I'm getting set apart tonight as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days Saints.
I leave for the MTC in Guatemala in 2 days. What? And I'll be in the MTC in 3. What?!?
Time HAS FLOWN.
When I received my mission call, I had over a hundred days to do everything I wanted/needed to do. And I said to myself, "That's plenty of time." Now, as I look back, I wish I hadn't procrastinated on some things. Time flies when you're preparing for a mission. It's like a spaceship taking off into space, it goes by that fast.
To anyone preparing for a mission - get as much as you can done NOW so that you're not doing it later. That time later you'll want to spend with you're family. You're not going to see them for eighteen months/two years and you'll want to have fresh memories with them as you go off into the world. Whether you're going to Chicago, Illinois or Stockholm, Sweden or Guatemala City, you're still going to want to spend time with you're family before you leave and getting shopping and packing done early is one way to spend your time with them wisely.
To anyone deciding whether or not to go - don't let anyone pressure you into any decision. Make sure that whatever you choose is what the Lord wants you to do and what you want to do. Don't let anyone decide for you or pressure you into something that you don't want to do.
I am three days away from
being in Guatemala. It seems like yesterday I was a hundred days away from going
into the Missionary Training Center, but now it's only three days.
It boggles my mind at the prospect that in a few days, I will have to learn
Spanish fairly quickly and will be somewhere I have never been and
experiencing things I have never before thought of experiencing. It's
exciting and I am definitely going forward with faith, because I know
that with God, all things are possible.
I know that I am supposed to go to Guatemala. I know that I will have wonderful experiences and that I can do hard things. I know that this will be one of the hardest - if not the hardest - things I will ever do in my life.
I know that the Gospel is true. I know that I can be with my family for time and all eternity. There is a life after this one and I get to spend it with my family. I know that there is indeed revelation on the earth today through the Prophet and the Twelve Apostles and in our own individual decisions. I know that President Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet. I am grateful for the Atonement and that Jesus Christ was willing to go through that for everyone - my family, my friends, me, everyone. I have felt the power of the Atonement in my life and I am so grateful that I can partake of that gift. I know that The Book of Mormon is true and that there is definitely a "power" in that book. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve in the land of Guatemala and that I get to meet so many wonderful people and have enriching experiences.
