<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lukbMvMzklU"></a>
This is the URL to a very special video on Youtube. About 40 young ladies told me their story and gave me permission to share it with the world. What a strength these women have been to me in this preparation process.
And here's the thing, I realize most of their thoughts are focused on how the mission and the age chance affected THEM rather than the people they served, but that's because that's what I asked them to talk about! I'm just hoping that no matter what, we can all-as missionaries-help others and impact others' lives. It's the impact on our lives that seems to be less of a guarantee. Read The Fourth Missionary by Lawrence E. Corbridge to understand why I say that.
Anyway, it's a really powerful video. And I know that 13 minutes is long for a Youtube video, but I promise if you watch the entirety of it, you'll be SO glad. (And not just because the last song that is played is an original by a returned sister missionary!)
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Mission Prep Boot Camp (But not that bad...)
I've been thinking a lot about the best ways to prepare for my mission. I've decided that I need to keep it S.I.M.P.L.E. because otherwise I will not accomplish what I want to! (We all know how that goes....right?....still there?)
So here's what I decided. When I hit the 50 day mark before I leave, I will begin my own mission prep boot camp. Except it's not like it's way crazy difficult. Just keepin' it simple y'all! So here is my checklist I will mark off each day. These aren't difficult tasks, but I think it's really important to have guidance and direction each day.
So if any of y'all want to use this checklist, you just go right ahead and you use it! If any of you have any tips or thoughts about this, just comment!
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Proof that 19-year-old sister missionaries CAN do it!
“Dear Sister Hughes:
Instead of continuing your college education, instead of getting married, instead of traveling to that island you’ve always wanted to go to, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Texas Lubbock Mission.”
These aren’t all the exact words written in my mission call, but they have certainly run through my mind since opening it. I’m nearing the day I will enter the Missionary Training Center. Because that day is two years earlier than I had anticipated, I had some questions.
I wondered if it’s really better for the 19-year-old me to be serving a mission rather than the 21-year-old me.
I wanted to know if the people in Texas will receive me better now rather than in two years. I wanted to know if the societal patterns of this country and the psychology of my brain could provide proof of benefits of going two years earlier. I wondered what the differences will be for me before, during and after my mission.
I wondered if this really will be beneficial for the people I serve.
And for me.
BEFORE I LEAVE…
Long before July 1 arrives, so much good will come from the preparation I put in for my mission. I have talked with several women who are either going on missions or are returned missionaries, and the answers have all been the same. Because I have only been out of high school for a year, I still have deep connections with people I went to school with, and that has provided a lot of support for me already. Alexandria Peterson, who is going to the Ukraine L’viv Mission, agrees with me. She said, “I feel like I have a bigger support system because I'm still good friends with a lot of my high school peers. College hasn't quite drifted those relationships as of yet.” Had I waited two more years, my ten-year long bonds with these people who have supported me and encouraged me to go would be more of a thread.
Preparing has also been much more exciting because of the larger number of women serving. According to Joseph Walker from the Deseret News there were 11,000 more sister missionaries serving in 2013 than there were before the change. The support that comes from all over the world through technology is incredible. There are Facebook pages and blogs and so many ways to connect with other women serving. Julie McPherson who was called to the Finland Helsinki Mission said, “There is definitely a lot more sisters talking to each other and encouraging each other about their missions.” I have gained one new friendship in particular. Rachel Russell will arrive in Lubbock about a month and a half before I will. We have connected because of a Facebook page for sister missionaries that was created after the change. This lifelong friendship was able to form before we even met.
