But being that it's fall... and october... and the leaves are turning all sorts of pretty colors... I've been thinking a lot about New England and my time as a missionary. I'm coming up on being home for 3 (yes, threeeeee) years now... and I've just been reflecting (or reminiscing if you will) about my process of deciding to serve a mission and what-not. I stumbled upon a sister missionary's blog the other day and she listed off 10 things she lived by throughout her mission. You know those days when you're thinking hard about something... and then something comes along that totally fits right along with what you're thinking about??
Yea. Mind blown. This was it for me.
So here you have it... Throughout the week I'll be going through the list...
1. Your call is inspired, your father in heaven trusts you and accepted your desire to serve and called you to the work because he TRUSTS YOU.
I've got 2 things for this...
first... read D&C Section 4... "if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work" and then... "but faith, hope, charity, and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."
Your desire to serve God counts. It really does mean everything. Having christlike qualities are what qualify you for the Lords work. And I promise, if the desire to serve is there, those qualities quickly follow.
second... I'll share a little experience I had with you. So, it took me about 9 months to complete my mission papers (okay, like 1 day to complete them, 8 months and 29 days to submit them). Not because I had stuff to take care of, but I was a tad bit hesitant. I wanted it to be the right time... Anyway, right after I submitted my papers, I really wondered where I would go... Japan, England, Temple Square, Mexico, Nebraska... the options seemed endless. I really (and when I say really, I mean reeaaallllyy) wanted to go foreign. Anywhere foreign and far, far away... you know, so I wouldn't really have the option to go home. Ha.
I fell asleep one night and in my dream, I had recieved my mission call. Now, I had never ever in my life seen an actual mission call... so this was all new to me. All it said was, "Sister Tresner, you have been called to the Kirtland, Ohio Mission New Hampshire Mission."
Exactly like that. Words crossed out and everything.
WHAT?? First of all, why can I not go to Kirtland, Ohio?? And second, do people actually live in New Hampshire??
No, but really. So, I rolled out of bed, got onto handy dandy Google... and typed in "LDS Missions"... scrolled down right to "New Hampshire Manchester Mission".
Ahh, it does exist. People do exist there.
I shrugged my shoulders and went on about my day.
Well, I got my mission call... opened it...
NEW HAMPSHIRE MANCHESTER MISSION.
Jaw. Dropped. I. Lost. It. (literally... watch the video here. And yes, that's my mom in the background. She knew about my dream.)
Mission calls are truly inspired. I can't even begin to tell you have happy I was to be able to serve where I did. Heavenly Father sends you exactly where you need to be. Whether it be stateside or foreign, English speaking or Mandarin Chinese, He knows you and He knows where you need to be and more importantly, where people are that need you. There is not a doubt in my mind that I was supposed to be in New England. I met so many people who have forever changed my life and will forever be grateful for the opportunity I had to be a missionary.
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