Called to Serve Him!

I have been called to serve in the California Anaheim Mission and I leave July 3, 2013! I am so excited to serve the Lord! My dad also served in California but in the San Bernardino mission which is pretty close to mine. When I opened my call to Anaheim I could not imagine myself going anywhere else.

When I was a senior in high school I wanted to serve a mission and it felt right. As I went through my freshman year of college I kept on getting the confirmation that I needed to go. I was 100% ready to serve the Lord and was anxiously waiting to start my papers. Fast forward to my sophomore year- General Conference October 2012. When it was announced that the mission age was lowered from 21 to 19 I felt confused on what I should do. It had no big effect on me but for some reason I found all these excuses not to go. Then I started feeling unqualified. There was no way that I was ready. I thought I knew the gospel but as I started to move forward I felt like I just joined the church in the past month. I felt like I had been knocked down and there was no way that I would be ready to teach the gospel to others. I continued to go to church and my institute classes. I always had this question on my mind, "Should I go on a mission?" I sent in my papers, received my call but I still was not sure.

Then I read a quote:
"God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

How true this is! Once I read that I started to understand. The things I have been wanting to fall into place weren't because they were not meant to. My education was meant to be put on hold for a little while, my social life and dating also needed to be put on the back burner. By serving a mission it will qualify me to be a much better person than before. It will better qualify me to be a better friend, student, wife, mother, daughter, sister, neighbor, church member, etc...

I understand that a mission is not for every one. It is something that needs much thought and prayer. Through 9 months of much doubt, confusion, prayer, scripture reading, as well other things I received my answer. I love this gospel with all my heart. It has brought me such happiness and I truly want others to feel and know the source of it all! (For a more detailed version of my decision to serve see my Farewell Talk here.)