I still remember standing in my dorm room kitchen at BYU when President Monson came up to the pulpit and announced to the world the new mission age. I heard girls screaming in the lobby. It didn't phase me one bit. I had already decided I would never serve a mission, it just wasn't for me. The age change effected my world the most. I was a Freshman at BYU. Everyone around me could pick up and leave right then if they wanted to. And that they did. Out of my 20 brothers and sisters in my FHE family 17 decided to go. I lost my best friends. I knew that they were doing a good thing but I felt abandoned. I was almost angry at their choices to leave.
After months of constant goodbyes I became used to it and was eventually happy of all their decisions to serve the Lord. After a bit of humbling I decided I too should pray again to see if I am on the right path. Months went by I was not getting an answer. (or so I thought). Finally in June I went to my Bishop and told him of my dilemma. He told me to just open my papers and read through them. He said I will get an answer through that. And he was right. As soon as I logged on for the first time I knew that I was supposed to serve a mission. After that everything fell in to place.
For some reason though I could still not buck up the courage to tell everyone that I was going to serve. If people asked I just brushed them off and said "oh maybe" or " I'm thinking about it" even though in my head it was already a yes. I did this for months. Finally I decided that I couldn't do that anymore. I started my telling my best friend. He was so excited and I wondered why I was hiding it away in the first place. Was I ashamed that I decided to serve the Lord? No but in my head I thought everyone would judge me. From then on I proudly told everyone that asked that I was going on a mission.
Now getting the answer to go was not the only step. I had to tell myself why I wanted to serve. It wasn't only because the Lord wanted me to go. It was because I wanted to go. I didn't want to force myself on a mission because it felt right. I have to know for myself that this is something I want and need to do. If I didn't, I don't think I would last long in the field.
These are the reasons I came up with.
1) I can (and want to) do hard things! I love nothing more than coming home at the end of a productive day and reflecting on all I've done. It gives me great satisfaction when I cross things off my daily to do lists. A mission allows me the chance to work my tail off all day, everyday for 548 days. And the best part is, none of that is for me. I get to dedicate all I do in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. I get the chance to stop worrying about myself and serve others. I can't wait to work hard all day and not be graded on what I do. School is wonderful and all but at the end of the day no matter how hard you work you are given a grade and sometimes it doesn't always reflect all you do. The Lord does not give us grades. If we give our all that is sufficient for Him.
2) I love this Gospel. Everyday I get up and center my life around the doctrine and teachings of this gospel. I try everyday to live up to the covenants I have made to be a righteous example as I follow the example of Christ. This church makes up every part of who I am and what I do. I want to share what I know and love to everyone. I want people to feel the peace and happiness I feel. I want people to know that they have someone there to lift them up on a hard day. Someone who will take on their sins and burdens. I would be so selfish to keep all that I know to myself. Everyone deserves to hear about this gospel.
3) It's only 18 months. Seriously that is a blink of an eye. I owe at least that to my Savior. He needs us to act as His agents here on Earth.
4) It's the chance of a lifetime. When else am I going to get the chance to be a young single adult and go out into the world and live among a people I don't know. Experience a place I've never been. Not only that but we get to share a message with them that will change lives. In these 18 months I will have the power to change people's lives! I will bring people closer to their Savior. I will grow so much as well.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to go to Houston Texas. I know that I have been called by God to serve those people. I cannot wait to get out there.
After months of constant goodbyes I became used to it and was eventually happy of all their decisions to serve the Lord. After a bit of humbling I decided I too should pray again to see if I am on the right path. Months went by I was not getting an answer. (or so I thought). Finally in June I went to my Bishop and told him of my dilemma. He told me to just open my papers and read through them. He said I will get an answer through that. And he was right. As soon as I logged on for the first time I knew that I was supposed to serve a mission. After that everything fell in to place.
For some reason though I could still not buck up the courage to tell everyone that I was going to serve. If people asked I just brushed them off and said "oh maybe" or " I'm thinking about it" even though in my head it was already a yes. I did this for months. Finally I decided that I couldn't do that anymore. I started my telling my best friend. He was so excited and I wondered why I was hiding it away in the first place. Was I ashamed that I decided to serve the Lord? No but in my head I thought everyone would judge me. From then on I proudly told everyone that asked that I was going on a mission.
Now getting the answer to go was not the only step. I had to tell myself why I wanted to serve. It wasn't only because the Lord wanted me to go. It was because I wanted to go. I didn't want to force myself on a mission because it felt right. I have to know for myself that this is something I want and need to do. If I didn't, I don't think I would last long in the field.
These are the reasons I came up with.
1) I can (and want to) do hard things! I love nothing more than coming home at the end of a productive day and reflecting on all I've done. It gives me great satisfaction when I cross things off my daily to do lists. A mission allows me the chance to work my tail off all day, everyday for 548 days. And the best part is, none of that is for me. I get to dedicate all I do in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. I get the chance to stop worrying about myself and serve others. I can't wait to work hard all day and not be graded on what I do. School is wonderful and all but at the end of the day no matter how hard you work you are given a grade and sometimes it doesn't always reflect all you do. The Lord does not give us grades. If we give our all that is sufficient for Him.
2) I love this Gospel. Everyday I get up and center my life around the doctrine and teachings of this gospel. I try everyday to live up to the covenants I have made to be a righteous example as I follow the example of Christ. This church makes up every part of who I am and what I do. I want to share what I know and love to everyone. I want people to feel the peace and happiness I feel. I want people to know that they have someone there to lift them up on a hard day. Someone who will take on their sins and burdens. I would be so selfish to keep all that I know to myself. Everyone deserves to hear about this gospel.
3) It's only 18 months. Seriously that is a blink of an eye. I owe at least that to my Savior. He needs us to act as His agents here on Earth.
4) It's the chance of a lifetime. When else am I going to get the chance to be a young single adult and go out into the world and live among a people I don't know. Experience a place I've never been. Not only that but we get to share a message with them that will change lives. In these 18 months I will have the power to change people's lives! I will bring people closer to their Savior. I will grow so much as well.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to go to Houston Texas. I know that I have been called by God to serve those people. I cannot wait to get out there.