Finally.

After much anticipation, I finally received my mission call.

Called to serve in the......

Louisiana Baton Rouge, Spanish Speaking Mission!

Reporting to the Missionary Training Center July 11th

(That's the Mississippi River. How cool!)

Opening my mission call was an incredible experience. It meant the world to me to be able to have my amazing family on Skype. I felt so much love and support from them. I appreciated it more than they could imagine. I love you guys. 

Never in my whole life would I have EVER expected to go down South. (but I will admit that I secretly wanted to). I would joke around saying things like "If God loves me, He will send me somewhere warm"........ I guess He loves me. Ok ok ok. I've always known that He loves me, but I am so happy that I am not going somewhere cold. I can handle humidity. I can't handle the snot in my nose freezing as soon as I step out the door.

And there is a TEMPLE in my mission! I was really hoping for that :) 

I pretty much knew that I would go Spanish speaking. It's basically in my blood. I'm half Puerto Rican, not Mexican. Just to clarify. I will be able to come home in 18 months and converse with all my uncles and friends who have served Spanish speaking missions as well (along with the oh-so-talented Alyssa Ball who spent a million years of her life learning the language)

Excited would be an understatement. I am THRILLED. I love my Savior and I love His gospel. I cannot wait to go and serve the people of Louisiana and teach them about their Savior. I know that serving a mission will be difficult, but I am ready for it. I know that through those difficult moments lies the most growth and the more we draw nearer to our Heavenly Father and His Son. I am looking forward to the growth, to the experiences I will have, the people I will meet, the food I will eat, the things I will learn,  and the friendships I will gain. I feel so grateful to be able to have an opportunity to serve a mission.
And you should definitely consider writing me.

This is one of my favorites

But this is my ALL TIME favorite.
Titled "My Child"

Can I be 21 yet?

Usually one would be wishing to get a fake I.D in order to buy alcohol, go dancing at clubs, ect. I, on the other hand, would like a fake I.D in order to go on an 18 month LDS mission. June 3rd could not get here soon enough. There is so much I want to learn and so much I wish to teach others. Here in Provo, Utah there isn't a ton of variety of people. The main population are Latter-Day Saints aka Mormons. So whenever I go beyond the Mormon border, I realize how many people are out there in this world who don't know the fullness of the gospel. I see these people and I can tell that their spirits are just aching to hear the truth. They want it, but they don't even know it. Or they know it, but they aren't sure exactly what it is that they want. Make sense?

They are children of a Heavenly Father who LOVES them and they don't know it.

They have a divine nature and so much worth but they don't even know it.

They have an elder brother who sacrificed everything for them so they can feel peace and they don't know it.

They have the access to the Atonement that can help them rid themselves of so much pain yet they don't even know it.

They can be happy truly happy but they don't know how.

I used to listen to a song by Kenneth Cope all of the time. I haven't heard it in years until just recently. I actually listened to the words for the first time. It was about missionary service. It totally touched me. It's called, I Will Not Be Still.

"I've never been the kind to testify. I don't have the words His truth deserve, but its a simple thing He asks; a worthy heart and wiling hands. He says if i'll make the choice, He'll help me find my voice. He calls me serve and I cannot fail Him, the one who has given me all that I have. I place my trust in Him alone, He knows the yearnings of my soul. Because He believes in me, I will go willingly. How can I keep this gift to myself when I can lift somebody else? I am a witness of His miracles and His mercy. I put my future in His hands knowing He's made me all I am . When I put my faith in Him the truth begins to speak. His power is real. It moves me until I will not be still. Lifting the hands that hang down in sorrow. Strengthening knees that bend in despair. Reaching the hopeless hearts that do not know His love. Seeing their lives begin to change, I know that ill never be the same."

I don't know what brought on this sappy/spiritual post, but I am excited to serve. I love the Lord, I love His gospel, and I cannot wait to help others love it too.

Homework on the BLOG

So you are probably wondering about my latest post. Let me tell you a story. I am currently taking 14 credits of online classes because Rexburg just isn't my town anymore and Provo is where it's at. With that being said. One of my classes is D&C 325. One of our weekly assignments is to to answer a bunch of questions from that weeks readings, then one of our options is to post the questions and answers to our blog. I picked the blog option for one of two reasons.

1. I didn't feel like picking the other option of writing an essay

2. I felt like it would be good missionary experience or something like that.

As for your questions Melissa.

Yes I am planning on serving a mission but I cannot turn in my papers until next year sometime.