Floods, Tornadoes, and Snakes... Oh my!

Hello! Hola! Aloha! Bonjour! Talofa! (Sometimes I am incredibly glad that I am not a different language for my mission, however, I wouldn't mind ASL!)

Okay! So, first thing's first! I got two letters (in the mail... weird, huh?!) from my Mission President. Basically, he was just giving my information about my mission in particular and about things that I have to get done and get turned into him.

I gave him my information about my parents and their contact information. I also had to turn in my driving record (there is a car on my mission, but it's in rotation, so I may or may not be getting it once in a while), a contract for the apartment, and a couple other papers that weren't all too important (which is why I can't remember what they were.... haha!).

Turns out that my mission is a definite bike mission. Yup, that's right.... Bikes.... in skirts..... Yippee!! First of all, I literally have not substantially ridden a bike since who knows when! Probably not since 6th grade, which is like seven years ago! I don't even know if I remember how!!! Yea, yea... You never forget! But I feel like I can't balance as well now. Because, actually, away at school, I rode my friend's bike for a short while and I failed miserably at it. So let's hope for the best!

Now, the part about the skirts..... I'm not too stoked about that! At least we won't be riding too fast, which means it won't get as breezy for the skirts to go all over the place, so that's a plus, right?!

A few things about my mission:

• It's freezing cold in the winter and crazy hot and humid in the summer.
• There are tornadoes, floods, and thunderstorms like no other! 
• Five venomous snakes live in Arkansas... I am terrified of snakes.
• Food consists mostly of fried food (especially fried chicken).
• The Arkansas watermelon is supposedly the sweetest, yummiest watermelon, ever!
• Arkansas and Mississippi are smack-dab in the middle of the Bible Belt....
• Lastly, my Mission President and his wife are from Fiji!!!

Moving on....

Last week was an eventful week for my family. My sister received her endowments and then was sealed to her husband the following day for all time and eternity. That's such an awesome thing! I am so grateful for the blessing and the knowledge that the temple offers us to be with our spouse for always.

Later that week, I was able to go through the temple and receive my endowments as well. For those of you who don't know what that all entails,

"...in the temple, we receive the ordinances that will enable us to return to the presence of God. We also make covenants to live the gospel."

" an ordinance is a sacred ceremony that has a spiritual meaning and effect."

" a covenant is a sacred agreement between God and a person or group of people. God sets specific conditions, and He promises to bless us as we obey those conditions."

The ordinances received are essential (even crucial) to our exaltation after this life. So one would think this process is a pretty big deal, which it is!

The covenants made are also very vital. When covenants are made with God, we show our "desire to serve God and our willingness to obey all that is asked of us". Due to our faithfulness in keeping the covenants made, God then grants us with many blessings. We must make and keep covenants in order to progress toward eternal life.

In order to go to the temple, I initially had to read a booklet titled "Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple". This explained a lot about what I would experience and basically helped calm my nerves. I read this out loud with my mama and asked her questions as I went. There were things I wanted further explanation for and things I didn't quite understand, so it was good that I had her there.

I had to be interviewed by both my Bishop and Stake President to prove that I am worthy to enter the Lord's kingdom. The reason for this is because no unclean thing can enter the House of the Lord, nor dwell in His midst.

Upon being interviewed, I was found worthy to enter the Lord's temple. Such a relief!! Hahah. I was so ecstatic that I now had my real live temple recommend. My life is progressing. I'm moving up in the world (and getting closer to Heaven)! (:

The temple is such a beautiful place. For those of you who have entered the temple, you know what I am referencing. And to those who haven't, I urge you to become worthy to enter the House of the Lord and to be able to take part in these wonderful blessings and see the beauty within. It is such a sight!

I know that the temple is truly a House of the Lord and I am so grateful for the awesome opportunity I had to be there with my family and friends and to learn of the incredible blessings I am to receive.

(After I received my endowments outside of the Seattle Temple)

(I could not be here without my wonderful parents... I love them!)

I had a lot of family and friends that were able to be at the temple with me, which was awesome! Afterwards, we all went back to my house for a little "party" with food (typical Mormon thing.... hahah).

(My grandparents have always been so supportive of my decisions in life and I appreciate it so much!)

(After the temple, the party back at my house with Cullen Black)

(Good friends in the ward... The Kutterers!)

(This was the "old person" table!! With parents grandparents, and family friends Debbie and Gary Sabin, and Kurtis and Melanie Willden)

This is all just one step closing to leaving on my mission. The preparation is all so very exciting. Last week, a lady (Berdeen Meadows) so kindly took my pictures for my mission. She takes future missionaries' pictures for no charge with the thought of "they are going out and serving for 2 years (or 18 months), I can serve and take pictures for a mere 30 minutes".

I really hate photo shoots because I never know what to do. However, the pictures turned out real nicely! I'm excited to see the final products! She did a lovely job.

A little over two months until I will be entering the Provo MTC and then be serving the Lord and sharing the gospel with the people of the south! I am so looking forward to it!

Best News Ever

Guess what guys!

I'm going on a mission! I bet you didn't know that, huh?! Well, now you know! 

I'm so excited! This seriously is going to be the greatest, hardest, most growing 18 months of my life. I can hardly wait!! 

Each week, I'll post a new blog and y'all can keep up to date on my mission. I can't guarantee that there will be exciting stuff every week, but I sure would love it if you read and kept up! 