Because of this opportunity to leave earlier, the Church has increased intensity of preparation. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated in a press conference shortly after the announcement that one effect of the change would be the enhancing of pre-mission preparation. Mission Preparation classes have adjusted their format to better prepare students. Instead of only reading manuals, my teacher has me role-play with other future missionaries to practice various situations. I am preparing for a mission two years earlier than I had planned, so my preparation needs to be even more up to par. Alexandria Peterson also said, “I feel like I'm more prepared to absorb all the knowledge and information that I am going to need for this mission. Where my brain isn't as developed as a 21-year-old, I feel like there's greater progress that I can make to learn not just the gospel on the levels that I need, but the language as well.” Doctor Fiona McPherson, a psychologist, did a study and concluded that the older we get, the harder it is to learn things. Therefore, even the two years could cause interference with the ability to learn as much about the gospel as possible. Hannah Walker is currently serving a mission in Georgia and said, “These years are HUGE for brain development, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be establishing beneficial mental habits while my brain is still developing! It's so much better to establish habits rather than change them.” Sister missionaries serving at age 19 have the opportunity to let the structure of a mission and discipline influence the habits they form as a young adult. Lochlan Phillips, 22, is preparing to serve a mission to Independence Missouri. Though she is leaving later than most, she felt she was ready at 18, but the age change hadn’t happened.
Before the age change, there was a stereotype that any woman who went on a mission only went because they couldn’t find someone to marry. Ashlen Lemon who doesn’t have her mission call yet said, “Being able to go at 19 makes choosing to serve less of a decision between mission and marriage.” Going on a mission at age 19 encourages young women to stay focused on preparation until after their missions. Then, when upon returning, they can focus on a career and marriage. Ann Austin, the director of the Center for Women and Gender, said, “In the past, women would come home from a mission and be behind on the marriage game.” Though coming home from a mission at 23 and being behind on “the marriage game” seems silly to some, this statement has credibility because we live in Utah. According to Utah.gov, the median age at first marriage for a female in Utah is 24, which is the lowest in the nation. With more women going on a mission earlier, fewer women will be getting married before a mission. Fewer women will be 19-year-old wives, and more will be 19-year-old missionaries.
Another benefit of leaving at 19 is that women aren’t right in the middle of schooling. Becca Chavez served in El Salvador and was one of the first 19-year-old sister missionaries. She is going into nursing and said if she had waited until the age of 21 to go on a mission, she would have had to finish school before she left. Had she waited that long, she said she probably wouldn’t have gone. How grateful she is that she could serve at 19 and not jeopardize her chances of being successful in the nursing program by leaving in the middle of it.
One concern for sending younger missionaries out has been whether or not 19-year-old women are mature enough. Ann Austin disagrees with that assumption. She said, “They are perfectly capable. They are mature. They are underused gems particularly in the LDS church.” She said research shows a developmental lag in men but not women.
The influx of sister missionaries over the past two years has proven that there is more excitement about missionary work. Ashlen Lemon and Joslyn Fountain have opinions coinciding with what Lochlan Phillips said about this. She said, “It has helped bring a sort of light and joy to missionary work as girls who are younger have less ‘blahness’ and more simplistic and joyous views that can bring about the true spirit of this gospel.” Phillips is 22 and preparing to serve a mission, so this statement comes from a sister missionary who isn’t going at 19. Becca Chavez, a returned missionary, said, “excited missionaries are the most successful.” Chavez and Alexandria Peterson both prove that the age change has benefited the Church and investigators. Peterson said, “I have seen that missionaries are connecting more to their investigators because I feel that they have more energy and enthusiasm.”
WHILE I’M WEARING THE NAMETAG…
So, the preparation for a mission is beneficial, but when 19-year-old sister missionaries are actually out serving, the benefits are ten-fold. First off, employees needed at the Missionary Training Centers are much higher, providing more job opportunities throughout the world.
Another benefit of the increase in sister missionaries after the change is explained in Gender and Culture in Psychology, a book written by Eva Magnusson and Jeanne Marecek. It explained that women are less questioned and more trusted than men. “A girl who masters relational abilities likely receives different feedback from adults and peers than a boy. For example, she will be praised more than a boy, and she might also receive fewer questioning or downright negative feedback.” More sister missionaries, more trust in the church.
As most of my friends and I prepare to leave for a mission, we are all becoming more excited at the prospect of sharing our experiences with one another. I get to connect with my friends in a way that I wouldn’t be able to if I wasn’t planning on serving a mission. While we are all out, we will be able to share stories and learn from each other. We will be able to become even closer because of a shared experience that can only come from missionary work.
