Sister Missionary Feature- Sister Watch

Sister Megan Wach

Did the age change affect you?

Yes, it did. I’m 20 now, but I was 19 when the age for sisters to serve was changed. Because of this I will now leave 4 months earlier than I could have even started my papers!

If yes, how long did it take you to decide to go?

When the announcement was made about the age being changed I was at work, so I didn’t hear the announcement, but my mom called me crying while President Monson was still speaking. It was the busiest day of the whole year at my work. Let’s just say that after that my mind was checked out and I announced to everyone that I saw that I was going on a mission! I bounced around like a crazy person for the last 8 hours of my shift because they wouldn’t let me go home. I even had my appointment with the bishop to start my papers made before the session was even over. So let’s just say, that I knew right away that I was supposed to go, and I’ve never been so excited! 

Things from before that had also been leading up to a mission and I just didn’t realize it. I’d spent the previous semester abroad in China, teaching English. I already had my passport plus all my shots and an experience with another culture, not to mention that I now have the ability to eat anything placed in front of me. Panda Express is not Chinese food (sea cucumber anyone?). Things after I started my papers worked out so well also. I scheduled my dentist and doctor’s appointments on the same day each within a few hours of each other. When I got to the dentist, little did I know I had three cavities (stinkin’ delicious Chinese candy that I ate by the pound, I blame you!) and he didn’t have the time to fill them until next week. Of course, I’m impatient; I wanted my papers in ASAP. As we were discussing this, the nurse walked in to say that the next appointment was canceled. Guess who got their cavities filled that day?! This girl! The next problem was money. I didn’t have any. I had been working to pay for college without taking in any debt and so I had absolutely nothing saved and nothing in my bank account. But I knew that I was supposed to go, and that was all that mattered. The next thing I knew, I had several different people pledging what totaled up to be more than the needed four hundred dollars per months. Though I didn’t know that I wanted to serve a mission until that moment, my whole life I had unknowingly been preparing to serve a mission.

Did you always want to serve a mission?

No, I didn’t always want to serve a mission.

Why/Why not?

I always thought that I would be married before I turned 21 and I’d never really had the inclination to go. I considered it a time or two and figured I would just make it one of those “if I don’t get married by then” options. Before the announcement was made I had been writing a missionary in Brazil for his whole mission (he’d been out a year by the announcement), and while I was doing so I was always a little jealous, what he was doing inspired me so much and it just made me so excited about missionary work! I even discussed serving when I was 21 with the missionary, needless to say, he wasn’t very enthused with the idea;). 

Where did you want to be called? Why?

I wanted to be called to Brazil. My dad had served there and so my family has a love for Brazil because of that. Brazil it our house isn’t called “Brazil,” it’s called “Paradise.” He always talked about how much he loved Brazil and all of the work that he did there. My mom even says that if he could he would drop our family and go back to Brazil as a missionary he would, and sometimes I’m not sure she is kidding;). I have also always thought that Portuguese was the most beautiful language in the world. Plus, I LOVE Brazilian food! 

Where were you called? Was this surprising? How did you feel about it?

Before I say where I was called, I need to say that I absolutely thought I would be called to Brazil. I was even naughty and I told Heavenly Father that I didn’t want to go anywhere else; I begged to be allowed to serve in Brazil. I told him that if he didn’t send me there I would be very grumpy and that there was no way I could ever go anywhere else. I am stubborn, what can I say?

The night that I opened my call, my family was all in Disney World without me (“You’re an adult now, you have to pay for yourself… blahblahblah”) and it was Halloween (probably the worst day to open my call considering that people had to risk getting their houses egged and drag their children away from trick-or-treating just because I wasn’t patient enough to wait even 24 hours to open my call [props to you girls who waited!]), so it was just a little interesting. I opened it with some of my friends and extended family with my immediate family over Skype. I was a little surprised to see this:

Dear Sister Wach:

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 Portugal Lisbon Mission. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, April 3, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the Portuguese language…

Even though I had said that I would not want to serve anywhere else, in fact I thought that I would cry in despair if I was called anywhere but Brazil, I immediately knew that Portugal was where I was meant to be called to. I was filled with a deep sense of calm. I just knew it was right. The Lord loves me; he knows where I need to be even if it wasn’t where I wanted to go, the same goes for all others who receive mission calls. Not to mention that I still get to speak Portuguese! 

