Opening her mission call!!
Nathan and I couldn't be there in person but we wouldn't have missed this for the world. I ran down to BYU and he stepped out of a review session so that we could stand together, phone in hand as His 'eldest younger sibling' opened her big white envelope. Tears filled our eyes and poured down our cheeks, we were laughing and cheering with huge, happy smiles on our faces as we heard her read her call to us (that's us in her hand :) yup yup) We cried for her; we cried for ourselves! Hearing someone else, especially someone that we love so much open their call gives you this incredible thrill. Emotions were high as we thought back on when each of us opened our own mission calls. That feeling as you hold the big, white envelope that holds your future inside of it. Inside is where you'll live for the next 1 1/2 to 2 years of your life and where you'll come to love the people and places you serve. We remembered our shaking hands as we opened and pulled out the papers, not being able to read the words cause all the tears in our eyes, the thrill that nearly choked us as we read the destination and powerful message from the Prophet of the Lord! Nathan to Brazil, Me to Italy, and now Sara to San Francisco!!
Sara is such an incredible woman! She would have been a power-house missionary no matter where she went! She's beautiful, fun, friendly, a hard worker, has a burning testimony, knows how to communicate with others and open her heart! She laughs often, her smile is constant and contagious, and the light in her eyes draws you to her and to wonder what gives her such happiness. She's going to change lives! All of this will change her life too! This mission is lucky to have her, just like she's lucky to have it! A mission will bless her life more than she could ever imagine! She will report to the Provo MTC (missionary training center) on January 22, 2012, only 2 months from when she opened her call. We will miss her not being near when our baby boy is born but there is no other place we would have her be.
I am so lucky and blessed that I was able to serve a mission!I love Italy! I think about it every single day in one way or another...I think about the people I came to love, the language I struggled to grasp, understand, and utilize. I reflect on how I was taught about the Lord's love for ALL His children, no matter financial situation, social standing, personal choices, physical ailments...How many times I was corrected and re-directed by the Lord, humbled and shown my weaknesses, how I felt the power of His love and that even though I was very imperfect He still believed in me and was cheering me on, how sweet His forgiveness is in my own life and in the lives of countless others. I am a different person now because of my mission and I thank Heavenly Father so much for that!
Called to Serve Sister Sara Andersen!
Wearing that black name tag is a privilege and an honor!
The day you are asked to remove it will break your heart...
serve well, for it goes so quick
No comments:
Post a Comment