Serving a mission at the age of 19 will also provide a way for me to develop in a way I wouldn’t be able to any other way. Joslyn Lemon said, “I think it will just be a different way of developing while in the field. Different situations people are put through help them develop in different ways, and I feel my mission will help me mature in a better way than not going would have.” On a mission, a 19-year-old girl is put in a situation where her focus isn’t her. Her focus is other people. This is not the normal mentality of a 19-year-old girl. Normally, she would be concerned about her college education, dating and other things solely focused on her. The mentality of a missionary is centered on others, and giving a woman the opportunity to develop at that age in that environment can instill a desire to serve throughout the rest of her life.
Just as there has to be more intense preparation before a mission, a 19-year-old woman needs to work harder while out in the mission field. Becca Chavez said being one of the first 19-year-old sister missionaries made her “step up a lot more.” If a sister missionary wants success, she has to work hard. Having the “disadvantage” of being younger forces a missionary to work even harder. I’d say that’s a benefit rather than a disadvantage. The ability to work hard – truly hard – is becoming less and less common among people of this generation. So many things are simply handed to us. On a mission, success isn’t that easy.
While on a mission, a 19-year-old woman can also make an impact on younger girls through example. Many returned sister missionaries have felt the admiration of other parents. Becca Chavez saw this on her mission in El Salvador. In her particular area, it was common for a 16-year-old to become pregnant. Seeing a beautiful, confident young woman serving for her religion was a powerful influence on those girls. Seeing a teenager put so much devotion into her religion is impressive to a parent and can be a good example for young girls not just to serve a mission, but also to be dedicated to something they love.
WHEN I RETURN TO UTAH…
Of course, the experiences and maturity gained while serving a mission at the age of 19 don’t end on the plane ride home. The benefits continue to come. Becca Chavez returned from her mission much more dedicated to school. The semester of college she finished before her mission proved to be less successful than the semester after. She said, “I’m studying a lot harder and with a lot more dedication.” Ann Austin, who also teaches courses at Utah State University, said she loves getting returned sister missionaries in her class. She said, “Even professors who aren’t LDS love the returned sister missionaries. They come back so empowered and motivated. They gain such a strong sense of what they can do.” Caitlin Carr also noticed a big difference in her dedication to schoolwork after her mission. Spending 18 months with the structured lifestyle of an LDS missionary encourages hard work and organization among other habits that become vital to college-not to mention the rest of your life.
An overall effect of the missionary age change for women is that more women are going. Ashlen Lemon, Caitlin Carr, Hannah Walker and Alexandria Peterson are only three of the many young women who don’t believe they would have gone if the change hadn’t been made. Caitlin Carr said, “I remember just two weeks before the age change announcement, I was asked if I was planning on serving a mission, and my answer was no.”
When the Church allowed 19-year-old women to serve missions, they didn’t open up a new door. They opened up a long hallway of doors. More women have the opportunity to serve and more people have the opportunity to hear their message. Becca Chavez said, “After the mission I thought it was cool. I was only 20, but still a returned missionary. I felt like it was a real advantage because I had all that experience behind me and yet my entire life ahead.”
Because I can serve my mission at the age of 19, I will still finish college, marry someone hopefully amazing and visit that island I’ve always wanted to go to. But I’ll do them as a better, more experienced person. I will have great stories to tell and more knowledge about life and what it’s really about: love.
“Hard at Work – Women in the Utah Labor Force.” utah.gov. Feb. 2014. Web. 8 April 2015.
Magnusson, Eva and Jeanne Marecek. “Gender and Culture in Psychology: Theories and Practices.” West Nyack, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print.
McPherson, Fiona. “Why learning is harder as we get older.” Mempowered. Mempowered. nd. Web. 8 April 2015.
McPherson, Julie. Personal Interview. 7 April 2015.
Peterson, Alexandria. Personal interview. 7 April 2015.
