Loving Life as a Sister Missionary: Called to Serve

[Sunday July 27, 2014]

I have been waiting for this day for so long! The day I was FINALLY able to open my mission call. I received my call on Wednesday July 23, but since many of my family members were out of town, I had to wait until today to open it. Lets just say, those five days felt like a lifetime. I thought I would be strong enough to handle it.. but once I opened the envelope halfway, I knew something had to be done. I made my stepdad tape it all up and hide it from me! Best decision I've ever made. You see, this experience in getting a mission call isn't just for me. I am the very first missionary on my moms side and I felt like if I opened it by myself, it would take away from the special experience everyone would have when I opened it in front of those who love and support me most. I couldn't rob them of that. So, I waited. Waiting literally almost killed me. I was constantly having this internal battle with myself by thinking that I should have just opened it when I had the chance! But, that ship had sailed. I made the choice to wait. So that's exactly what I was going to do.

I'm going to be a missionary!!!

So close to opening it!

4:30 rolls around and people are starting to arrive. My heart was pounding so hard and I really couldn't believe that in a few minutes, I would know where I am supposed to serve. Once my grandpa said the prayer and everyone was settled and ready with their camera phones, I began to open my mission call. I never realized how intimidating it would be simply opening an envelope in front of everyone I loved. The envelope was open, and my call was in hand. I began reading...

Last chance for guesses!

"Dear Sister Stevenett:

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 Canada Winnipeg 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, December 3, 2014. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language."

I can't begin to describe the peace I felt when I read "Canada Winnipeg Mission". I had no doubt that was where I was meant to go. For some reason, I had it in my mind that Heavenly Father was going to give me the hardest mission with the most insane language imaginable. I was seriously prepared for the worst. It never once crossed my mind that He may send me where I actually want to go and where I can really succeed and be happy with my decision to serve. Don't get me wrong, I know serving a mission will be a struggle, but the fact that I'm speaking english and am in a pretty americanized area, I don't think it will be too bad. :) As for the cold? I'm thrilled. The motto for the Canada Winnipeg Mission is "Many are cold, but few are frozen." I couldn't have said it better myself! I am so excited to serve the people of Canada and I can't wait to see what missionary life has in store for me.