Am I scared?

I get asked a lot if I am SCARED. Am I scared of where I was called to serve a mission? Am I scared to go to a different country? Am I scared to leave home? Am I afraid for my safety? Am I scared because I don't feel prepared?

The answer is...I would be lying if I said NO. But the real answer is I worry. I worry a lot that I won't be prepared enough, or that I won't pick up on the language as fast as I would like. I worry that my mother will be worried for me 24/7 and not get enough sleep. I worry that she will feel lonely even though she is surrounded by family and grand kids. I worry that Satan will distract me as I wait another 3 months to leave for my mission.

I am a planner. I literally plan all the family vacations, where we are going, what we are doing, how much everything costs, and places we should eat. As you can image I like to know what is going on. When it comes to going on a mission, I have no control over anything (this must be a test in patience and complete patience :D). So I constantly have to remind myself that the Lord is the master planner, he knows what needs  to happen and when.

So I have to constantly remind myself that:

1. The LORD will be with me every step of the way!
2. I must be OBEDIENT in all that I do.
3. I must act on FAITH in everything I do and I will be blessed.
4. I must do all I can to prepare spiritually, emotionally, and physically and through Christ I will receive GRACE and he will make up the difference.
5. I must continue to strengthen my testimony.

I know that if I am a faithful servant to the Lord that I can make it the short 18 months on a mission. I have been called as a Missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and I can't wait to fulfill that calling. It is my greatest calling thus far. I know that while I am on my mission my family will be blessed and I will have the constant companionship of my father who is in Heaven. I know that he will be with me every step of the way and that he can also comfort my mother and be close to her as well. We will all 3 be able to be missionaries for the Lord, what a dream come true! (My mother and father were called as Ward Missionaries in 2011. My father served as a Ward Missionary until he passed away in March 2012, he know serves as a Missionary in Heaven. I was called to serve as a Missionary in Ecuador Guayaquil West on April 25, 2013 and I report in September!)

Left to Right: Mom, Me, and Dad :)