You are assigned to labor in the....

OREGON PORTLAND (English Speaking) MISSION!!!

I opened my call on Friday October 30th with some of my family, some on speakerphone, and some of my friends in Hawaii!(That's my brother Trevor that served in Oregon and my brother Josh is on the phone there with him.)

You can watch me opening my call here.
My brother Josh kept asking me what was going through my head. I just said, NOTHING! I have no idea. I'm just anxious. That's the truth. Not much goes through your head when you find out. It's been a letter I've been waiting to receive for MONTHS now and I was just excited to prepare for the next step! As I've received my call I've been doing a lot of "googling" ...."Portland, Oregon", "Portland, OR Mission" ETC. There have been a few blogs I've run into which say they're going to portland oregon on their mission, disappointed is one of the first emotions described. DISAPPOINTED!??? How can people put that about a mission the Lord has called them too. Where apostles pray over where to send you and Heavenly father gives them direct revelation on where they will be needed the most. There are NO coincidences in the gospel. We're sent where we are suppose to go for a reason. HOW EXCITING!! I actually consider going to my brother's mission a tender mercy. I feel like there is someone there to teach that wasn't ready when my brother was there and now I get that opportunity. Perhaps my brother and I had a friend in heaven that we said we would find and baptize that my brother wasn't able to find. Now I get that opportunity. Or perhaps this will just give me an opportunity to draw closer to my brother in our testimonies about missionary work. For whatever reason... I know I have been called there for a purpose. I AM SO EXCITED!
It was great to have friends and family there while I opened my call. (Especially to have my mom in town this weekend!) I'm so thrilled for this next step in my life and pray that my brothers and sisters in portland will except my companion and me in their house and that they will accept Jesus Christ and his gospel in their lives.

Thank you EVERYONE for helping me get thus far in my life! :)

¡Mi llamada estará en el miercoles!! :)

My call will be in on Wednesday!!
I'm so excited!!! I meet with the stake president tomorrow night and then he'll put my calling in. He told me that they process my paperwork and it will take 10-14 days. SO FAST! Except it'll probably feel like forever! I feel like Christmas will come early this year! Part of me is hoping that my call will come sooner than later because my mom is coming out the end of the month.

I calculated it and the latest that I would get my calling would be (if we're talking business days) October 26th. My mom will come out the 29th. Just a couple days of waiting to open it while she's here! Although it may seem stressful to wait. I think I could contain myself for a couple days... maybe.
I was talking to my mom the other day and I am actually more excited to go through the temple! I can not WAIT to take out my endowments and finally be able to go through the temple on my own. I'm looking forward to the day to see all my family together in white. It brings a tear to my eye just thinking it.

What a busy/crazy year this has been for me and for my family! Two of my sisters are going to be due here at anytime, my other sister is getting married and I will be getting a mission call! My mom is probably going insane. :)

Oh this is more for my family but... SAVE THE DATE... As soon as I get my mission call and speak with my stake president I'll call the mesa temple but I'm pretty sure that I'll be taking out my endowments on December 26th! (I know, that's right in the middle of things but I get in to Arizona on the 23rd and this was the only day that really was free on the temple calendar before Nikki's wedding. So I'm extending an informal invite to my brothers and sisters & in-laws that anyone that wants to join me for taking out my endowments that day is welcome to join me in white!)

I'm praying that I get sent somewhere where the Lord needs me. Where I can use my talents to the greatest of my ability. Some place that will be challenging but still attainable to do the work. Somewhere were I will meet people that only I can help. I pray that the Lord is preparing them as he has been preparing me that when I meet them we may both be edified and rejoice together! I'm going to find my brothers and sisters that have been waiting to enter into the covenant. I am getting nervous and satan has been doing all he can to stop this from happening for me but I feel like with the Lord's help that I have been SO greatly blessed! I am so anxious for these next steps in my life, for the blessings that will come to me and my family as we both prepare together. SO EXCITING!!! :) These next few months are going to be crazy but also amazing!! I look forward to the preparations and the next steps in life!

Oh and my dad challenged us to read the Book of Mormon and so for me I'm challenging myself to reread it and finish it before I go to the temple! I am praying that with this challenge that the Lord will bless me and that I in return to be able to better prepare myself. Anyone who's going to the temple with me is more than welcome to join in the challenge! :)

YOU Are a Child of God.

You... YES YOU -are a child of God.

I've been learning a lot of valuable lessons in the deepest effect possible that has helped me realize the very nature of god, who we are and what we can become. The greatest lesson I've been learning is our time here on earth is precious and that we literally are sons and daughters of God. The Lord has been blessed me with a lot of trials some that others have experienced that I have been able to see through their eyes while I told their hand. Other trials have literally been when I was in the very flames of satan. Through each of these I've seen the hand of God in my life. This is the beauty of life. Our savior is aware of what we can handle and what we must go through to know who we are and know who he is, to better appreciate the foundation of life, the atonement.

