but the question had been directed at me so I said a quick prayer in my heart and began to answer the question. Words just came to me. Yes, I do think they are connected. As we partake of the Sacrament with an eye single to God's glory we are looking toward the eternal life that is ours if we live our lives worthily. If we live our lives in a way that we are looking toward God in everything, we will be able to return to live with Him again. The answer I gave didn't come from me. It came from the Lord through the Spirit. I know that because I took time to prepare my lesson and because I prayed that I would have the Spirit with me as I taught I was able to answer the question. I am actually really grateful for that question. When I am on my mission I know that I will be asked questions that I don't know how to answer, but so long as I am in tune with the Spirit I will be able to answer them in a way that the Spirit will be ablet to touch the hearts of the people I am teaching. I am going to have to go over and thank Kyle for that.

I really loved that Sacrament Meeting today was on preparing for General Conference. I always love Conference and listening to the talks that are given. October Conference was amazing and each talk had something that I needed to hear. I know that if I start preparing to hear the words which will be spoken I will again hear messages that I need to hear and will greatly bless my life.

Today has just been another of those amazing days like last Sunday was. The Spirit I have felt is so strong and wonderful. That's something I've noticed in my life in general lately as I have been preparing to serve my mission, and it has been such a blessing. I am going to do everything I can to live my life in a way that I can feel this Spirit always in everything that I do.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Amazing Day!

Today was the most amazing day. I really wasn't looking forward to getting up for church because of day light savings, but I really didn't have a hard time getting up. At the first of the year when I heard that we had 8:30 church, I grumbled and complained thinking that it would be absolutely horrible. But I love it. I never have a problem being motivated to get ready for church. We had to be there early this morning for choir practice because we sang today and the spirit I felt when we were practicing the song was amazing. It really set the stage for the rest of church. Bishop Rossiter announced that Brother Pond has been called to the High Counsel so today was his last day in our ward. When I heard that I was really sad. Brother Pond was the FIRST person I told that I was considering going on a mission. He gave me some wonderful counsel that day, and then a blessing that came as an answer to prayer two days later. I have known since that day that I am supposed to go on a mission. He spoke about gathering the lost sheep, which really got my attention with my upcoming mission. Sister Rossiter also spoke about her grandfather's conversion story. Then we sang. We sang a medley of "Dearest Children, God is Near You" and "Children of Our Heavenly Father." It is a beautifu peace and I was really able to feel the Spirit. Brother Burton also spoke about missionary work. Our closing hymn was "Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd." That hymn, especially the second half of the third verse and fourth verse, really touch my heart. Since I have decided to go on a mission I have been paying close attention to the lyrics of hymns and there are many that really touch my heart. I feel that as we pay attention to the lyrics and open our hearts to the Spirit, we can see the deeper meaning of the hymns. As I sang this hymn today, the Spirit touched my heart. I was afraid to go teach my lesson after that amazing meeting. I didn't feel that it was an exceptional lesson and it was shorter than my lessons usually are, by about a page and a half. I was glad that we got out of Sacrament Meeting late, but I still was afraid that my lesson wouldn't be able to keep the Spirit that I felt in Sacrament. However, as I started teaching, I really felt the Spirit with me. And I know people in my class felt it as well, because they contributed amazing things. I had to cut several things out of my lesson, but it was so much better than I could have done. It wasn't my week to teach because Temple Prep was being taught today, but Sam had to go to Utah for guard duty this weekend and asked me to teach. I was very grateful for the opportunity I had to teach this lesson. I really needed it--not what I prepared, but what was shared by the people who came to my class. It really helped to lift me up. Then we went on to Relief Society. The lesson was again on missionary work. The girl who taught is a returned missionary so she shared some experiences from her mission and asked Leeann to share some from hers. The Spirit was so strong, and I knew that I am supposed to go on a mission. I don't know why I've even questioned myself. All of the hymns we sang had to do with missionary work as well. I was in tears. Jill and Emily kept looking at me, and I tried to avoid looking at them, because I knew if I did, I'd really start crying becuase the looks they had were like, "That's going to be you soon." I knew that, but I am still feeling a little overwhelmed by everything.

