Mission Call Opening

I had always wanted to serve a mission and had foreseen myself serving when I turned 21 years old. That vision changed when the minimum age for sister missionary service was lowered from 21 to 19. When I heard the news, I realized that my desire to serve might come true a little earlier than I was originally planning. I wanted to be sure that serving a mission was something that God had as a part His plan for me, so I began to pray to know His will. It seemed that an answer wasn't coming. At first I was confused thinking, "This is a major decision in my life. Surely Heavenly Father has some direction for me as I make this potentially life-changing choice!" However, I wasn't receiving any of that direction. After several months of waiting for an answer, the time arrived that if I were going to go, I should begin my paperwork. And I did. As I began doing the paperwork for my mission, the answer finally came. It was a confirmation of what I was doing was right and what God wanted for me.

It was a busy day when my mission call came. We expected it to come today, but I was at work in the morning, had classes and reviews in the afternoon, and then had a intramural soccer game that night, so I had my roommate, Lauren, check the mailbox for me so I could tell family to come up to Provo and be there for me to open it. I got a text from Lauren in the middle of the day saying, "IT'S HERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!" So I called my mom and my family planned to come up that night to watch my soccer game and then come to my apartment with me to open it.

The soccer game that night was the championship game for the upper-division of intramurals! We ended up losing in a shootout, but it was a fun season and a blast of a game! I loved having my family there to watch and my wonderful roommates cheering me on from the sidelines (poster and all!). Right after that, we sped home so I could try to look decent, (and not like I had just played a soccer game!) and be there before other guests started arriving. My roommates had made cookies for everyone and we had a large poster (made of wrapping paper: total college style!) where everyone could write their guesses of where they thought I would go.

 

I was finally ready to open it. Lauren had left my call in the mailbox so that I could get the full experience of getting in out of the mailbox, so I finally got it and brought it inside. I stood up on a chair in the middle of the room and began to read. As soon as I read where I was going, I began to laugh. I knew that it was perfect and exactly where I needed to go. I left everyone in suspense as I laughed, but I continued to because at first, I thought it was where a good friend of my roommates was at, but then realized that it was where a good friend of mine was serving! I finally announced that I was called to serve in the TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE MISSION!!!!

(Start at 2:30min)

That night, I was planning on driving with some friends to Las Vegas for the West Coast Conference basketball tournament that BYU would be playing in, so as soon as everyone left, I grabbed my bags and began to drive to Las Vegas! As I sat in the car, I reflected on the crazy day and what a wonderful one it was! I'M GOING ON A MISSION!