formal mission pictures

so much in so little

The stress count down has officially begun. 

My mom called me yesterday all panicked because she realized that we will have 1 week to get everything together for my mission before I enter the Provo MTC. Oops! 

I then decided to make matters worse by reminding her that today marks my 1 month mark before leaving. I swear she was about to break down in a fit of tears at the thought of me leaving so soon. I felt bad and wanted to take back what I had said but that wasn't possible. So now I am faced with the real fact that the next 30 days are going to be an elevator to the penthouse of the stress level building.

Oh well!

I couldn't be more excited to go serve, August 14th, here I come.

thirty.days.left

done with waiting

Going to school when you have your call is tough. You wish you didn't have to do homework or go to class and have to worry about grades, deadlines and graduating. I know it's a good plan to graduate with an associates degree before leaving on my mission. Just to insure that if I have the feeling I need to transfer to a different school, that I have all my generals done with. It makes it easier, I know, but it's frustrating knowing that it seems so trivial compared to serving the Lord.

I just want to be out in the field already! Yet, I have to wait.

I have essays to write, tests to take and projects to present, classes to attend, mettings to make, and blah, blah, blah... etc. I can't even wait for it all to be over.

The worst part of all of this is that I have the spring semester at BYU-Idaho, which means school goes until July 23rd...... no summer break to help me get ready. I get twenty-one days between graduation and entering the MTC. Seriously, can I just skip over school and leave on my mission yet?

Sorry for the rant, I just needed to get it off my chest, mainly because my siblings are all out for summer and I want summer before I leave, to get everything ready so I'm not rushing in August, but I want August 14th to be here. Like now.

joy is the reward

In mission prep this morning, Professor Clark shared something that I feel will be a theme for me in serving the Lord's mission in West Virginia:

Joy is the Reward

Obedience is the price.

Faith is the power.

Love is the motive.

The Spirit is the key.

Christ is the reason.

We can return to our Father.

The Gospel is true, it's for me and for you.

Also, I don't know how many of you read this blog who have mission calls but I have been hearing a lot of people talking about how they are really struggling and battling with the devil. I am here to say that you are not alone in feeling that way. I too have been dragging my feet a little because of the trials that the devil has placed before me. You might assume that once you have decided that you are going on a mission that your weakness hide away. They DO NOT. You might assume that once your mission papers were in that the problems would just leave. They DO NOT. You might assume that once you have your mission call that the trials vanish. They DO NOT. 

Now I'm not writing this to scare you. I am doing it to encourage you to be ready when they trouble sticks around and gets worse. Remember that although it might feel terrible, there is a reason to the madness. 

You are doing the greatest thing the Lord has ever asked of us, that's why.

The devil hates that we are acting on the Lord's errand and he will try to stop us at any cost. I know I'm feeling it just like you. Everyday is a struggle but we can all get through it together. I have been studying my scriptures, praying, writing things that impress me down in journals, fasting and most recently I asked my dad to give me another father's blessing. 

I am in school right now while I wait to go on my mission and the devil has been using that as a weapon against me but ever since the blessing on Sunday, I have been filled with increased spiritual fortification. Be diligent in finding peace and comfort through Christ, He wants you to come unto Him. We aren't going to be able to find comfort and solace through our families while we are out, we NEED to learn to lean on our Heavenly Parents more fully in able to succeed on our missions and in the future. I know this to be true!

Ninety.Days.Left.

missionary work is...

"I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are the church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our great eternal head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never ever easy for Him?"

--A quote that was posted on Facebook by a fellow sister, that I really liked.

for the eternal purpose

April 25, 2013

Draper, Utah

I had started my last semester at Byu- Idaho just five days earlier, and I was back again. Back home. Back with family. It felt so nice to be in a familiar and warm place. It was a big day. My mom kept chanting, "It's your day, all you!" I smiled softly, knowing that it was her way of saying I'm so proud of you. 

It was crazy getting to Draper and there was so much to prepare and get all ready and in the car before we could go. I was to be there an hour and a half before the session started, we were right on time. Barely.

It was beautiful. The experience of going through the temple was absolutely, undeniably stunning. With no real idea of what was about to take place, the temple workers were so kind and they really know how to take care of us newbies! I even had a really bad cough that drove everyone crazy, but they didn't show it. They brought me in a paper cup of water and tissues. They really do try to make you feel as comfortable and calm as possible.

I was really sick to my stomach as well and had a pounding headache but somehow, I got through everything just fine, I can only thank Heavenly Father for helping me through. I felt so protected and helped in the temple and now I have the blessing and protection that comes with endowments. I couldn't be happier, I am doing something very special to the Lord and I feel so blessed for it.

.........................

I still laugh at the fact that if you had told me a year ago that I would be wearing garments and getting ready to leave on a mission that I would probably giggle and deny it, or just stare at you like, you have finally lost your sanity, that's not possible. But you know what? All things through Christ are and will always be possible if we only have faith! 

The church is true and the Temple is a beautiful blessing to us where we can find help and guidance in all things. I love this Gospel and really am way too excited to serve! 

One.Hundred.And.Four.Days.Left.

take the challenge

This morning as I walked into Missionary Prep, a girl that had been in the 7:45 am class, said, "Keep an open mind, Celine." Then she walked out. Celine was the girl sitting next to me, we had found that we were in a few classes together but she had this huge look of confusion on her face. We laughed it off because we had no idea what she was talking about.

Class was great! We sang, prayed, had a few VERY powerful testimonies shared, sang some more and then delved right into PMG and D&C 4. It was so powerful, reading and talking about the purpose and power we have as missionaries. The spirit was so strong and we lost track of time. Ten minutes before class was to end my Professor, Brother Clark, gave us a challenge.

The Challenge: Read one whole book in the Book of Mormon in.... a day.... for fourteen days.

That's right folks, read the whole Book of Mormon in fourteen days. Wish me luck because I am a pretty slow reader but I am going to attempt it and I know that there will be many blessings if I can accomplish this.