A Change of Heart (6)

Serving a mission was never part of my plan. The idea of leaving my family and friends for a year and a half to a place that I have no control over scared me. I also didn't think putting a pause on my life would be the easiest thing to do. But what I didn't understand back then is that that's the point! Missions aren't supposed to be easy. President Thomas S. Monson has counseled the following: "Missionary work is hard work. Missionary service is demanding and requires long hours of study and preparation that the missionary himself might match the divine message he proclaims. It is a labor of love but also of sacrifice and devotion to duty." If missions were easy, then we wouldn't be able to grow as a person by serving one.
I was 16 years old when the prophet announced the age change for missionaries. I remember some of my family members telling me excitedly that I had "only 3 more years" until I could serve. But even though the age change made a huge impact on missions, it had no effect on my decision. I still had no desire to serve and I didn't see that changing anytime soon. I wasn't even one of those "typical Mormon girls" who said they'd serve a mission only if they weren't married by 21, so why would I change my mind just because I was able to leave sooner? It was on my 17th birthday during fast Sunday, when I decided to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting, that things changed. I remember going up to the pulpit, something I don't do often if I can help it, and saying something that not only surprised my mom, but myself as well. I said, "I'm excited that exactly two years from today I will be old enough to serve a mission." This was news to me because I hadn't planned on going on a mission, let alone say that in my testimony. The Lord ALWAYS knows what is best for us and sometimes He has a funny way of showing us that. I know that by saying what I did in my testimony, Heavenly Father was letting me know that He knows what is best for me and to just have faith.
Flash forward to the present and everything has changed. Now I feel completely different about serving a mission. I can't wait to serve a mission! In fact, it's been kind of hard (in the best way possible) to see so many people opening their mission calls around me. I guess one of the "perks" of attending BYU is that there are so many people who are going to serve or have returned from missions. Seeing all these mission calls just makes me MORE excited to serve! Having a September birthday puts my mission a little further away from everyone else's, but I know that I just need to be patient because my time will come.

I love the gospel! I can't wait to share the happiness that comes from the gospel to others. I know that missions are hard. But I also know that it will be worth it not just for those I'll serve, but for me as well. I'm so grateful I had the experience that I did on my 17th birthday and that Heavenly Father knows what is best for me. So for now, I'll continue preparing to be the best missionary I can be! :)