This weekend I had a scare as one of my close friends/residents decided to overdose. Through the events that took place all within 6 hours of going to hospital, etc I was shocked at the effect it would have on her best friend and her. I didn't know how to comfort or how to take in all that was going on. When I sat there staring at my friend in the hospital bed the spirit hit me very strong and one word came to mind, pray. I prayed my hardest for comfort for the friends around her and for the health of my friend. I prayed that she would realize who she is and just prayed that we would all get through it. As I finished the prayer I looked up and wiped the tears from my eyes. My eyes turned to my friends frail body in the bed and I noticed that she started to speak. She started to talk a lot to her friends around her, she started to regain consciousness. The first lesson I learned that day was the power of prayer. Through the remainder of the weekend and the events that followed I realized her actions had a huge effect on her friends around her. I realized she didn't know the effects it would have and I realized how much the lord loves us. As she was released from the hospital and came into my room I sat her down and spoke boldly.

"The Lord loves you. You are a daughter of God." The rest of what I spoke about is history. The fine and minor details of the story seep into the cracks as I think about the main lesson that was being taught during this whole experience. You are a child of God. What does that mean?? The very beauty of the Gospel is that we are children of our heavenly father. Christ himself knows what its like when a person thinks sucicidal thoughts. He knows what it's like to be hooked up to IVs. He knows the thoughts and pains that a friend goes through watching their friend laying helplessly in a hospital bed. The atonement is real. It is only through the atonement that we can realize who we are and what we can become. Our Savior has great faith and courage in us. We need to do our part and believe in ourselves.

Sometimes we are put through the refiner's fire so that we may appreciate the savior's hand in our life. Through this whole experience I have also realized that EVERY soul is great in the sight of God. Without him we are nothing. With him we are everything. The atonement is real and we can become like our savior someday, only through him. Whatever that takes, we will be able to someday be like him. The idea of this is POWERFUL! ....WHAT A WEEKEND!!!

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

For those who aren't aware yet, I'm getting ready to go on a mission!

This semester has been extremely hard for me only because I was focusing on mission papers more than my school and work. I'm afraid I didn't try my best this term but, I think the end results will be well worth it when I open my mailbox in a few weeks and see my call waiting for me!

About a 4 years ago upon praying about a serious relationship I received a strong desire to serve in the Lord's kingdom and becoming a missionary instead. As the years have passed my desire has grown even stronger. One year ago I prayed about leaving Utah to go home and start preparing for a mission, the Lord however had other goals in mind. I instead went to LDSBC and when Christmas came I thought a mission was the next thing to do. However once again the Lord had other plans in mind. The Lord saw fit for me to learn the importance of his time. Over the next semester I fear I've become my worst enemy, Prideful and stubborn. I wanted to serve so bad and wasn't paying attention to the Lord's timing. I was focusing on my own timing in life. During an adventurous semester I went home for a weekend and received a blessing from my grandfather. The blessing was powerful and encouraging inviting me to have the spirit in my life and to continue to endure. I started to live my life in Salt Lake. When the semester came to an end I was so lost of what to do next. Over a lot of moving within the next 3 months I found myself in Hawaii! Not sure about my major or if a mission was even in the picture anymore. I decided to seriously consider my options that were ahead. I prayed and fasted and started thinking mission thoughts again.

One Sunday as my brother laid his hands on my head the spirit worked within my heart, and even into my tears. I began to rejoice as if I heard the voice of the Lord saying "my dear and faithful servant" the spirit worked so powerfully within me, now was my time to start preparing for a mission. Oh the power of priesthood! I will never forget that blessing, the spirit that I felt. Little did I know that Satan also began to develop plans of his own. My brother gave me a warning to my decision as he said satan would work hard on me for the next couple weeks. Soon I found out that would be an understatement!

For the last few weeks I've been working earnestly to get paperwork done. Once again I have been tested with the "lord's timing" and the trial of patience. When I get on my knees to pray I feel comforted. When I exclaim to others that I will be serving a full time mission the spirit fills my heart. I know that the Lord is aware of me. I know that the Satan is trying his hardest to keep me from spreading the work that needs to be done. But, I also know that no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing.