Phillips, Lochlan. Personal interview. 7 April 2015.
Walker, Joseph. “One year later: Looking back at the worldwide impact of a prophet’s announcement.” Deseret News. Deseret News. 3 Oct. 3013. Web. 9 April 2015.
Wrigley, Heather Whittle. “Church Leaders Share More Information on Missionary Age Requirement Change.” lds.org. Lds.org. 6 Oct. 2012. Web. 2 April 2015.
Instead of continuing your college education, instead of getting married, instead of traveling to that island you’ve always wanted to go to, you are hereby called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Texas Lubbock Mission.”
These aren’t all the exact words written in my mission call, but they have certainly run through my mind since opening it. I’m nearing the day I will enter the Missionary Training Center. Because that day is two years earlier than I had anticipated, I had some questions.
I wondered if it’s really better for the 19-year-old me to be serving a mission rather than the 21-year-old me.
I wanted to know if the people in Texas will receive me better now rather than in two years. I wanted to know if the societal patterns of this country and the psychology of my brain could provide proof of benefits of going two years earlier. I wondered what the differences will be for me before, during and after my mission.
I wondered if this really will be beneficial for the people I serve.
And for me.
BEFORE I LEAVE…
Long before July 1 arrives, so much good will come from the preparation I put in for my mission. I have talked with several women who are either going on missions or are returned missionaries, and the answers have all been the same. Because I have only been out of high school for a year, I still have deep connections with people I went to school with, and that has provided a lot of support for me already. Alexandria Peterson, who is going to the Ukraine L’viv Mission, agrees with me. She said, “I feel like I have a bigger support system because I'm still good friends with a lot of my high school peers. College hasn't quite drifted those relationships as of yet.” Had I waited two more years, my ten-year long bonds with these people who have supported me and encouraged me to go would be more of a thread.
Preparing has also been much more exciting because of the larger number of women serving. According to Joseph Walker from the Deseret News there were 11,000 more sister missionaries serving in 2013 than there were before the change. The support that comes from all over the world through technology is incredible. There are Facebook pages and blogs and so many ways to connect with other women serving. Julie McPherson who was called to the Finland Helsinki Mission said, “There is definitely a lot more sisters talking to each other and encouraging each other about their missions.” I have gained one new friendship in particular. Rachel Russell will arrive in Lubbock about a month and a half before I will. We have connected because of a Facebook page for sister missionaries that was created after the change. This lifelong friendship was able to form before we even met.
Because of this opportunity to leave earlier, the Church has increased intensity of preparation. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated in a press conference shortly after the announcement that one effect of the change would be the enhancing of pre-mission preparation. Mission Preparation classes have adjusted their format to better prepare students. Instead of only reading manuals, my teacher has me role-play with other future missionaries to practice various situations. I am preparing for a mission two years earlier than I had planned, so my preparation needs to be even more up to par. Alexandria Peterson also said, “I feel like I'm more prepared to absorb all the knowledge and information that I am going to need for this mission. Where my brain isn't as developed as a 21-year-old, I feel like there's greater progress that I can make to learn not just the gospel on the levels that I need, but the language as well.” Doctor Fiona McPherson, a psychologist, did a study and concluded that the older we get, the harder it is to learn things. Therefore, even the two years could cause interference with the ability to learn as much about the gospel as possible. Hannah Walker is currently serving a mission in Georgia and said, “These years are HUGE for brain development, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to be establishing beneficial mental habits while my brain is still developing! It's so much better to establish habits rather than change them.” Sister missionaries serving at age 19 have the opportunity to let the structure of a mission and discipline influence the habits they form as a young adult. Lochlan Phillips, 22, is preparing to serve a mission to Independence Missouri. Though she is leaving later than most, she felt she was ready at 18, but the age change hadn’t happened.
