Since I was seven years old I have wanted to serve a mission.
I was the girl who got upset anytime they heard that sisters
weren't supposed to go on missions. The time came closer
to me being the correct age to go, and I decided that
I didn't want to be one of those girls who went on a mission
because she wasn't married at the age of 21. So when I
turned 20 I started to pray about whether or not Heavenly
Father wanted me to go. After six months I finally received
an answer that I was not supposed to leave on a mission.
Instead I found a new job, bought a car, and went about
my life. The following year I found out that I had been
fired from my job. This news came very unexpectedly and
was surprising that I had received a pay raise only a
month before. When I asked why they were firing me they
told me the shoe wasn't fitting. The answer didn't make
me feel any better and I took the news extremely hard.
That same night my friend Corrine and I
went to the movies. While there she asked me what my plans
were. I told her that I hadn't really had a chance to
think about it. She suggested that maybe I should go on
a mission. I told her that it wasn't right for me. She
said that it was something to think about. Plus I knew
my mother wouldn't be happy if I decided to go considering
that I had a car payment and other financial obligations.
The next day my mom took me out to lunch at the Tiffin
room. While we were waiting for our food to arrive my
mom asked me what my plans were now that I no longer had
a job. I told her I wasn't sure. She then suggested to
my surprise that maybe I should consider a mission. This
left me reeling and so after lunch was over and we returned
home, I packed up my car and told my mom I would call
her when I got to wherever I was going. I ended up in
Ephraim, Utah and spent the weekend with some friends
that were going to school at Snow College. After some
time away with them and an entire day spent at the Manti
temple I knew what I should be doing. I was going on a
mission.
I set up an appointment that week with my
bishop. When I told him what I wanted to do he got this
stunned look on his face and said, "Uh oh."
I looked at him and was terrified that he was going to
tell me I shouldn't go. I asked him what the matter was
and he responded with, "I have never done this before.
I have no idea what to do." I started laughing because
I was so relieved. He got his book out and did some reading
and by the time I left his office I had the paperwork
in my hands.
After all the appointments, physicals,
and other things that filling out your paperwork requires
I finally turned my papers in and patiently (ok not so
much) waited for my call to arrive. It arrived on a Wednesday
afternoon. I had gotten off work early and as I pulled
onto my street I could see a large white envelope sticking
out of the mailbox and I knew it had arrived. I was so
excited that I could barely contain myself. I called my
mom and said, "It's here, it's here, it's here!"
She responded with "Don't Open It!" I locked
the call in the house and went over to a friend's to keep
myself from opening it. I picked up my mom from work and
we went home. I still had to wait another hour while we
waited for people to come over. When the time arrived
I was sitting on the couch. I opened up my call and it
said that I would be serving in the Indiana Indianapolis
Mission. I just sat there as tears welled up in my eyes.
I knew instantly that I was supposed to serve the people
in Indiana thanks to the confirmation of the Spirit.
I was set apart on May 11th. My entire bishopric
and stake presidency came which really added to the experience.
The stake president had each member of the bishopric share
an experience from thier mission. Saying good-bye to everyone
proved hard. Especially to the Margetts family. Thier
daughter Madison stole my shoes and hid them and then
told me that I couldn't leave. It really touched my heart.
I entered the MTC on May 12th. My mom, Alene, & Betsy
accompanied me to the MTC. On the way we had lunch at
T.G.I. Friday's with Abe & his sister Marjorie. I
wanted lunch to end quickly, because I was so excited
to get going. The only thing that dampened my excitement
was seeing my mom and Alene crying as we watched "Called
to Serve". I spent the next three weeks in the M.T.C.
We did all the traditional things that missionaries do
from taking our pictures in front of the map and through
the post office box, to having a cereal eat off in the
cafeteria, to working in the call center. I flew to Indiana
on June 1st.
Let me share the highlights of my mission
and the lessons that I learned. First I had the most amazing
mission president and wife. President & Sister Walker
were such a blessing to me. I always felt that I was unconditionally
loved by this amazing couple. I was blessed to have them
around for my entire mission. President was such a guide
to me as he led me spiritually and helped me see the big
picture and believe in myself. I shared a bond with Sister
Walker as I was able to get to know her and be blessed
by her teachings and love. I know that Heavenly Father
knew I would need this amazing couple during my time in
Indiana.
I had the opportunity to serve in five different
areas of the state. My first area I served in was Muncie,
which is about an hour north of Indianapolis and is the
home of Ball State University. My companions were Sister
Hall & Sister Bitters. We mostly worked with the young
single adults in the area and spent a lot of time working
on campus.
My next two areas were my shortest areas.
The first one was in Greenwood, which is just south of
Indy. I served with Sister Murdoch and we lived with the
Sweezy family. The Sweezy's had two little boys and were
so much fun. My next area was in the heart of Indy at
Speedway. Yep, it is where the Indianapolis 500 race is
held each year. I remember being out on my bike and hearing
the race cars going at full speed. Here I served in a
three-some with Sisters Hein & Pace. We were the three
stooges. I was curly and loved to eat pie! This area we
lived with sweet Sister Leonard. She always made the best
food.
My next area was in the southern part of
the state near the border of Illinois in Terre Haute.
Terre Haute is lovingly dubbed "The Land of Seven
Smells". It is the home of seven types of factories
whose scents fill the area. I personally loved the smell
of fresh bread in the mornings. My companion was Sister
Gorow and we lived underneath two older Catholic ladies
and next door to Joyce & Charlie. Charlie wasn't a
member of the church and he always called us the nuns.
We spent a lot of time in their home and really came to
love that amazing couple.
My last area was in the northern part of
the state in a town called Huntington, which was on the
outskirts of Fort Wayne. My companions were Sisters Gordon,
Lazane, & Goletz. Here we lived with Ned & Linda.
Neither were members, but Linda's daughters were members.
Living with Ned & Linda was fabulous. Ned always teased
me and quickly dubbed me Sherm. It was while in this area
that I learned that I had broken my foot. After several
months of trying to get it to heal naturally, my doctor
finally recommended surgery. Due to this situation I ended
up returning home three months early, which proved to
be a lot harder than, I thought it would be.
I am grateful for the opportunity that my
Heavenly Father gave me to serve His children in that
beautiful state. During those months I learned how to
truly pray and to recognize answers to my prayers. How
everything happens in the Lord's time and we just need
to be patient and apply some faith. That we truly are
blessed to have the knowledge of eternal families. I learned
and grew so much during my fifteen months as a missionary.
This time in my life has truly helped mold me into the
woman I am today.
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