I have received my answer to serve the Lord and I anxiously look forward to entering the mission field. It will be a tough next few months as I anxiously leave for my mission but I know that it will be of most rewarding to me.
My current status?? I finished my mission papers! I spoke with my bishop on sunday and he will then forward his recommendation to my stake president. I will then meet with my stake president and he will submit my mission papers to church headquarters. I wrote him an e-mail yesterday and he said after my mission papers are submitted it should take up to 10-14 days to receive my mission call. I hope that that means I'll be receiving my mission call by the end of the month or at the beginning of October!

Please pray for me that the next few months go smoothly for me as I will continue to pray for you. I will let everyone know my mission call soon! :)

Working. Waiting. Willing.

The Lord brings us low so he can lift us high.

There has been huge trials in my life lately, mostly with patience. After receiving an answer to my prayers lately and trying to follow it out I've been blessed with trials. I'm slowly becoming humbled. You might think it's funny that I say "blessed with trials" but let me explain.

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you just simply asked for something and received it without out working for it? Isn't this the same principle of stealing? It's not just a law on earth to work for what we need, it comes from God. After receiving answers to prayers we need to work, or act upon our answers. A couple deciding to get married doesn't just decide to get married and that's the end of their happy lives. Although at times watching "Cinderella" and "The Little Mermaid" I thought that happily ever after meant just that. No. Since when did "work" become just a bad word anyway? We can have fun working. We can have building each other up and helping and serving each other all the while doing it.

I am grateful for this waiting period in my life right now because the Lord is blessing me an opportunity to keep studying out the decision in my mind, preparing, and a time for repentance. The Lord gives us a waiting period in life or a "work" period in life so we can be even more grateful when the blessing(s) come! It may be going to the temple together with your fiance after a long engagement, wedding preparation period. It may be that new missionary checking the mail and finding their call in the mailbox after a month of reopening their mailbox. It may even be that moment that a new mother screams "my water broke!" after a 9 month period of swelling feet or restless sleep nights.

Whatever the situation in life the Lord prepares us. Or at least gives us the time to prepare ourselves. The feeling with each of these situations we become even more grateful when we are able to look back at the "HARDEST TIMES" and think to ourselves, "Well. That wasn't so bad!"

Life may be hard right now but the waiting period is worth it. The preparation period is worth it. There is a scripture in Alma that reads "Go forth... yet ye shall be patient in long suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good example unto them in me." We must be examples of Christ during times of affliction or during our "waiting periods" of life. Then finally when that time comes where our pride is humbled, when we've laid down our guards, the lord will say "well done". There is no greater feeling than to know you could have done all that you could.

The Lord will bless us when we least expect it but we have to be willing to work during the waiting period and willing to come unto Him in the end.

Speed Dating, ice cream, rain, FUN FUN FUN!

It's been a while. but. HERE I AM!! IN HAWAII!!! (AND it's been pouring rain all day! So much for the beach!)

I'm working as an RA right now and I've just set up a program for next week.

SPEED DATING!!! These little hoodlums better come and enjoy this activity!! I put a bold emphasis on the words "root beer floats and cookies" :)

I'm looking forward to this next week for this activity and to start really focusing on school. I've realized something lately and I'm excited to finalize plans so that I can start telling people. STAY TUNED! I've been feeling so happy lately, I can't complain. I've been meeting a lot of fun girls and look forward to my classes. There has been one class that's kinda scared me lately so I decided I needed to change my attitude. It's been a humbling experience for me. As soon as I changed my attitude I started learning so much! It's actually the class I'm looking forward to the most. Tomorrow I have all day off so some of us girls are planning on running errands all over "exploring hawaii" I'm looking forward to it! AND I'm off to lunch. Hope everyone is having a happy day as well!

oh. found this picture the other day on my laptop. (me and mom right before our trip to hawaii!) MISS YOU MOM!! LOVE YOU!!

New Places. New Faces

I don't know how to gather my thoughts yet but, it's official, I'm living in Hawaii now. I've just moved into my dorm this afternoon and am NOT living out of a suitcase anymore. Thank heavens.

I started training for my new job today which goes on until Tuesday. There are various levels of how strict or not strict we need to be with our new job and the level of importance we are, amongst other things. In all honesty I can't help but be a little uneasy, nervous, overwhelmed. I feel for the next few months I'll definitely be depending on the Lord more. I don't know what I would do without prayer. I feel like I've been lost lately in my life, living out of suitcases, moving around, and now I'm finally settled and THROWN into it! I'm super nervous for this next chapter in my life because I'm still unsure about some choices I am making. They're good choices but, are they the best choices? Is there a better choice for me out there? Am I wasting my time?

I guess all I can say and express now is that this an experience now that I just have to pray that everything will work towards my benefit. I hope this next experience in life will mold me and shape me. I don't know what to expect but through out life we don't know what to expect. All the Lord can ask from us is to be prepared as much as we know how.