the day i got my mission call

Dear Sister Rowley:

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 Washington DC North Mission. In addition to your calling to share the gospel, you will be assigned to serve in the Washington D.C. Temple Visitor's Center. It is anticipated that you will serve for a period of 18 months.

You should report to the Provo Missionary Training Center on Wednesday, September 25, 2013. You will prepare to preach the gospel in the English language. Your assignment may be modified according to the needs of the mission president.

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i was showered with tender mercies that day. my sister was back from school, my uncle was in town, an influential visiting teacher was home from germany, another uncle was able to get off work early, kelli arrived just in the nick of time, and despite my last minute inquiry… hailey was available and entirely willing to share her talents. satan tried to weasel his way into the goodness of that day, but once i spotted that mission call in my mailbox all feelings of frustration and hunger vanished. from that point on, everything ran smoothly. the stresses were relieved, the problems were resolved, and the spirit re-entered my heart. the story of the map – although long, and probably quite boring – is a story of yet another tender mercy and an ever-loving god. it wasn't necessary that we have a map, but heavenly father knew the desires of my heart and made them happen. it was very evident that he wanted this day to be special, even if that meant helping me find a relatively large world map on a state holiday when stores were closed and possibilities were limited.

our mail never arrives before before 3pm, never! i checked the mailbox at least twice before noon knowing it wouldn't be there but trying anyways. on my way to walmart (for the second time) i decided to check again even though it was only 2pm. i opened the mailbox and about died when i saw that big, white envelope inside. leaving all other mail in the box, i ran in the house with a big smile, a happy heart, and a letter addressed to sister rowley. never before has a mail delivery been more important, more satisfying, more relieving, or more beautiful (can mail be considered beautiful?). while i could have chosen to open the call then & there or in the privacy of my bedroom, i chose to wait about six hours for the arrival of friends and family.

there wasn't a single moment that entire day when nervousness crept in, not even for a minute. i was at peace with my decision to serve and had already internally accepted the call to go wherever i was asked. i was excited, but in a calm sort of way that allowed me to patiently go about my day without peaking into my future. every amazing detail of that party (yes, we had a party) deserves an applause for my mother. she worked so hard and sacrificed so much to make that day as special as she could. if i can adopt mom's work ethic and selflessness and take it into the mission field with me, then i'll have nothing to worry about. i was surrounded by many friends and family members that evening, and for that i am grateful. it wouldn't have been the same without the excitement and support of everyone there, including two best friends who made the effort to attend via facetime.

looking back, it all feels a bit surreal. there i stood, in front of the people who matter most, reading (in a rather ungraceful manner) my future. i was overflowing with feelings of gratitude when i read that letter, and i'm overflowing again as i write about it now. i knew it the moment i saw it and i know it now, washington DC is exactly where i'm meant to be. i know that this call was heaven sent and perfectly tailored to fit who i am now and who i will become in the next 18 months. my preparation time is short, i leave in 58 days, but i think it's a good thing. heavenly father asked me to serve a long time ago, but i wasn't ready to listen. as soon as i committed, everything happened quickly. i feel relieved to be assigned to an english-speaking mission and equally relieved to be traveling somewhere within the US. i feel honored to be a sister missionary, especially one that will serve in the temple visitors center. to think that god trusts me enough to be the face of his holy house is extremely humbling. above all, i feel grateful to be a daughter of god and to have the knowledge that i do. the gospel of jesus christ is the single most important thing in my life and i'm excited to share that light and joy with the people and tourists of washington DC.

i wholeheartedly accept

i wrote my missionary acceptance letter tonight (i didn't even know missionaries had to do that until i got my call!). writing that letter provided me with a sense of reality, something that has been lacking ever since this process began. it's one thing to get a call, it's a whole other to actually accept it. it was a  humbling  experience, and even now my eyes remain teary and my heart full of joy. i feel so privileged to a part of this great and marvelous work and i wholeheartedly accept this great responsibility to love, teach, and serve the lord’s people. i am absolutely thrilled to be a part of the washington d.c. north mission! i am especially grateful for the opportunity i will have to serve in the d.c. temple visitors’ center. i know that this call was heaven sent, and i recognize the love heavenly father has for me and for the people i will be teaching. my mission has already been the single greatest blessing in my life and i haven't even entered the MTC yet. 60 days people, SIXTY DAYS!

sister rowley

HUGE thanks goes to my amazingly talented friend, hailey of haugen creative (i already plan on hiring her for my future wedding someday). i have never loved a video more than i love this one, i'll probably watch it at least 100 times before i leave. it was such a special night and i am so grateful to have this equally special memento. and thank you to the friends and family who were there, last night could not have been any more perfect. i'm going on a mission, i leave in 62 days, and i couldn't be happier!

