The Mission Decision

Let's start at the very beginning.... a very good place to start.

Well, I guess not the VERY beginning, but when serving a mission was more than just a thought. 

This post may be a little long, but it is my journey and it took awhile for me to really realize that a mission was for me...

So with that, sit back and enjoy reading about The Mission Decision.

During the summer of 2014 I had the opportunity to go on a humanitarian trip to Belize with an LDS group called HEFY. 

Long story short, I met a sister missionary serving in Belize and I could see myself 
in her shoes. 
Serving a mission, teaching others about the gospel, having that mission experience, and overall having that Light of Christ in me. 

Meeting that sister was an answer to my prayers, but it didn't stop there. 

During the summer of 2015 I had the opportunity to work as a Counselor 

at Brighton LDS Girls Camp. 

Getting the job at Brighton was an answer to a prayer itself, but what I didn't know was how spiritually full my summer would really be.

I won't get into too many details because I could talk for hours about my time at camp. 

Honestly though the

best summer ever. 

At Brighton I not only gained 40+ new friendships with the staff

(which is something I really needed...)

but each week I got to have 8-10 girls in my unit and teach them to

BE LIKE HIM.

(Moroni 7:48)

My summer at Brighton taught me how much my Heavenly Father really knew me and how much he cared for me and also all those around me. 

Brighton taught me how to forget myself, trust in The Lord, 

to listen and follow the spirit, and to serve.

Brighton was another major answer to a prayer about serving a mission. 

My time at camp sadly ended and it was time to move back to the valley. 

A new adventure, a new chapter in my life: 

College.

The first day when when I arrived at Utah State, I made a goal to go to the temple every week and do baptisms for the dead. 

Tuesday's became my favorite day of the week...

Temple Tuesday

             

I found that Tuesday's around 1:30 pm was the perfect time to attend the temple because 

1) I was done with class for the day, so I wasn't rushed

2) It was NEVER crowded or busy (I was in and out in 20 minutes if I needed)

3) It was always very quiet and peaceful

The temple was a place that became very near and dear to my heart while I was in Logan. I could get away from the world, focus on my Savior, and the spirit was always present. 

The Logan Temple was a very big part of helping with my decision to serve. 

I don't know when the whole "ok this mission thing is really happening" moment hit me.... 

(probably because it still hasn't)... 

but the process of my mission papers happened quick. 

Really quick.

I had debated serving a mission for a long time and I wasn't getting a definite answer. Because of this, and after much confusion and frustration in knowing what to do,

 I decided to just step forward and make a decision myself.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reads

Trust in The Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths. 

I then heard a quote that said...

"Do not ask God to guide your footsteps... unless you are willing to move your feet."

This whole time I was asking my Heavenly Father whether I should serve a mission or not, I wasn't doing much about!!

 I was going to church, reading, praying, serving, and attending the temple, but I wasn't taken that action and doing something about it.

I decided to finally contact my Bishop in my YSA ward and tell him that I had been really thinking about serving a mission and I didn't know what to do anymore. 

Thursday, September 24, 2015: First meeting with Bishop Winn

We talked for about 10 minutes and he said,

 "Well, it's easy to start your papers, so let's just get those going. We can stop anytime you need, or if things don't feel right, but this may help."

We finished the meeting, I went back to my apartment and I was beyond excited. 

A few hours later, the papers were basically finished except for a few things I didn't know and needed help with from my parents. 

By that weekend my papers were all finished except for doctors appointments. 

I was a little terrified, so it took me about 2 weeks to muster up the courage to call and make an appointment, but once I finally did that, I was good to go. 

By October 8, 2015, my recommendation had been submitted to my bishop.

The Stake President took a little bit more time to get into, but I met with him on Tuesday, October 20, 2015.

We had an amazing interview and the spirit was so strong. He told me that as soon as we were done he would submit my papers downtown and they should be there in the morning. I passed the interview andddddddd.... 

 (My) Recommendation has been submitted.

Ok seriously though, this is the crazy part. 

Thursday, October 22, 2015 

My dad sends me a texts and tells me that my bishop can see if my call has been assigned... of course I'm curious and I send a text to my bishop...

wait. WHAT?!? My papers had been in for less than 48 hours, is that possible....?!?

Side note: because I was in Logan for school, I wanted my call to go home to SLC so I could be with family when I opened it.

Immediately I was texting my mom telling her to go check the mailbox.

Friday went by. 

 

 Saturday went by.

Those days were almost torture because I knew it could possibly be in the mail, but I had no idea... 