Share an interesting missionary experience story.

About a month after I received my call, I started to struggle with my decision to serve a mission. Satan really does work on those who are willing to serve missions. I had to decide between two good decisions, one of them being the mission. Shortly after I was alerted to the second decision, I received a blessing that told me that I would have to study the decision out and that it would not be an easy decision to make. For the next two months I read my scriptures, I fasted, I cried, I visited the temple weekly, and did everything I possibly could think of to help with no avail. I still didn’t know the answer, so I followed someone’s advice and I just picked one. The second option was the one I decided on, the one that wasn’t the mission. The whole time I was trying to decide, I felt sick, and that didn’t subside after I made the decision to go with the second choice. I didn’t know what to do, and I just kept flipping back and forth between choices even though I’d supposedly made my decision. Then one day, out of the blue, I changed my mind, without any kind of stimuli I knew that the mission was right. From then on I felt calm and excited again, and once again I knew it was what I was supposed to be doing.

After I received my mission call, I got a job working at the MTC. I absolutely loved it there. My job was to supervise the missionaries as they did service jobs that involved cleaning areas of the MTC. I worked in 17M, which when I first started working there was two floors of sisters and two floors of classrooms (shortly after I started construction was done to turn the classrooms into sister housing, and boy are construction workers messy! I hope you all appreciate your rooms in 17M on floors one and two because I did some serious work to get them into shape!), but I mainly worked with the sisters upstairs. We only see each group of missionaries one day a week, and I had yet to work with any elders. Then one day, the girls who ran the floors with the classrooms needed someone to substitute for them. The elders that I got to work with where headed to Canada. At the beginning of the service I had them introduce themselves (which involved them telling me their name, where they were from and where they were going and then I did the same for myself), one of the elders, was from Canada, and when I told him that I was going to Portugal he got so excited! It turned out that his father was not a member, and that he was currently living in Lisbon as a chiropractor. So he asked me to visit him. I have my first contact! Coolest thing ever! Who would have thought that four months before I would even leave for the mission that I would have my first contact?! Now I just have to try not to lose the paper and find a single man in a country filled with hundreds of thousands of people… it’s a good thing that with God anything is possible!

Why are you serving?

I’m serving because I know that it is what I am supposed to do. This gospel is the true gospel. I want all my brothers and sisters to know that. I want them to have what I have. I want them to know that they can be together with their loved ones forever, that this isn’t the end. I want them to know that they have a loving Father in Heaven that wants them to one day return to live with him. I want them to know that their God still loves them and that because of that we receive revelation through a prophet today. I want them to know that even if life seems hard that tomorrow is another day that someone loves them and is always with them even if they don’t know it. I want them to know that there is always someone they can turn to. I want them to have the happiness, comfort and reassurance that I get from having this knowledge. The Church is true! Everyone has a right to know that, and I want to go out and tell them, that is why I am serving a mission. 

Any advice for future sisters or girls still deciding.

Pray about it, don’t just jump right in; you need to know for sure that you are supposed to go so that you won’t doubt as I did. Also, where ever you are sent is where you are meant to be, the Lord loves all of his children and knows us each individually, he will send you where you will best flourish, whether that is Brazil, Portugal, or Antarctica (just for reference, there are not any missionaries currently serving in Antarctica that I know of;)). I also know that if you are meant to go then things will always work out, if you don’t have the money, the money will show up for you to be able to go, I’ve watched it happen time and time again not only with myself but with other sisters who hadn’t anticipated serving and so didn’t have the needed funds. Don’t second guess yourself either. Don’t let Satan get to you at night when you lay in your bed. He knows you and that that is your weakest time. When thoughts that you can’t do this or that it might not be right for you pop into your head, don’t listen, it isn’t true. You are strong, and you can do this if you believe in yourself and you have the Spirit with you. Don’t forget that the Spirit will not just be given to you to make you be an affective missionary without you doing any work. We must strive to be the best messengers that we can. Prepare the best that you can for the mission. There is a quote that I absolutely love, it goes like this:

“We love all of our missionaries who are serving the Lord full-time in the mission field. But there is a difference in missionaries. Some are better prepared to serve the Lord the first month in the mission field than some who are returning home after twenty-four months. We want young men [or women] entering the mission field who can enter the mission field “on the run” who have the faith, born of personal righteousness and clean living, that they can have a great and productive mission.”

