My New Mission

WARNING: this is lengthy. It is OK to just look at pictures. Also, tenses are all over the map. Please ignore.

It has been quite some time since my last update and there is a reason for that.

Very shortly after I wrote that last bit about my wisdom teeth, I was struck with an idea that seemed to fester with such uncontrollable persistence that I finally did something about it.

That idea was to go on a mission.

The thing I did was sign up for one.

For those who are unfamiliar with the concept/process, here is a short explanation:

In my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints [Mormon]) young men and women have the opportunity to spend 18 months to 2 years giving humanitarian service, meeting new people, and most significantly introducing those people to our beliefs.

Other churches have similar programs for their members. Some key differences, however, include paying for it ourselves, only communicating with one's family through letters, avoiding media, wearing suits (skirts/dresses for me), and having no control over where you are sent.

Going on a mission is completely optional, as is accepting your assignment. Although, most people who are willing to leave their lives behind for so long are also willing to go wherever they are needed.

Some people go to crazy new places. This is my friend, Taylor, and he is currently in Ghana.

Others are sent somewhere closer to home. My good friend Maddie just got back from Tacoma, Washington!

Wherever you go, the things you do are the same: tell people about the Church.

So, the point is, I'm going on a mission! I didn't want to post anything publicly until I knew where I was going and the process takes a LONG time.

First you have to go through a lot of interviews to make sure you are mentally and spiritually prepared for such a huge change in your life.

Then there's all the paperwork, I mean REALLY! I've never had to fill out that much paperwork and I applied to 5 colleges!

There are a lot of doctor and dentist visits to make sure you are in good health, and then (if you're like me) you have to catch up on all the shots your mom was nice enough to let you skip in elementary school.

When all of that is finally finished, you have to talk to MORE people about your willingness and preparation for this enormous change.

Then, finally, you mail your stuff to the Church headquarters in Salt Lake City and then you sit and wait. And wait, and wait, and then wait some more. And then you'll think it's here but it's not so you continue to wait.

Then, one day, you'll walk past the mailbox on your way to dinner and think, "hmm, maybe I'll just look for fun" and there will be a giant, white envelope with your full name printed on the front.

You will promptly ditch your dinner plans and run back up to your apartment where you will freak out for exactly 18 seconds before ripping open the envelope and reading the first paragraph.

It is different for everyone and this is what is said in mine:

"You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Argentina Buenos Aires South Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, February 22, 2012. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Spanish Language."

Needless to say, I freaked out. My dad served his mission in Buenos Aires as well and I've grown up hearing amazing stories about his time there. I could not be happier about my decision to go or the assignment I received.

¡¡¡ Argentina !!!

New Job

I got another job (because I'm not nearly busy enough: I still sleep at night)

It's actually pretty amazing. My church (click here) is pretty awesome but some people don't know that. So the church headquarters in Salt Lake City have created this campaign called "I am a Mormon." At it's most basic level, it's mini documentaries about Mormons all over the world. It's used to help people understand that we don't eat our young or worship seagulls. Just the normal crazy stuff like no coffee and three hours of church on Sundays. By portraying people doing normal things, they're helping to make Mormons less mysterious and more inviting.

Pretty awesome, right? Right! My job, then, is to call these potential subjects and get to know them. I interview them for an hour or so and come up with a good angle that the producers can take with them. I've had the job for exactly one week and have already done four interviews and have two more set up.

At first I was really nervous. I hate talking on the phone and words that are so clear in my mind often come out as "blsgrebfwnnuuuuhhhhh...." Not cute. But these people are so amazing. I ask one question and they just open up to me. Everything from scuba divers to farmers in New Zealand. They have amazing and inspiring stories. One woman made me cry when she told me about the obstacles she faced when adopting her daughter from China. Another couple told me about all the times they've almost died but through miracles were saved. I'm realizing that people are awesome. And not it the "dude, you're awesome, bra" kind of way. In a way that actually inspires awe. One woman visits orphanages in Thailand every year and raises thousands of dollars for them. Her story is incredible, but so is the man's who wakes up every morning at 4 am to milk his cows, run his farm, and then goes to the school board meeting.

I've said before that I hate people, but that's a lie. These friends (which they feel like and are... on facebook) are reminding me that there is good all around. We don't have to be bogged down by the negativity that is out there. Hurray for wonderful humans who talk to me, and hurray for the comapany that pays me to to do it. And hurray for the Church that brings them all together!