Monday, October 26, rolls around and I get a video of my mom walking to the mailbox and pulling out a white envelope.

How was this happening?!? 

My papers had been submitted less than a week and I already had 

a call waiting for me at my house?!? 

It had only been 5 DAYS!

I was running around my dorm so happy, so excited. 

I just wanted to go home and open it.

Right then. 

Too bad I had a 3:30pm  math class that day... 

That class was BEYOND hard to sit through that day. 

(I would have gone home earlier, but my mom said I had to stay and go to class... It was good for me, so thanks mom!)

I HAD A MISSION CALL WAITING FOR ME AT MY HOUSE!

As soon as class was over, I jumped in my car and took my 1.5 hour drive home. 

Man that car ride was emotional.

So many thoughts and so many feelings running through my body. 

I was nervous.

Jittery.

Excited.

Hopeful.

Scared.

Tearful.

Grateful.

and just about every other feeling that comes with a big even in your life.

While driving home that day I remember a scripture coming to my mind....

1 Nephi 3:7

I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. 

I was driving home to open a letter that would tell me where I would be serving, living, and learning for the next 18 months of my life. 

It still hadn't hit me yet that this was real, but I felt peace and I knew even more in that instant that my Heavenly Father had a place that he needed me to serve. 

After many phone calls telling people what was at my house, attending a family Halloween party, and many prayers, 

the moment I had been waiting for. 

It was finally here. 

Dear Sister Curtis.....

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 Spain Madrid Mission.

SPAIN MADRID! 

Spain MTC, March 15, 2016
Spanish Speaking 

WAHOOOOO!!

I was so excited about serving in Spain.

Excited to be speaking Spanish. 

But March 15? 

My availability was January 1st... 

Why so far away?

Don't get my wrong because I was SO excited,

 but 5 months seemed like a long time to have a call.

141 days from when I opened my call to be exact...

That night when I got back to Logan, I remember praying to my Heavenly Father and thanking Him for the opportunity I have to serve in Spain. 

I also remember asking for patience and 

help for understanding why I had to wait so long before I left.

The next day I called my stake president in Logan and told him about my call.

He was really excited for me and then went on to tell me that he had submitted my papers right after we finished talking at my interview. The next morning, he checked and my call had already been assigned. LESS THAN 12 HOURS and I already had been assigned a mission!

He was really surprised and told me that that had never happened to him before, but if that wasn't a testimony that Spain is where I need to be during that time, then he doesn't know what is.

AMEN to that because I totally agree with him. 

At first it was hard knowing that I had to wait so long before I actually got to leave, but I am very grateful that I have so much time before I leave.

It's given me so much time to study, read, get to know what I'm suppose to know, gain a stronger relationship with my Heavenly Father and also my family members around me. 

In October of 2005 General Conference, David A. Bednar said,

"The single most important thing you can do to prepare for a Call to Serve is to become a missionary long before you go on a mission." 

Now is my time to shine and to become a missionary long before I leave.

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for helping me with Patience 
during this time because 

I know there is a reason I am going to Spain when I am. 

So why am I serving a mission? 
I don't know why it took me so long to say out-loud that I was going 
on a mission and to finally commit. 

I was nervous. 

I was scared and I wasn't sure if it was really for me...

Heavenly Father has a plan for each of His children and he loves each of us. 

There are 2 really powerful scriptures that hit me and explain why I am going to serve. 

Doctrine and Covenants 90:11

For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power...

Because of this, I want to go out in the world and teach His children about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I want others to know where they came from, why they are here, and where they are going. 

The world we live in is so crazy and I don't know how people can get through it without the knowledge of the gospel that I have. 

I want to bring others unto Christ and give them the happiness that I have. 

For me, once I really committed that a mission was something I was 
going to do, it was easy. 

Heavenly Father has given me SO much, why wouldn't I serve a mission and go teach others about this gospel and the happiness that I have??
He has given me so much and serving a mission is one way of showing my faith and how much I care about what I believe, and I know that it is true.

Doctrine and Covenants 4:3 

Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God, ye are called to the work

Desire.
I have the desire to serve my Heavenly Father.
I want to bring happiness to people in Spain.
I want them to have the gospel.
I want to love them and give them the light of Jesus Christ that I have.
I want to represent my Savior. 
I want others to be happy.

I could go on and on about why I want to serve and why I am excited to serve the people in Spain, but for now I will leave you with this.

In high school I had a seminary teacher who would say this every time we walked out of the classroom for the day and I'm going to say it to you now....

Life is great, the church is true, I'm a child of God and so are you.