Before the age change, there was a stereotype that any woman who went on a mission only went because they couldn’t find someone to marry. Ashlen Lemon who doesn’t have her mission call yet said, “Being able to go at 19 makes choosing to serve less of a decision between mission and marriage.” Going on a mission at age 19 encourages young women to stay focused on preparation until after their missions. Then, when upon returning, they can focus on a career and marriage. Ann Austin, the director of the Center for Women and Gender, said, “In the past, women would come home from a mission and be behind on the marriage game.” Though coming home from a mission at 23 and being behind on “the marriage game” seems silly to some, this statement has credibility because we live in Utah. According to Utah.gov, the median age at first marriage for a female in Utah is 24, which is the lowest in the nation. With more women going on a mission earlier, fewer women will be getting married before a mission. Fewer women will be 19-year-old wives, and more will be 19-year-old missionaries.
Another benefit of leaving at 19 is that women aren’t right in the middle of schooling. Becca Chavez served in El Salvador and was one of the first 19-year-old sister missionaries. She is going into nursing and said if she had waited until the age of 21 to go on a mission, she would have had to finish school before she left. Had she waited that long, she said she probably wouldn’t have gone. How grateful she is that she could serve at 19 and not jeopardize her chances of being successful in the nursing program by leaving in the middle of it.
One concern for sending younger missionaries out has been whether or not 19-year-old women are mature enough. Ann Austin disagrees with that assumption. She said, “They are perfectly capable. They are mature. They are underused gems particularly in the LDS church.” She said research shows a developmental lag in men but not women.
The influx of sister missionaries over the past two years has proven that there is more excitement about missionary work. Ashlen Lemon and Joslyn Fountain have opinions coinciding with what Lochlan Phillips said about this. She said, “It has helped bring a sort of light and joy to missionary work as girls who are younger have less ‘blahness’ and more simplistic and joyous views that can bring about the true spirit of this gospel.” Phillips is 22 and preparing to serve a mission, so this statement comes from a sister missionary who isn’t going at 19. Becca Chavez, a returned missionary, said, “excited missionaries are the most successful.” Chavez and Alexandria Peterson both prove that the age change has benefited the Church and investigators. Peterson said, “I have seen that missionaries are connecting more to their investigators because I feel that they have more energy and enthusiasm.”
WHILE I’M WEARING THE NAMETAG…
So, the preparation for a mission is beneficial, but when 19-year-old sister missionaries are actually out serving, the benefits are ten-fold. First off, employees needed at the Missionary Training Centers are much higher, providing more job opportunities throughout the world.
Another benefit of the increase in sister missionaries after the change is explained in Gender and Culture in Psychology, a book written by Eva Magnusson and Jeanne Marecek. It explained that women are less questioned and more trusted than men. “A girl who masters relational abilities likely receives different feedback from adults and peers than a boy. For example, she will be praised more than a boy, and she might also receive fewer questioning or downright negative feedback.” More sister missionaries, more trust in the church.
As most of my friends and I prepare to leave for a mission, we are all becoming more excited at the prospect of sharing our experiences with one another. I get to connect with my friends in a way that I wouldn’t be able to if I wasn’t planning on serving a mission. While we are all out, we will be able to share stories and learn from each other. We will be able to become even closer because of a shared experience that can only come from missionary work.
Serving a mission at the age of 19 will also provide a way for me to develop in a way I wouldn’t be able to any other way. Joslyn Lemon said, “I think it will just be a different way of developing while in the field. Different situations people are put through help them develop in different ways, and I feel my mission will help me mature in a better way than not going would have.” On a mission, a 19-year-old girl is put in a situation where her focus isn’t her. Her focus is other people. This is not the normal mentality of a 19-year-old girl. Normally, she would be concerned about her college education, dating and other things solely focused on her. The mentality of a missionary is centered on others, and giving a woman the opportunity to develop at that age in that environment can instill a desire to serve throughout the rest of her life.
Just as there has to be more intense preparation before a mission, a 19-year-old woman needs to work harder while out in the mission field. Becca Chavez said being one of the first 19-year-old sister missionaries made her “step up a lot more.” If a sister missionary wants success, she has to work hard. Having the “disadvantage” of being younger forces a missionary to work even harder. I’d say that’s a benefit rather than a disadvantage. The ability to work hard – truly hard – is becoming less and less common among people of this generation. So many things are simply handed to us. On a mission, success isn’t that easy.