-Ezra Taft Benson

Strive to be one of those missionaries. Study your Preach My Gospel. If you’re learning a new language, study that. Go on splits with your local missionaries. Do service. Follow the mission schedule beforehand. Be a missionary who can enter the mission field “on the run.” The more prepared we are, the more effective we are at the work of bringing the gospel to our brothers and sisters are looking for the truth. 

Anything else?

I just want to say that if the mission is what you are meant to do, then things will work out for you in every way. The Lord loves us and all the rest of his children, if you are a willing servant, things will work out, don’t think that you can’t serve just because of something you can’t fix. Our God is the creator of all things and with his help, anything can be made to go the way it needs to.

Sister Missionary Series-Sister Chase

Hey! It's time for another Sister Missionary Feature! Don't forget to Pin this series to your Pintrest boards and become one of our followers. Find the little box on the right side of your screen, it says "Mo's Fans" about it, click "Join This Site" enter your email and voila! You're following this blog! If you're worried you're going to get emails every single time I post don't! You will only get notices when you log into your Blogger account, and the best part, you don't have to have your own blog to follow any! Don't be shy, follow away!

Thanks!!

XXo, 

Mo

Sister Kaitlin Chase

Nicaragua Managua South

I can remember when the age change for sisters happened. I was in school at Brigham Young University Idaho and I was watching conference in my room. President Monson announced the age change for guys from 19 to 18 and I thought that was really interesting. Then President Monson went on and made the announcement about the sisters age being changed from 21 to 19. I was shocked and all I could do was cry. It was a day that would change my life.

Later that day I contacted my home teachers and asked if I could get a blessing on Sunday (the next day). They were more than eager to help me in my time of need. The next few days I prayed, fasted, and drove up to the temple to read the scriptures.

Tuesday, I had an interview with my Bishop to get a temple recommend. When I walked in, I told him I was considering going on a mission. He smiled, and said okay. This interview however was different from any that I had ever had before. Normally for me, temple interviews were no big deal. As a youth they were always quick, and you were in and out in a few minutes. This time was completely different. As soon as my Bishop asked me the first interview question, I started to cry. For every question asked, and every answer given, I realized how much I actually believed it was true. I DO know that Christ is our Savior. I DO know that Thomas S. Monson is our prophet. It was at that moment that I realized I needed to go on a mission.

The next question I needed answered was when I would go on a mission. The age change regarding sister missionaries didn't affect me in the way most people think. When people found out I was serving a mission, the first thing they would normally say is, "Now I have to ask, did the age change affect your decision to go?" I have to honestly say, no it didn't. It did however affect me because I am 19 which means I could now go. So, I had to ponder and think about when I would want to go. Just because I am 19 and I can go, doesn't mean it's my time to go. I prayed a lot about the situation and went to the temple. But not only did I pray about when I should go, but I did some research. I looked at my 4 year graduation plan and looked at classes I had already taken, and what classes I would still need. I looked at when I would graduate if I left now, or if I went to school another semester. After about a week I came to an answer. I felt it was right for me to go right after this semester finished.

On November 16 I got my mission call. I got called to serve a mission in the Nicaragua Managua South Mission, Spanish speaking. It is below Guatemala and above Costa Rica. I am so excited!!!!!!! I report to the Guatemala MTC on March 6, 2013. I was so surprised! It was not what I had expected at all. BUT, the Lord knows where I am needed, and I can't wait to serve! It still hits me in waves where I can't believe I am actually serving...but I AM!

I have always wanted to serve a mission. It just so happens that I am going sooner than I thought. We had sister missionaries live with us for 4 1/2 years, and it was a great experience. I was able to see how it was like for sister missionaries. I was always in love with missionary stories. I could listen to return missionaries talk about their mission all day. I especially loved older people talk about their mission. It always is a great 18-24 months for missionaries.

There are so many reasons why I decided to serve a mission. One of those reasons is because the gospel means so much to me. The gospel brings me happiness and joy, comfort and peace, and I want to share that with others. I try to think what would happen if I was the one who didn't have the gospel. I would want someone to find me and share that same happiness with me.

