Called to Serve: Going to Vegas for my 21st Birthday

I guess the cat's out of the bag: I'm a Mormon. I am attending Brigham Young University and I have recently been called to serve in the Nevada Las Vegas Mission (that's not backwards I promise). I am legitimately so excited to be one of those people who knock on your door and offer to teach you about Jesus at the most inconvenient times!

Deciding to Serve  

Sure, I'm reading this for the first time!

Throughout my first semester of college I was dead set against serving a mission. It was just not something I wanted for my life. The moment I came home for Christmas break I knew that I needed to go. I had spent my whole life doing everything for me. I needed to spend time outside myself. I know now that God has a plan for my life and He knows what is best for me. I strive to be my best self and always follow the path that will lead me back to my Heavenly Father and my Savior.

I have so much love for other people. I strongly believe that loving others and developing true human relationships is the key to happiness in this world. I want so badly to share my love with others and to help other people to live the best, most joyous life possible.

I decided to serve a mission when God revealed it as His plan for me. I fell in love with the idea of serving a mission when I realized that if I can make even just one person's life better and more full of joy by serving a mission that it will be totally and completely worth the labor this decision requires. I love my brothers and sisters here on Earth and I would be remiss if I did not do everything in my power to help them find true, lasting happiness.

Paperwork and Preparation

After I decided to serve it was time to complete my paperwork. I started my papers on Christmas Day, 2016. My wonderful bishop was willing to help me on the holiday so that I could get the things done which I needed to get done before I had to go back to school. God truly makes the impossible possible on a daily basis. 

Missionary paperwork is long and tedious. There are questions about your medical, emotional, and spiritual history. There are also questions about your family and education. Because the LDS Church is going to be responsible for you for 18-24 months they need to know a lot about you. Luckily my mother is an angel and is the most responsible and organized person in the world. Because she makes sure that we have yearly doctors and dentists appointments my information simply had to be reviewed--well and I had to get a TB test (which kinda sucks but at least now I know I don't have tuberculosis!!). But by the grace of God I was able to complete my papers by the time I went back to school on January 7. 

And now the thing I hate most in the world: waiting.

I set my availability date as June 15. There is a national test by the Society of Actuaries which I need to take in order to progress in my major (actuarial science) and in my career pursuits. This test is offered June 8-16, thus my availability date. However, as per church policy you are only allowed to put in your papers 120 days before your availability date. For me this meant February 15. 

Now I want you to imagine that you are nineteen years old and have a month and 8 days until you can even submit your request to find out where you will be living for the nest year and a half of your life. Now you are probably much more patient than I am and would have no problem waiting this "short" amount of time. I, unfortunately, am young and impatient. God is always giving me lessons in patience and I never seem to learn. Nevertheless, I survived. I made it to February 15. Hallelujah. 

Yes, I bought a Nevadan Flag. Sue me.

 The Call

Here's a piece of advise: when you're waiting for something to happen always take a step back and realize what you're actually waiting for. 

I didn't do that.

And it was not very smart. 

I had built up February 15 so much in my mind. But guess what happens after you submit your papers! ANOTHER 3 WEEKS OF WAITING! 

Have you ever seen a three-year-old "waiting" to do something they really want to do? They're annoying and impossible to control. And, as my roommates can attest, that's exactly how I was between February 15 and March 12. 

But I made it! And somehow I ended up not failing my classes during that time. Another act of God I'm sure! Luckily I have an amazing supervisor that let me take a 15 minute break as soon as I received the notification that my call was at my dorm and I could go get it. Just holding it made me feel much less nervous and impatient for some reason. 

I waited one more day to open it surrounded by friends and family.

Dear Sister Boyd,  

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 Nevada Las Vegas Mission.  

It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months. You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, May 31, 2017. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language...

Choose The Right 😊

First of all, I could not be more excited to serve the people of Las Vegas. I know that it's cheesy and lame to say, but I already love them so much! Another cheesy (but true) sentiment: I know this is exactly where God wants me to be. I feel so calm and comforted by this call. I have nothing but joy and love for my call and the new people I will be meeting (People are so very very important--another post on that coming soon to a blog near you!). 

Second of all--you may have noticed this date is before the availability date I set. Though I don't pretend to know the thoughts of my Heavenly Father, I have some ideas: primarily, I was called before my availability date because if I had been called at or after it I would have spent my summer time studying intensely for this actuarial test; though it took some adaptation I now have that time to focus on preparing for my mission and serving the people of Las Vegas as best as I can. I am now planning to take the test after I get back. God always seems to know exactly what I need in my life and when it would best fit into my life. I love my Heavenly Father so very much.

Ultimately, God knows what is eternally best for our lives and He will provide a way for us to accomplish these things, even if this is not necessarily our plan for our lives. I have so many thoughts and emotions about my mission call and I could not possibly explain all of them in this post. Put simply: this mission is a life-changing opportunity that I am overjoyed to be able to experience.

I can't wait until May 31!

Patience is a virtue :)

P.S. All these photos are by http://brittanymphotography.weebly.com/ who is, not only an amazing photographer, but also one of the best people I know! If you need photos for anything she's your gal!