What an exciting year it has been!
It has been a great year and so much has happened. I will back up a little an start from the very beginning.
Ever since my 20th birthday last year I had been debating on whether or not to go on a mission. After two very clear answers in January I decided to go on a mission.
The turning event that made me decide to go on a mission was my friend/roommate's sister Jen getting her mission call. I was invited to attend the opening and decided I would rather do that on a school night than homework. I got a hold of my good friend Elizabeth Champney and told her she should come. We both arrived a little early. The people that were there started guessing where she would be serving.
A little information on Jen is that she is from Taipei Taiwan. Everyone was guessing stateside it seemed. I got this feeling in my heart it was going to be the Taiwan mission. I then waited excitedly to hear where she would be called. I was right she was called to serve in the Taichung Taiwan mission. I was so happy for her. It was in that moment I realized that I needed to go on a mission. On our short walk home I turned to Elizabeth and said I am going on a mission. I don't remember what she said but I think that it was something along the lines of good. She knew that I had been back on this decision for months. I don't know whether or not she took me seriously.
That night I called my parents and told them the news. They were on a trip somewhere so we did not talk long but they were very excited about my decision.
The next few months whirled by as I was balancing school, work, and appointments for my mission.
They were also filled with doubts and fears that I had to fight because Satan was trying his hardest to get me.
I remember that the process seemed to take forever. In my final interview with my bishop he said you should be grateful for how fast and smooth this process went. In my head I was thinking if this was smooth and fast.
I then flew off to VA to attend one of my HS friend's wedding. I spent two weeks there visiting with friends for the last time for the next 2 years.
I then flew to China to work for the American Embassy summer camp and to spend as much time as possible with my parents.
It was an amazing summer. I loved working with the kids. They never cease to amaze me. They also were always teaching me new things every day. The most important lessons they taught me were patience and love. I could never be upset for too long because when I would see their sad faces my heart would melt.
Also while in China my mission papers were submitted. So the wait began in Hawaii followed me to China.