Any advice I would give to those of you thinking about serving a mission is this: Just because the age changed for girls from 21 to 19, that doesn't mean that you have to go. It just means more girls have the opportunity to go. However, if you are thinking of going, be sure to pray often and go to the temple FREQUENTLY. The temple is such a wonderful place where so many answers can come to your mind and where you can feel the spirit.

Don't forget to check out Kaitlin's mission blog!

Happy Sunday!

Last week I was featured by Emillee, who writes The Hipster RM. She's been incredibly helpful for anyone wondering about/planning on a mission or their families. 

Go check her out. Really. She's incredible. 

Also, Kira posted another Sister Feature over at her blog check it out!  

Stay tuned for Tuesday's feature here, it's a good one!! (well, they're all fantastic... :) )

I hope you had a great weekend!

XXo,

Mo

Here's Some Dennis Quaid

Today has been ridiculously insane. So, enjoy this ridiculously insane video. :)

 Thanks Ellen.

XXo, 

Mo

Sister Missionary Feature- Sister Urling

Hey! Welcome to another post in Kira and I's Sister Missionary Feature! This week I'm going to ask a favor of you. If you like our series share it! If you hover your mouse over any of the images on my blog you will see the handy-dandy Pinterest "P." Pin us to your boards! Let all your friends know about these great sisters serving missions! Thank you so much, and if you would like to be featured make sure to contact me!!

Sister Jana Urling

Tahiti, Papeete Mission (With me!)

 When I first heard the announcement, I was taken totally by surprise. I had heard rumors about the boys’ age being lowered, but never in a million years did I expect the announcement for sister missionaries to come next! And I know some of my friends knew right away that they were going, this was an answer to their prayers. This whole experience has been such a great testimony to me of how involved our Heavenly Father is in our lives. He really does care about what happens to us and plans out SO MUCH of what happens to us! I have heard story after story of girls who can look back and see specifically how our lives were prepared for this to happen to us even though it took the entire world by surprise! I I’m so grateful for a living prophet who is a mouthpiece for God and I know that Thomas S Monson is that prophet.

 I wish I could say I was one of those girls that had always wanted to go on a mission, because I admire those girls so much, but I’m not. I always felt like it was too big of a decision for me to make when I didn’t know where I would be or what I would be doing when I got there. But now, all of a sudden, it was HERE. It was NOW. I took a few days to think about what I wanted to do, there was so much excitement around all of this and I wanted to make sure that what I decided was because the Lord and I had decided it, not because everyone else was doing it. When I decided I wanted to go on a mission I knew that this was what I was supposed to be doing at this time in my life and I was so grateful that Heavenly Father had prepared a way for me to go. I know that my Heavenly Father wants me to be in Papeete for 18 months and I cannot wait to get there. 

I waited a while to put in my papers because I wanted to sell my housing contract first, and I put them in as soon as I could put my availability date after the contract ended (technically my availability date was a month before it ended, but I was willing to give up that last month’s rent that I had already paid :)). If you don’t know already, once you put your papers in, most of your conversations with people will revolve around a simple question: where do you want to go?!  It’s such a simple question but it’s a big deal! Where? In the WORLD?!? Everyone has a general idea, and a few prize places that they want to go, but I had the hardest time answering that question. I really didn’t know. I had definitely always wanted to go to Europe, but did I want to go there on my mission? And stateside has so many benefits compared to other third world countries. But third world countries have so many unique benefits of their own don’t they? And I had this terrible fear that I would jinx it. I knew that once I decided on a place that I really wanted to go, I wouldn’t be called there, I just knew it :). And it didn’t help that every RM that I talked to told me the same thing. It’s absolutely ridiculous now but I wasn’t going to take any chances with the next 18 months of my life. And a part of me has always been fascinated with the idea that a mission call is a direct decision from an apostle of the Lord about where you will spend the next 18/24 months of your life. I was so excited to find out where that was that I knew I would be able to love wherever that was for me. I knew I might not love it at first, and I was really nervous that I would be disappointed and did everything to prepare myself mentally so that hopefully, I wouldn’t be.  And I reminded myself that I knew I would quickly learn to love wherever it was very soon, because it would be MY mission. I was also really happy that I wasn’t the one making that decision. I feel like this time of life is just filled with HUGE decisions, and after I had made the decision to go on a mission, I was completely comfortable not deciding the where. I was really comfortable with the fact that this wasn’t something I was deciding, but something my Heavenly Father could directly tell me to do. And I COULDN’T WAIT to find out where that was.  