When I got home from church, I sat down and wrote in my journal, mostly about church today and Devotional Tuesday, then Russell came over and we made oreos. That was fun, making the cookies and talking. He is hilarious. Spencer was over for a while too, and we were all just talking and having a good time. Brett called me this evening as well. It is so good to have that friendship back. I don't know what I would do without her as a friend. She's my best friend and it broke my heart when we pulled apart. Over the past few months as we've been rebuilding our friendship I have been greatly lifted up. Nicole and I are on good terms again as well. I've gotten together with her a couple times this week and have had so much fun. My deciding to go on a mission has brought me greater blessings that I could have ever imagined. I have two of my friends back who I thought I had lost forever. That is more that I could have ever asked for. My testimony has also grown so much and I am seeing things in a different light than I ever did before. I am not feeling stressed about school, at least not near as much as I usually would be with the class load I'm carrying. I think this all has to do with the Spirit which I can feel so much more strongly in my life. Overall, I have had a much more positive outlook on life which has been such a great blessing. Sure, I've had a little taste of drama, but I am so happy with everything right now. I am really looking forward to seeing where I'll be called. Daniel will likely get his call this week, and Whitney will likely be getting hers soon. I am so excited about everything and can't help but smile when I think about serving a mission!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Putting Things Into Perspective

Devotional today was amazing! It was just what I needed to hear today. Last week I started wondering if a mission really is the right thing for me to do. Of course those feelings started to come because of a boy. I knew that something like this would happen just as I was getting everything started. My one goal in life is to get married and be a mommy. I was confused. I knew how strong the feeling was back in November telling me to go on a mission, but I questioned it reasoning that I'd also been told no a year ago when I asked if a mission was right for me. Well, after devotional today, I know that I'm on the right path by going on a mission. The speaker was Elder Claudio R.M. Costa of the Presidency of the Seventy. Our opening hymn was #274 The Iron Rod. Even during the hymn I felt that my mission is right. The scripture that was read was 1 Nephi 4:6 "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." As soon as he started speaking, I knew that a mission really is right for me at this point in my life. I felt that I will bring people to the Gospel on my mission. Elder Costa quoted 1 Nephi 3:7 "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." The Lord really has prepared the way for me to go on a mission. Everything has come together making it possible for me to be able to go. Despite the overwhelming emotions I felt when I felt the Spirit tell me to go on a mission, I immediately succombed to the will of my Father, saying that I would do what He needs me to do. I spent more time praying in the days after I had that initial impression than I had in a long time. I had many good 'conversations' with my Father, trying to figure things out. Over the past four months the initial emotions that made it nearly impossible for me to do anything have calmed down and turned into excitement. Of course I'm still nervous, but I know that I'm doing the right thing and I don't doubt that the Lord knows what He is doing and has a higher plan for my life. Lately I've been wondering what would have happened if I had ignored the Spirit that day, saying that I had already recieved my answer that I don't need to go on a mission. I don't know that I would have been told again... especially considering the fact that I'd been having promptings that I should pray about going on a mission that I had ignored. Shame on me, and I regret that now. I have certainly been paying more attention to the promptings of the Spirit since then. Elder Costa continuted his talk saying that we are at a point in our lives where we will be making many decisions that will either make or break us. He also counseled us not to make any decisions without first taking them to the Lord and taking time to ponder about those decisions with a heart of fasting and prayer, and spending time in the temple. I spent a lot of time at the temple and praying, and even fasting before I said that I was for sure going on a mission. This truly is a vital time in my life. Over the past four months, the plan I had for my life has completely changed. Before that day when the Spirit told me to go on a mission, I was preparing to finish school this fall and move in with Grandma at the end of the year to do my student teaching down in the Davis School District. That is still my plan... it's just been pushed back. The Lord can see the big picture. I can see where I've been and where I am now, but I can't see what's coming tomorrow. But the Lord can. I have a strong testimony that if I put my faith in the Lord, He will lead me down the path I need to follow and that everything in my life will work out according to that plan and that I will be happy. I know that I won't regret going on a mission and that it will be one of the best experiences I'll have. I will not be the same when I come home. I'm not the same now as I was four months ago. I am stronger, and will continue to grow stronger over the next few months before I leave, and I will not be the same person when I come home that I will be when I leave. There is no doubt of this in my mind. I can't wait to go!

Monday, March 2, 2009

Getting Started

Wow. So I thought that I had until tomorrow to freak out about starting my papers. Not so. Bishop Rossiter called me last night and said that he tried to catch me at church but wasn't able to. He said that he'd opened my papers and gave me the information I needed to start them. I didn't know what to say. I started freaking out, that's for sure. But not in the same sense that I did when I first felt that I need to go on a mission four months ago. It was a peaceful feeling, though I was kinda walking around in a daze. After I got off the phone with Bishop, I ate my dinner while texting Britney. I'd told her about the guy I've started to like and she was trying to calm me down and eventually just called me. She kinda opened my eyes to the whole thing. She said that maybe the Lord just needed me to show that I was willing to go on a mission. Or maybe He's trying to test me to see how strong I am. Or Brittani said that maybe Satan is just aware of how good of a missionary I'll be. That was some food for thought. Anyway, after I got off the phone with Britney, I called Mom and Dad and told them that I had everything to start them, and that I was going to after the CES fireside. I still don't know what to think. It seems unreal. However, today although I'm thinking about the boy, I know that I'm doing the right thing. Sure I want to go on a date with him. I'll take care of that. I'm going on a mission! And boy am I excited!