Mission Blessings

I just realized that I haven't said anything about my mission! I got called to serve in Tempe, Arizona (Spanish speaking). I've heard good things about the mission and am so excited to serve the people there! It is going to be such an amazing (difficult, but amazing) experience!

I've received so many blessings in conjunction with my mission call. I'm grateful to have received the call at BYU, where there were so many people to help and support me. My roommate got her mission call the same day, so we were able to prepare together. Actually, our friend decided to "train" us for our missions... he had us be "companions" and study Preach My Gospel together, and then teach a discussion to someone. That was an amazing experience in itself. Studying with my roommate helped me so much because we learned a ton as we discussed principles of the gospel. Teaching the lessons with someone's specific needs in mind really blessed all of us. I really felt that I was inspired as I learned to have the spirit work through me in helping me choose who to teach, what to teach them, and what to say. I felt that I should teach my other roommate about a topic that I hadn't even realized before that she was struggling with. Also, when my "companion" and I were supposed to choose someone to teach, she decided to teach someone that I also felt was who we should teach.

Anyway, I was able to talk to many return missionaries who gave me great advice. There were lots of people who had served Spanish-speaking missions, and even one girl who had served in Arizona. Several people gave us lessons from Preach My Gospel and just talked with us. Elisa studied the Spanish Book of Mormon with me. They all have no idea how much they helped me.

Leading up to receiving my mission call, I had several experiences that strengthened me. My RM friend told me about receiving her call and how it wasn't what she expected, but she learned to love where she served. I went running and saw a beautiful rainbow, and later I also saw a rainbow extending from Y Mountain to the apartments behind me. For me, the rainbows were a sign of God's love and peace.

When I opened my mission call, I had so many friends there to support me. I had no idea where I would be going on my mission, but I feel at peace with where I will be serving and am very excited about this opportunity.

Today I was praying about what I should do to further prepare for my mission. I have been studying PMG and El Libro de Mormon, but I wondered what else I should do. I ran into the Spanish-speaking Sister missionaries, and they were able to give me all kinds of encouragement and advice. They asked me if I wanted to go on splits with them some time. Whether I go or not, it was so great just to talk to them and get some encouragement.

I may not be the most spiritual or the most friendly person in the world, but I know that going on a mission is the right step for me now in my life. On my mission, I hope to gain a stronger relationship with the Savior and gain a better understanding of the atonement. I hope to feel Christlike love for the people I serve. I also hope to learn how to rely on the spirit. I hope to gain confidence and interpersonal skills so I am better at approaching people and discussing the gospel with them. I hope to gain a stronger testimony of the gospel and of the restoration of the gospel. Mostly, I hope to influence the people I serve and in some way help them to come closer to Christ. No matter how many baptisms I have, I hope to help the people live the gospel to the fullest and strive to become more Christlike- and that's what I want to do, too.