But there is something you need to know about me. I absolutely despise the cold. Not just dislike, not even just hate, I loathe it. I grew up in Idaho Falls, ID, where it gets cold quite a bit. I do whatever I can to avoid the cold. I keep a space heater in my room so that I don’t roast my family (or our heating bill) and I sleep with an electric blanket. I have to warn people that I give rides to that they have to tell me if they’re too hot, because I’ve baked way too many of my passengers with the heat cranked all the way up.  I do as much as I can to take advantage of summer (all 2 months of it), but I have a hard time in the winter. So I just knew I was going to go somewhere cold, like Russia, or Northern Canada, or the North Pole, so that I would learn to accept the cold and even be grateful for how mild my hometown might be compared to these frozen places. 

I received my call on 12/12/12. I gathered all of my Provo friends around me and called my family on Skype and streamed a live feed for the rest of my extended family and friends. When I opened my call and saw Tahiti, I was blown away. It was at the bottom of my list of possibilities. I didn’t even know there was a mission there. In the course of the week and a half from when I finished my papers to when I received my call, Tahiti had never once crossed my mind. And not only that, but it was warm. WARM. HOT EVEN! Not only had I never thought of it, but it was completely the opposite of any of my half hearted guesses. And it met the one qualification that I had been too scared to even hope for! 

I was able to learn something really special from this experience. I think that I had the attitude that Heavenly Father was going to send me to the place where I would struggle the most, and that’s not necessarily true.  I think that sometimes things work out a certain way or we go through a certain experience simply because He loves us. Like getting the last bag of your favorite chips out of a vending machine on a hard day, or watching a mama bird and it’s babies while you’re waiting for a tow on the side of the road, or being in someplace warm while you serve the gospel because you hate the cold.  I know my Heavenly Father loves me, and I’ve understood that for a long time, but I think I understand it differently now. He really does care, and the temperature of where I’m serving is such a petty and silly little thing, that really has no significance, but it makes me so relieved. Please don’t get me wrong, I know that the temperature of your mission is really not important compared to all of the other reasons why you are sent to a certain mission. It’s just that I know that I’m going to run into a lot of hard days in the next 18 months. A lot. But I hope that when I do, I can close my eyes and feel the warmth around me and remember what it is that I’m doing and why I’m doing it, and how important it is that I show other people the love that I’ve felt from our Heavenly Father.

“Why?” is another question that comes a lot when you’re dealing with all of this mission stuff, and its one of the most important questions. I’m a firm believer that you can do anything with the right motivation. I’ve always loved hearing stories of parents who lifted cars off of their children, or saved their loved ones from burning buildings, or committed seemingly impossible acts because they had the right motivation. I know that a missionary’s motivation can have a really big impact in shaping their mission and I wanted to share mine with you. 

First of all, I do this because I love my Heavenly Father. I’ve already shared that I know he loves me, and I’ve come to realize that I really love him too. I’m so grateful that I’ve grown up in a family that is active in the church and I have received so many blessings as a result of the gospel that I cannot even begin to try and explain or even count them. I know it’s not really fair that I was just handed all of this so easily. Too many people live and die without even a suggestion of the gospel in their lives and I’ve always just been surrounded by it. I know I could never pay back that kind of a debt, but I know that what I can do is help to bring this joy and good news to other people. I think that most missionaries share that kind of similar motivation. This gospel is a gospel of joy and when you begin to understand it, you really do just want to share it with everyone you know! But I think when you go a little deeper into each missionary, you’ll find dozens of other tiny reasons why they are serving. At least, that’s been my experience. I feel like I have a million reasons why I want to serve a mission and I know that there will be countless benefits as a result of this experience.  I can’t think of a single reason as to why I shouldn’t go. 