If you so desire, I love mail .... (;

(My mission pic I submitted to the First Presidency)

So, it all started whilst attending Brigham Young University in Hawaii. I transferred to this university in Fall 2013. I was so stoked to be here and I was totally looking forward to this new adventure in my life I was about to start on.

All growing up, I always considered a mission, but it was more of just a thought. "Oh, I will be going on a mission after I graduate, unless I'm in a serious relationship." As much as I believed that, it seemed so far away. Heck, graduation looked like it never was going to happen.

Towards the end of the semester, around November/December, I seriously considered going on a mission and was trying to figure out how that would work with my life. I thought about going before Summer semester, after Summer semester, after Fall semester (of 2014), and again, after I graduated. My thoughts were turning towards going after Fall semester. When talking with my mama about this, tears would come and I would stress even more about what was to be done. I was trying so hard to fit the mission into my life, as opposed to fitting my life for a mission.

I then started to go through the motions while I was home for Christmas break. I started on my papers via lds.org through the missionary online recommendation system. I didn't get too far, but I got all my personal information filled out, as well as my dentistry info done. I then kind of put that all on the back burner and didn't bother about getting my physical done. And off I went back to BYU-H.

While back at school, I mostly forgot all about serving a mission. It was implanted in my mind, but never fully there. Different things in my life started popping up and I was becoming stressed and incredibly overwhelmed. So many options were appearing and I had no idea where the Lord wanted me to direct my life. I was completely lost and felt like my life was heading no where.

More options and stressors hit me like a bullet and I didn't know where to turn. I would call my mama, multiple times, daily and just cry. I felt like there was a huge cloud over me and I couldn't get out from under it. It was definitely a hard time. I just wanted to give up. I didn't feel like continuing. I had no drive for schoolwork, zero motivation to hang out with friends, and felt no reason to leave my house. It was a difficult couple of weeks.

Because of the awful state I was in, and having no clue where my life should go, I asked my daddy if I could fly home that coming weekend (it was President's Day weekend) so that I could get a Father's Blessing. I needed that direction from my Father in Heaven to give me the consolation and comfort to free me from the anxiety I felt when I thought about my future.

One of the opportunities that appeared in my life was to do an internship for Psychology at a Deaf School in India. This was something that I knew I would love to pursue. However, with the thought of a mission in the Fall, I had no idea how this internship would fit in. I was hit, yet again, with a huge decision to make. My professor, Dr. Miller (my Applied Social Statistics professor), was a huge help. He was the one that told me about this opportunity. That same day, Tuesday, February 11, I went to Dr. Miller's office to talk with him about India. It definitely turned into something that I was not expecting.

When I showed up, he told me about the options for when we would go: either Summer 2015, or wait for after I serve a mission and go Summer 2016. Because I was unsure of where my life was going, he nor I knew when would work. I had been continuing to pray consistently throughout that day. Even for the past two days, I was fasting. Because of my diligence, Dr. Miller thought I should have received an answer by now. So, naturally, he took it into his hands and we prayed in his office.

We shut the door, knelt down, and he said a prayer to Heavenly Father. His prayer was so heartfelt and so humble that I was hoping that I would feel a sense of comfort once he finished. However, at the end of his prayer, I felt the same; there was no reassurance or support for my choices, probably because I had yet to actually make a solid decision.

It was then my turn. Because I hadn't felt a sense of relief, Dr. Miller figured that now I should pray for guidance, out loud, in his office, with him present. Nerve-wracking, eh?! I certainly thought so! After my prayer, Dr. Miller then asked me how I felt. I responded, "I.... still feel like I need to serve a mission." He agreed and said that he felt that same way. He then told me to go home, get the Father's Blessing, and to come back the next week and tell him when I will serve a mission and when we will be going to India.

I went home Thursday night (February 13) and was home from Thursday till Monday. I was able to get my physical done at the doctor's office. My family, and extended family, had a family fast for me to feel comfort and to receive the guidance that I needed. On Sunday, my daddy gave me a blessing. I was so grateful and so happy to finally feel at ease. I decided then and there, pretty much, that I will be serving a mission this summer and come home once Winter semester ended.

I went back to BYU-H knowing where my life was going. It was so great. I met with my Bishop and eventually met with my Stake President. I met with four others with President Hannemann. He gave us scriptures to review and D&C 4 to memorize. We then came back the following week with our thoughts on the scriptures and to recite this section. On Monday, March 10, I officially submitted my papers. Off they went to the First Presidency.

The next three weeks were the worst ever! I literally checked my mail three times every day waiting for my call to arrive. I was growing impatient. I think that's why it took so long; Heavenly Father was allowing me to learn patience, because patience is a virtue that I have yet to fully achieve.

On April 4, 2014, I finally received my call! It got in around noon. I wasn't able to open it until 5pm that night. I carried my call around with me everywhere I went. I did not let it out of my sight. I was so excited and running around showing it to all my friends.

(I got my mission call!!!)

I then went to the temple with a few friends at 5pm and opened it while in a video call with my family back home. I got called to serve in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission. I was, and am, beyond excited! I report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on July 16, 2014. The anticipation is so high; I can hardly believe it. I am so excited to serve the people of Arkansas (and Tennessee, Missouri, and Mississippi). I cannot wait to share the truth of the gospel with those I come in contact with. It's truly gonna be an amazing experience and I am so looking forward to it!

(On my way back from the temple with my mission call!)

(My mission boundaries)

A Mission Call.... Say whaaa?!

Dear Sister Smith:

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.You are assigned to labor in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.
You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, July 16, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language.