While on a mission, a 19-year-old woman can also make an impact on younger girls through example. Many returned sister missionaries have felt the admiration of other parents. Becca Chavez saw this on her mission in El Salvador. In her particular area, it was common for a 16-year-old to become pregnant. Seeing a beautiful, confident young woman serving for her religion was a powerful influence on those girls. Seeing a teenager put so much devotion into her religion is impressive to a parent and can be a good example for young girls not just to serve a mission, but also to be dedicated to something they love.
WHEN I RETURN TO UTAH…
Of course, the experiences and maturity gained while serving a mission at the age of 19 don’t end on the plane ride home. The benefits continue to come. Becca Chavez returned from her mission much more dedicated to school. The semester of college she finished before her mission proved to be less successful than the semester after. She said, “I’m studying a lot harder and with a lot more dedication.” Ann Austin, who also teaches courses at Utah State University, said she loves getting returned sister missionaries in her class. She said, “Even professors who aren’t LDS love the returned sister missionaries. They come back so empowered and motivated. They gain such a strong sense of what they can do.” Caitlin Carr also noticed a big difference in her dedication to schoolwork after her mission. Spending 18 months with the structured lifestyle of an LDS missionary encourages hard work and organization among other habits that become vital to college-not to mention the rest of your life.
An overall effect of the missionary age change for women is that more women are going. Ashlen Lemon, Caitlin Carr, Hannah Walker and Alexandria Peterson are only three of the many young women who don’t believe they would have gone if the change hadn’t been made. Caitlin Carr said, “I remember just two weeks before the age change announcement, I was asked if I was planning on serving a mission, and my answer was no.”
When the Church allowed 19-year-old women to serve missions, they didn’t open up a new door. They opened up a long hallway of doors. More women have the opportunity to serve and more people have the opportunity to hear their message. Becca Chavez said, “After the mission I thought it was cool. I was only 20, but still a returned missionary. I felt like it was a real advantage because I had all that experience behind me and yet my entire life ahead.”
Because I can serve my mission at the age of 19, I will still finish college, marry someone hopefully amazing and visit that island I’ve always wanted to go to. But I’ll do them as a better, more experienced person. I will have great stories to tell and more knowledge about life and what it’s really about: love.
Works Cited
“Hard at Work – Women in the Utah Labor Force.” utah.gov. Feb. 2014. Web. 8 April 2015.
Magnusson, Eva and Jeanne Marecek. “Gender and Culture in Psychology: Theories and Practices.” West Nyack, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2012. Print.
McPherson, Fiona. “Why learning is harder as we get older.” Mempowered. Mempowered. nd. Web. 8 April 2015.
McPherson, Julie. Personal Interview. 7 April 2015.
Peterson, Alexandria. Personal interview. 7 April 2015.
Phillips, Lochlan. Personal interview. 7 April 2015.
Walker, Joseph. “One year later: Looking back at the worldwide impact of a prophet’s announcement.” Deseret News. Deseret News. 3 Oct. 3013. Web. 9 April 2015.
Wrigley, Heather Whittle. “Church Leaders Share More Information on Missionary Age Requirement Change.” lds.org. Lds.org. 6 Oct. 2012. Web. 2 April 2015.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
From Wilford W. Andersen's Conference Address
Because this talk inspired me to just get going with this blog, here are some other moments in his address that I loved. Because everyone loves quotes.
"I can teach you to dance, but you have to hear the music."
Andersen reminded us that those who dance seem strange [AKA: peculiar] to those who can't hear the music.
"Understand the curriculum beyond the dance steps."
"Align with the correct frequency."
"If ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" [Alma 5:26]
Andersen taught us to perform the dance when we hear the music.
"If you're not hearing the music of the gospel--keep practicing."
Happy Easter!!
"I can teach you to dance, but you have to hear the music."
