Moving Away

It happened, I got my mission call!!

Growing up I always said I wanted to go on a mission (being young and naive). Then when I hit teenage years I decided that was a bad idea. Then at the age of twenty I REALLY wanted to go, I was dying to go, but couldn't because I wasn't 21 yet. Then when I actually turned 21 I didn't feel like that was what was in store for me. I moved into a really cute house by the Provo Library with my best friend Jessica Wilson and things just went from there. I started to think about the option of going on a mission. And it stuck. I prayed about it and finally decided to talk to my bishop about it. After all of the hoops you have to jump through, I got my papers all done and sent in on Sunday November 22nd 2009. I figured my papers would be two weeks out. So this past Wednesday (Only a week after I had sent my papers in) both of my parents called me about different things, but nothing about receiving my call. Then, that night at around 9:30, me and my roommate were watching a movie and falling asleep when my phone began to ring, I read the name on the screen "Dad". I thought to myself, and said out loud to Jessica, "Why is my dad calling me soooo late?" So I answer, and he said, "Brit, I just checked the mail and there is a big envelope from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints addressed to you, it might be your call". Jessica said at that moment my face appeared as though someone had passed away, and my dad was just relaying the message. I told Jessica it was here, and she said, "LET'S GO!" So we jumped in my car, and got on the freeway. Meanwhile, I called my brother Devin, and Justin to tell them to come to my parents house so I could open something! I had kept the fact that I was going on a mission a secret to most besides my parents and a few friends. So Devin and Justin came to my parents house. I was going to stand but I thought my knees might give out so I sat down on the carpet and opened my call. I began to read the letter to myself, and then my mom got mad at me and said, "BRITNEY! Read it out loud!!!" So I read it out loud. My voice got shakey, but I did not cry! (Surprise). My jaw dropped for a few minutes. I thought for sure I'd be going out of the states to some foreign land with different looking people, language and I'd have to eat brains for dinner. But NOPE, not what the Lord had in store for me. I got my call to Los Angeles California, Spanish speaking. I am to report to the MTC on January 13th 2010. Most calls are about 3 months away from when they open them. For some reason, mine was only over a month away! I was really sad about the date I was supposed to leave, only because I had told the McEwan family I would watch their children in February while their parents went on a cruise, and I was also hoping to save more money before I left to help pay for things. I was so dissapointed in the date that my head fell to the floor and I began to rub my head into the carpet. My mom said, "What is wrong!?" I told her that my departure date was a lot sooner than I wanted. But I knew it was supposed to be, so I decided to give up my dissapointment on that. There is no need to worry about something I can't change. In my area I have Beverly Hills, as well as Compton. I'm going to get a little taste of everything. I am also really GLAD I'm learning Spanish. I think it will be wonderful for me! I'm not sure that the actual reality of it has hit my just yet. I'm still pretty numb to the idea. But hopefully I won't get too sad about it once it hits me. Everyone has been really supportive and excited for me which is very helpful to make me have a positive attitude about going. I'm really excited to go preach the gospel and grow to be more christ-like. I know it is going to be hard, and that I'm going to have a lot of different emotions, but I know that I'm doing what is right, and that I'm following the promptings of the spirit in my life to guide me to where I need to be. I'm really excited to go and have crazy/sad/fun/spritiual experiences that will help shape me into the person that I need to become.