what i'm learning in institute | mission prep

be prepared, the truth may be uncomfortable for some people to hear. satan will do all he can to prevent your message from being shared and accepted. power through and bear witness of what you know to be true.

memorize things so you can be a good storyteller, it allows you to communicate passion.

kneel down in prayer with your investigators.

give your mission EVERYTHING you've got.

you know it's true, therefore you are required to testify at all times, in all things, and in all places.

we are all missionaries NOW and ALWAYS.

to be a good missionary: work, be exactly obedient, and love people. you will then have the spirit to be with you.

think for a minute about the confidence the savior had in himself. when you know who you are and your purpose in life, you will have the same confidence.

3nephi 22:4-8 | he only withdrew because you didn't want him there. he always comes back for you.

women of the lord glow, they radiate the spirit of the lord. you may not see it in yourself, but others do.

this missionary work is a work of salvation. "laborers in the vineyard will gain salvation." serving a mission saves others, but it also saves you.

we invite investigators to act; to pray, to repent, to study, etc.

you will be blessed with peace and confidence as you enter the mission field.

the best indicator that you are progressing spiritually and growing closer to christ is the way you treat others.

d&c 46:31 | all things must be done in the name of christ.

faith is the power, love is the motive, christ is the reason.

just waiting for the call

"Kylee,  mission papers are at Church HQ's. I would say call will come July 31st.  I will keep you posted."

those are the words i read this morning. things just got super real and i don't quite know how to react. the excitement that surrounds me is powerful and slightly overwhelming. i'm trying to meet everybody up there where the party is happening, but for some reason i'm stuck in this state of shock. i'm still baffled that this is actually happening, that i'm doing the one thing i swore i would never do until i was old and married. although i haven't quite arrived at my own party, i can assure you that the excitement is definitely there. i've been pretty reserved throughout this entire ordeal, which means my excitement has been internalized as well. it was friday night that for the first time i physically felt and vocalized my excitement to serve. we were downtown, about to leave city creek, when two sister missionaries walked by. then there were two more, later there was an entire group. it was seeing and talking to those sisters that triggered something within. that will be me, soon enough, that will be me. that run in with those amazing sisters was no accident and i will forever be grateful that it happened. now that my papers are at church headquarters, i'm getting antsy. i'm ready to know where i'm going, i'm ready to do whatever will been asked of me.

what i'm learning in institute | mission prep

investigators need to row their own boat, we cannot row it for them. we can only give them the tools they need.

a central aspect to the word character is the word act.

grow as close to the spirit as you possibly can.

the importance of beginning each day with prayer. prayer stets the standard for your entire day. the more you pray, the more precious it becomes.

memorize scriptures!

bearing testimony invites the spirit when you teach. "sharing your testimony often is one of the most powerful ways of inviting the spirit and helping others feel the spirit." – preach my gospel

we obtain the word by faith.

god promises the holy ghost to those who treasure up his word.

keep a well organized catalog of things you can teach.

the adversity of a mission is what changes you as a person and member of the church.

thou shalt meditate on the book of the law [joshua 1:8] to mediate is to clear your mind of all other thoughts. focus on the gospel.

feast upon the words of christ [2nephi 32:3] "eat" as much as you can, then go back for more.

lay hold upon the word of god [helaman 3:29] embrace the word of god.

ponder upon the things which i have said [3nephi 17:3] think deeply; dive deeper than the surface. continually think about it, think about it beyond your study session. tell heavenly father, through prayer, what you have learned in the scriptures. then ask him if there is more that you need to learn from his words and return to scriptures.

"precious truth comes a small piece at a time through faith, with great exertion, and at times wrenching struggles. the lord intends it to be that way so that we can mature and progress." – elder richard g. scott

"seeking learning by faith, we must rely on revelation." – elder dallin h. oaks

look the part, feel the part

i present to you three crappy iphone photos, grey hair, and a brand new (sister missionary) outfit. i had a meeting yesterday, THE meeting, the one with my stake president that precedes the arrival of a mission call in the mail. he's one wise guy, that stake president of mine. there were questions and words of wisdom, tears and even laughter. i have a great deal to learn still, but i have a lot of knowledgeable and in-tune people in my life to help me learn it. this is all happening so fast i haven't even had time to process it yet. i'm going on a mission! this is real life, no longer just an idea or words that i tell people. in about two weeks time i could have a mission call and departure date… such thoughts blow my mind.