But my second biggest motive as to why I want to serve a mission is that I hope to be an example to my family, and first of all to my siblings. I am the oldest of 7 children and I haven’t always been the perfect example of a big sister. I’m not always the cheerful, successful poster child that typically takes the position of the eldest in the family. But I do love this gospel. Of all of the things that I don’t know and have messed up, I do know that I love this gospel. And I hope that my younger siblings know that and realize how important I think this is to me and I hope my 2 younger brothers (and as many of my sisters as possible) realize how much I want them to follow me.

I’m so grateful for the decision that I have made and I’m so grateful that I’ve had friends and family who are willing to support me in this. For any girls out there who are considering a mission, I would ask you to prepare as if you’re going anyway. I don’t think I can help you in that decision, because that is something that is so individual and personal, but I wish I could tell every little beehive out there to prepare to serve a mission right now whether they plan on going or not. I sincerely respect a sister’s decision to not serve a mission just a much as I would respect her decision to serve, but I think every girl can benefit from preparing just as much as any young man. Every member has been asked and encouraged to spread the gospel in any way that they can and I wish I would have understood that I needed to prepare as if I were going on a mission from the very beginning. I’ve always attended Sunday school and seminary, and have even done a pretty good job with scripture study. But I wish I had been studying all along the way I do now!  Looking at everything with missionary eyes is so different! And I wish I would have realized that, call or not, I need to be a missionary. I wish I could have looked at ALL of the learning I did with missionary eyes, and I know that I will from now on!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission at this time in my life. I know that our Heavenly Father really does love and care out about every single individual. I know He cares enough to spread the gospel and wants more than anything to have it shared with the entire world! I know that this gospel is true! I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the blessings that it has brought me and my entire family. I will always be grateful for the chance to bring the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Tahiti!

 HOORAH FOR ISREAL!  

Life Lessons

I've discovered that every single day there's a fantastic life lesson hiding in the corner you can learn from. I've decided to share with the entire internet world what life lesson I learned today

*story begins*

It was a crisp, snot freezing, finger numbing morning. At exactly 7:45 the suckish alarm rang. *snooze* 10 minutes later it rang again *snoozed* 10 minutes later it rang again *snooze* 

The frazzled, frizzy, frustrated girl furiously flopped on the * insert adjective that starts with f here* floor.  As she passed through the doorway she noted she was barely awake and considered doing a Pinterest wake-up work out. "Why would I do such a silly thing" *insert 15 minute shower/teeth cleaning/make up/hair brushing session here*

There was a moment where the girl almost fell asleep on the stairs, but she persevered out to the frigid, frosty, frozen land outside. Her car was covered in snow and ice.

*Grumble* *Grumble*

Out came the handy-dandy mitten/car scraper. Yes. It is a scraper built into an ultra fuzzy, fluffy, furry mitten. The car got adequately scraped and she headed to The Place. 

After the girl got lost. Repeatedly. 

She arrived. 

Dearest readers. the remainder of this post may contain graphic description which may cause night terrors, loss of hair, or aversion to small animals.  It is not indented for small children or adults or the elderly. 

The girl sat, waiting, in The Room. 

Lined up in a row on the table to her left were The Devices. All 4.5 of them. Ready to ferociously, furrow into her skin. 

Yes dear reader, she was receiving her shots. *sigh* It was traumatizing. But, she stayed strong. 4.5 little disease preventing lovelies were standing in her way of fantastic, flovely, fbeautiful, Tahiti.  

Into her skin they were burrowed. Evil disease injected into her muscle. And shiny band-aids applied to suppress the fountainous, flowing blood. 

The suppression of tears allowed her to choose a flavorful, fantastic sucker. 

The End.

Moral of the story (aka the life lesson):  When bad things happen to good people, suckers make everything better. 

XXo, Mo

p.s. I'm not really afraid of needles, or blood, I just enjoy being over dramatic at moments. 

20 Reasons Why Tahiti Is Calling My Name

1:Black Sand Beaches

2: Being forced to like fish (in all forms)

3: To show off my mad Uke skills Jenicca taught me

4: The WATER

5: Seeing a real life sea turtle

6: The markets

7: Getting a legit lei

8:Having this in my backyard

9: Ancient Tiki!

10: Two words: Rain Forest

11: hoping to be transferred here

12: The lovely runway

13: donut islands! (atoll)

14: to speak these languages

15: Black pearls

16: Fruits!