Andersen reminded us that those who dance seem strange [AKA: peculiar] to those who can't hear the music.
"Understand the curriculum beyond the dance steps."
"Align with the correct frequency."
"If ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" [Alma 5:26]
Andersen taught us to perform the dance when we hear the music.
"If you're not hearing the music of the gospel--keep practicing."
Happy Easter!!
Saturday, April 4, 2015
Why the title?
Music and the Gospel? What's the connection? I don't understand!!
Lately, I've felt that I should start a blog as I get nearer to entering the Missionary Training Center, but the title of the blog had to be good.
It had to mirror the intent of the blog.
Of course, what gave me my answer? General Conference. Wilford W. Andersen gave a phenomenal talk at the April 2015 General Conference. [Side note: read it. It's called "The Music of the Gospel."]
This talk explained what I want my missionary work to be like. I want it to be me acting as the Lord's hand to help people hear the music. Because it's so beautiful!
I leave to serve as a missionary on July 1. I am called to the Texas Lubbock Mission, and wow! I haven't even set foot there yet, but it feels like home! I never understood until now what people meant when they said they felt their call was perfect for them. But Lubbock is mine, guys!
But, just as my bishop warned me, the sooner I get to leaving, the harder the Adversary pounds at me. I had no idea how difficult it would be to prepare. There are so many things fighting against me to go, but I swear--nothing is going to stop me.
So the purpose of this blog isn't all that simple.
Lately, I've felt that I should start a blog as I get nearer to entering the Missionary Training Center, but the title of the blog had to be good.
It had to mirror the intent of the blog.
Of course, what gave me my answer? General Conference. Wilford W. Andersen gave a phenomenal talk at the April 2015 General Conference. [Side note: read it. It's called "The Music of the Gospel."]
This talk explained what I want my missionary work to be like. I want it to be me acting as the Lord's hand to help people hear the music. Because it's so beautiful!
I leave to serve as a missionary on July 1. I am called to the Texas Lubbock Mission, and wow! I haven't even set foot there yet, but it feels like home! I never understood until now what people meant when they said they felt their call was perfect for them. But Lubbock is mine, guys!
But, just as my bishop warned me, the sooner I get to leaving, the harder the Adversary pounds at me. I had no idea how difficult it would be to prepare. There are so many things fighting against me to go, but I swear--nothing is going to stop me.
So the purpose of this blog isn't all that simple.
- It's for people who are in the same boat as me. They can relate and know that at least there is one other person feeling the same as them. (I mean, other than the Savior. We've always always got that cool fella.)
- It's for people who may not be preparing for a mission, but they're still going through...life. Life is hard no matter what! The winds blow harder at different times for everyone! And I want to remind them of the beautiful melodies of the Gospel and how they can help us dance through the trials.
- It's for people interested in missionary work. Maybe they are wondering if they should serve a mission. And I hope that even though my posts may emphasize the difficulty of preparation, they will also prove how worth it it is. [Side note: who else hates sentences where you have to say "it" twice in a row?]
- It's for non-members! And investigators of the Church! Maybe someone out there is wondering, "Why on earth are those little teenagers walking around my neighborhood wearing those little tags? And why the heck are they so HAPPY??? Stop smiling!!!" I hope I can give some insight on the motive of a sincere missionary of the Church.
- It's for me! Ya know how when you give a talk in church, you realize the topic was totally something you needed to learn a thing or two about? This blog, I hope, will be like that for me. It's selfish, but whatever. I hope this blog will be another source of preparation for me! One way that can happen is if all y'all comment and let me know what you think! Give me advice, share your own stories....ANYTHING! (I mean, besides mean stuff. None of that please.)
But when it comes down to the nitty gritty facts, I just hope one thing for this blog. I HOPE IT DOES SOME GOOD. I hope it helps more than just me. I hope it can touch lives and prove to be another form of missionary work.
This Gospel is incredible, and I want to share it with everyone! Not just those super cool Texans! It's such a beautiful song, and I can't wait for everyone to hear it.
Have a great day! Smile! I hear it's good for you.
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