At the end of our missions, each missionary wrote a final report to reflect, review, and account for their missions. I felt prompted to share mine as a series of posts on my blog about each area of my mission.
My first area was located in Port Orchard, Washington and also covered a Young Single adult ward that spanned much of the Kitsap Peninsula (Gig Harbor, Fox Island, Port Orchard, Bremerton, and Silverdale). I served from June 2013-October 2013 (3 transfers) in this beautiful place and absolutely LOVED it!
If you would like to learn more about what full-time missionaries do, please visit this link to learn all about LDS missionaries.
If you are a young woman reading this and are wondering if you should serve a full-time mission, visit this link and PLEASE contact me (see About/Contact Me). I would love to talk with you!
...
I
know that our loving Heavenly Father fulfills the promises made to His
children. I cannot really explain why, but I have always had the desire to
serve a full-time mission. As I went off to BYU, however, I felt that a mission
seemed very far away. Many opportunities competed for my priority, and I did
not know how a mission would fit into my life. One night, I was particularly
troubled about how to move forward. It seemed that nothing with school,
employment, or internships felt right, and I did not know which step to take
next. As I pleaded for direction, I was prompted to read Doctrine and Covenants
Section 16. This section was a direct answer to my prayers, except that verse 6
made little sense.
“And
now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth
unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring
souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father.”
–D&C 16:6
A
week later, President Monson made the age change announcement (the age of missionary service for young women was changed from 21 to 19). This moment
during General Conference meant that verse 6 made perfect sense. Above any
other opportunities at that time in my life, serving a full-time mission was
truly the thing of most worth and the obstacles were removed for me to be a
missionary. And thus came my call to serve in the best mission in the world:
the WA-TAC.
“You
will be blessed that as you enter your mission, you will know this is where you
need to be” -my setting apart blessing
Throughout
my mission, I have been able to look back at the blessing I received that set
me apart as a full-time missionary and watch the promises made to me unfold.
From my first day in the mission field, I knew that I was meant to be in
Washington, and very specifically at that time, in Southworth. My first full
day, I met Margo Otto. This strong, courageous woman was prepared to hear the
gospel. Six weeks later, she was baptized. A year later, I was able to join
Sister Otto as she went through the house of the Lord to receive her endowment.
I am eternally grateful to a loving Father who, very early on in my mission,
witnessed to me that the experiences of most worth were here in the WA-TAC
waiting for me.
I
left Southworth with a sure testimony of the importance of following the
promptings of the Spirit. Through direct, real, and unmistakable promptings,
Heavenly Father led me and my companions to Bart and Grace, who in their own
way and their own timing, were prepared to accept the gospel. I stood back and
watched as miracles unfolded in the area because of what the Holy Ghost was
doing to lead us to be instruments in the Father’s hands, and to soften the
hearts of those that were prepared to accept the message of the Restoration.
The Holy Ghost is truly the key most important element in this work.
To be continued...
I promise that I really did only select my highlight pictures...in 5 months on the mission, I took a LOT of pictures (sorry for all of the scrolling)!
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