17: Point Venus Lighthouse

18: Sunsets

19: Luau! with fire.

20: the temple

XXo, Mo

Just For You

If you need...

A) Warm Fuzzies

B) Ab Workout 

(from laughter, not actual exercise)

I hope you had a fantastic Friday!

XXo, Mo

Sorry for the messy blog! It's currently getting a face-lift little by little. Make sure to check back to see the progress! :)

Until then make sure to check out Kira's blog to meet another lovely sister missionary! 

Until then, 

XXo, Mo

Sister Missionary Feature-Sister Peck

Sister Sarah Peck-

Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo West

I was 19 and a month the first week of October, thinking that this college thing was where it was at. The only real reference I had previously made to serving a mission was to get my parents to stop worrying about me by reminding them that my brother had been facing down druggies with knives in the ghettos of Uruguay when he was 19, I think I can handle college. Always deeply afraid of commitment, I never planned on, verbally wished for, or stocked up on long skirts in anticipation of a mission. It was the thing to do when you finished school, found that boys still have cooties, and realized that your dream job required being fluent in a foreign language. However, my shrug-it-off/maybe-later view was violently thrown upside down the week before the announcement was made. A comment from a friend started me thinking about what it would be like to be able to leave everything I was in the middle of at the moment to serve a mission now. I thought, stewed, made up excuses, and even prayed about it the week leading up to conference. Tender mercies, right?

I was in a meeting when the actual announcement was made, but got several texts, which were confirmed. I called my mom immediately after I was done to tell her...well, I really didn’t know when I dialed what I was going to tell her. But out of my mouth came: “Hey mom, so, I guess you might have already realized this, but I’m going to serve a mission now. Like, right now.” And the tears started streaming.

Within the week, my physicals and dental work was done. I sold my apartment contract, deferred scholarships, and sent in papers the next week. I’ve never felt such overwhelming peace and confidence before. Like the thousands of other brand-new sister missionaries, I know that this change is just for me. Of course, as any girl in the same situation will attest, this whole roller-coaster process hasn’t been a complete party. I’ve never experienced such self-doubt, depression, fear, and internal attacks on my testimony. But I’ve also never experienced such joy, peace, empowerment, and love from my Savior.

The day my call was supposed to come, I was sitting in Physical Geography crying in the large auditorium. I had just heard that it hadn’t arrived, and I was devastated. An hour later, in Math, I started beaming uncontrollably when I heard that it really had come, with my name on it, no less.When the time came to open it though, I was too terrified. I couldn’t really think of a truly awful place to serve, but what if inside this envelope was the one horrific choice I’d overlooked? With shaking hands, I pulled it out, and literally hiccuped with relief when I read Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo West. Of course. Of course I would be called there; it was perfect. Remember the peace? That’s the only way to describe seeing the call. It is nowhere I would have guessed or picked for myself (I was secretly gunning for Thailand, mostly because I wanted to see elephants), but it’s the one place that I need to go. Words cannot describe the absolute certainty I have that those calls are inspired of God. It’s the most personal blessing; and once again, like thousands of others, I know that my mission will be the very best place on the entire earth for the next 18 months.

So here I am, 19 1/4, a mostly clueless teenager. I haven’t graduated, still don’t see marriage in the near future, and my boss right now doesn’t care if I know Spanish. I don’t even know what my dream job is yet. But along with every sister that serves, I’ve realized that those aren’t the reasons that we forsake family, friends, education, and all my favorite winter clothes for a year and a half. I’m serving in the hot, humid, mosquito-infested Dominican Republic all because of the love that an all-powerful God has for an ever-clueless girl. That same love has allowed me to repent countless times, overcome heartache and hurt, and now drives me to share. I know too much, have experienced too many blessings, and am touched too deeply by the joy of this gospel message not to share it. I pray that the people of this beautiful island are ready, because me and my broken Spanish are coming, along with the very powers of heaven, and we are going to change the world.

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XXo, Mo

Haylie's Bridals

I was lucky enough to do Bridals for one of my good friends Haylie today.  This is girl so beautiful! I can't wait to show you the whole session. March 6th my good friends. Check back! Or just follow me, that works too. Until then, here are some pictures of her gorgeous ring!

xoxo,

mo