I keep having to pinch myself to actually believe the fact that I am serving a mission! Its crazy that its here already!
IS THIS REAL LIFE??
If you would have asked me a couple of months ago I would have said that my mission couldn't come any sooner! But now that its actually here I feel like its come all too fast! But nonetheless.... the time has come!
I'm going to take this time to state why I know I should be serving a mission. (Because I probably am going to need reminders for when things get rough)
#1. I KNOW this gospel to be true. There is nothing else I am more passionate about then this. I love to dance, and play lacrosse, and I love art. But this gospel, consumes me. Its what gives me purpose and value. Its what gives me the ultimate happiness, how can you not want to share it with everyone you know?
#2 I KNOW the atonement to be real. I've been pushed to my limits before and had to fight for what I believe in. I've made mistakes, and will make many more mistakes. But that's what makes me human. And knowing the fact that I have a savior who is on MY side makes everything a whole lot easier. I want everyone to know that they too have a savior, and that its okay to make mistakes, you can always come back!
#3 I am supposed to be in Chile. Anyone who knows me knows the fact that I am probably the last person who ever thought I was going on a mission. It was NEVER apart of my plan. I always respected those who decided to go but just always thought to myself, "that's just not for me." But Heavenly Father knew better.
I was living in New York interning at a graphic design agency called Case, and loving life! I was literally living the dream! I was working in Manhattan (with free rent thanks to my wonderful Grandparents;) and working with the most amazing people. I became really close with my co-workers especially a girl named Kristine. She was a return missionary and working exactly where I have dreamed to be. I believe she was the example that got me going. Seeing how she was so passionate about the gospel and design, helped put things in perspective for me. Needless to say I thought about going on a mission and everything worked out perfectly from there.
I was so overwhelmed with what I was feeling I went to the one person I always go to when I need help. My dad.
I will never forget the advice he gave me. So anyone who is thinking about going on a mission LISTEN UP! This changed everything for me.
He said to me, "I want you to decide right here and now that you want to go on a mission. If you are truly serious about this decide now that its what you are going to do. But don't tell a soul. Just tell Heavenly Father and ponder on it for about a week. Act like its what you are going to do, start reading your scriptures every morning like a missionary should, start studying preach my gospel, and most importantly pray every night and morning and ask now that you have decided this is what you are going to do, for a conformation."
So I did. And sure enough I got my answer loud and clear. But what made this advice so great was that there was no outside pressure. It was okay if I wanted to change my mind. I wouldn't have to post or announce to everyone that I changed my mind. There is no shame in it at all. This is a fantastic way to decipher if you are truly going for the right reasons!
Anyway, after I knew I was going it all just unfolded in front of me. I talked with my bishop that Sunday, I had a doctors appointment that Tuesday, a dentist appointment that Wednesday and my papers were in that Thursday. So all of those Elders out there who took months to do their papers I have no pity for you... (a.k.a Devan and Derek!) ;) just playin.
So after receiving my call I had to wait 3 days for my family to fly into New York. Which was EXTREME torture. Believe me I thought about everything. I tried holding it up to the light to sneak a peak. I though about the "steam method" but my mother kept my grandparents on watch.
The best part about this clip is my mothers reaction to my call. Right about at 0:34.....You can literally see the worry hit her face the second she realizes I'm going to Chile. This is my mother who told me, mind you, that she was literally praying that I got a state-side mission.
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