When Kristan and I went to Women's Conference at BYU in Provo this spring we met 2 ladies who had just returned from serving a mission for our church. As we talked to them, and shared their excitement, Kristan said "mom, this is what you should do".. I looked at her and thought - no way... but as I thought about it more and more I started to get excited. We talked about it at dinner that evening and in bed that night I couldn't sleep, I just played out every scenario and all of the "what if's" in my mind. I honestly did not sleep a wink that night. The next morning we talked some more about the pluses and minuses and what I would do to prepare to leave my home and family for the extended period of time. I knew that it sounded exciting and scary at the same time. So I prayed and prayed and prayed about what I should do and got the most peaceful assurance that it was the right thing to do at this time in my life. I have not had a doubt since then.
I filled out my paperwork along with many Dr. appointments to make sure I didn't have any health issues that would limit me while I was gone. I had: my physical, pap test, bone scan, mammogram, colonscopy, heart test, dental checkup, blood drawn and many shots. All came back great and so I was ready to have my interviews prior to my papers being submitted. I had my interview with my bishop and then with our stake president. Both were so uplifting and supportive in my decision to serve a mission. After my interviews my papers were submitted the week of June 16th.. Now the wait would begin until I received my mission call.
So as only I do, I started making lists of things I would need to do when I leave.. I now have a notebook all categorized and everything is falling into place. After 4 weeks I was getting so nervous and then 5 weeks, then 6 weeks, then finally this week, I received the large white envelope with my mission call inside. In our family we open mission calls with everyone gathered around, so I called everyone and said I would open my papers at 9:00 that evening, Thursday, August 4th. My friend Connie kept me busy all day so I wouldn't go crazy waiting.
Everyone arrived that evening and I opened my mission call: I am so excited to be serving in the place that the Lord desires. I have been called to serve in the Washington D.C. North mission for our church. I have been called along with my companion to serve as the "Women's Auxiliary Specialists".
I am so excited, what an awesome place to be for the next 18 months. I will enter the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah on September 12th for a week's training and then I'm off to the east coast and my new home in Washington D.C. We all wondered what the Women's Auxiliary Specialist position was and then I received a phone call yesterday from the mission dept. in SLC from a very sweet sister missionary that answered all my questions and was so encouraging.
My companion and I are launching a new pilot program for the church in the mission field. We are the very first missionaries to have this calling. We will support the women in the area with help in any way they need it, such as helping them learn how to set up their auxiliary meetings or how to hold a presidency meeting or how to teach a lesson or how to put together an event or just be there if they need someone to talk to and listen. We will work closely with the local wards and stakes in the church and even be available to work with civic leaders if asked. We will work with women ages 18 and up. I am so blessed to be given this opportunity to serve in this new calling and pray that I can exceed the expectations of those who are trusting me with this pilot program. If this program is successful then it will be rolled out church wide in all the missions of the church. I am excited to be among the 53,000 missionaries serving throughout the world to help bring people closer to Jesus Christ.
I will continue to have my blog while I am serving, so I can journal my adventure and you can keep up to date with me.
