Well, I'm here in Provo with my parents, spending some time with them before I report to the Missionary Training Center TOMORROW! I can't believe it's here. My time to serve the Lord in the mission field has finally come. It's been hard waiting for my report date, but it's been great at the same time. It has shown me the different tactics that Satan uses to try to get me off course. He has tried to use distractions, {such as boys, worldly gain through work and school, activities that I would be missing out on} and self worth issues {I don't know enough to be a missionary, people won't want to listen to me, I'm not good enough to preach the gospel, etc}. If you have been experiencing the same things I have been, I encourage you to stay strong. Think about the righteous reasons that led you to desire to serve a mission. Always be on the Lord's side and you will conquer Satan.
I have a friend who has recently started taking the missionary discussions and we were talking about questions he could ask the missionaries. I was thinking how grateful I was that my friend had someone to answer his questions. Then I realized that that would be me very soon, and I started to panic, thinking I was not prepared enough to be doing this, crying repentance to the people of Alabama. But I have felt a calm reassurance that I will not be the one teaching, but rather it will be the Holy Ghost doing the teaching and I am merely the vessel through which He works. Although I haven't memorized all of Preach my Gospel and the scriptures before I enter the MTC, I have been prepared enough to teach with the Spirit. I was blessed to have been born and raised in the Church. I grew up attending Church meetings, going to Primary and ward activities, learning lessons in Young Women's, and participating in service projects. When I was getting set apart, my stake president told me and my family that he could tell that I had been prepared to serve a mission, which was comforting to hear. So even though I don't yet know the best teaching methods to use, I know that as I trust in the Lord and invite the Spirit into every lesson, I will be able to touch hearts and make an impact in people's lives.
This morning at breakfast, my parents were telling me how hard a mission is. Both served missions, in the same mission, actually{that's where they met!} so they know what they are talking about. My dad wasn't prepared for how challenging it would be. People only told him the good sides to a mission, not the rough sides. But he says he wouldn't have done it any other way, that his mission made him who he is today, which is a strong priesthood holder who fulfills all of his church callings and takes care of his wife and family. I know that my mission will be hard. I'm not expecting it to be easy. As I learned on my stake trek when I was about 15 or 16, "I can do hard things." That trek was the hardest thing I had done until the point, but it was also the most fun I have ever had. I'm counting on my mission to be the same thing, the hardest thing I will ever do, but also the most fun thing I will ever do. One of the apostles said "My mission was the best two years FOR my life." I truly believe my mission will be the best eighteen months for my life.
This is my last post before going into the mission field. I'm hoping I will have some time on Preparation Days to post, but if not you'll be hearing from my mom as she relates from my letters all that is happening in Alabama. I hope you all have a happy Tuesday!
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