One of the coolest things, as I mentioned earlier, about being here a year early is seeing all my friends get their mission calls. I have had friends going to South Africa (Durban), Germany (Frankfurt), Hong Kong, and Disneyland (Anaheim). I've even seen a guy in my ward get called to good 'ole Las Vegas West (my mission). It's been interesting seeing the ways they prepare too, such as practicing mission hours, taking on extra assignments to teach, volunteering to be investigators at the MTC, and doing role-plays with RMs. Once they even all dressed up in missionary attire on a Friday, went to each other's classes (which conveniently were at different times), invited people to watch General Conference the upcoming weekend, and went to a dinner appointment (technically it was just at the FHE sisters apartment but close enough), where I was invited as well to act as a member missionary (since missionaries can't go into an all female building without another non-missionary male present). (laugh) The joke between us was that I could hug all the sister as we were leaving, while my roommate Ben (who is the most huggy and loving person I have ever met) politely shook hands and called them "Sister (last name)."
I can't wait. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I CAN'T WAIT TO GO ON A MISSION! I can't wait to start filling out my papers in December, I can't wait for the call (likely in February-ish of next year), and I sure as heck can't wait to serve the Lord, wherever he calls me to go.
Maybe it's a bit odd but every time I read my scriptures, I, consciously or unconsciously, look for the scripture that will go up on that plaque. If I find one I really like, I put it in the margins at the top of the page, so that when next year comes, I can find my favorites easily.
I just can't wait to fully dedicate myself to serving others, to putting all my thoughts and energies into helping people receive the gospel. (laugh) I can't wait to have girls mostly out of mind for two years.
People tell me that you change on your mission and for a while that frightened me. Yet, during the past months, I learned significant things. Odds are that my desire to travel won't change because it kind of is an important part of who I am; if anything I will learn how to make that travel more meaningful. And with anything else of importance, I know that God will only shape me in the right way, for it is a refiner's fire that we each go through, not a destructive, forest-engulfing one.
A foot or two might be a bit much, but an inch or two is reasonable...which means the time is coming ever closer. I am going to miss my roommates that I've gotten to know so well these past eight months, for three years is a long time, yet all of us will be venturing forth into the best work possible, and, when we all return, I idealistically imagine it will be like the that great reunion between Alma the Younger and the son of Mosiah, whom after fourteen years of work, were still best friends, only now they were friends that had changed the Lamanite peoples for better. This gospel is the most amazing thing out there, and, to sum it up, I CAN'T WAIT to share it. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment