A Mission Call To Trump All Others!

I slid the heavy cream paper out of the envelope and saw one thing: Manchester England. And then? Jumping, screaming, and giggling. "Where are you going?!?" my family members exclaimed. "I'm going back!" I said, "I'm going to England!"

I received my call exactly one week ago and still can't believe my luck. Holy cow! I'm going to England on my mission! Could my life possible get any better? Could I feel any more blessed? I could not. It is a dream to me and I feel like the Lord is spoiling me beyond anything I deserve. Not only do I have a mega crush on anything that is British, but this is also the mission that my late father served, which is especially sentimental for me.

I report on November 21st to the Preston MTC. Until then I will be taking block classes at BYU and living/working in Provo.

I truly feel that the Lord is blessing me in every way possible. Before I turned in my papers I was worried about the timing of my call. I still need to take one more semester of Spanish in order to fulfill my GE requirements. I considered staying another semester and putting my availability date near the end of December, when the semester ends. However, I strongly felt that I needed to turn my papers in as soon as I could, and so I did hoping that everything else could be taken care of. I'm happy to say that things are working out really well for me. I found a place I can stay for just a couple months and I've also been able to work with the chair of the Spanish department who has granted me permission to audit the class I need and test out of the course before I leave for the mission. I know that the Lord's hand has been in all of this tricky logistic business and I am so grateful that He loves me and is looking out for the little details in my life.

Since I received my call, I've been pouring through the photos from my study abroad in England last summer. Here are a few photos from my mission area.

Anywho, I am so happy with the prospect of serving. Thanks to everyone for all your encouragement and support.

Love,
Sister Mather

No, I was not bored at work...

One Word Challenge (it's pretty challenging...really.)

1. Where is your cell phone? purse

2. Where is your significant other? Guitarcase

3. Your hair? butchered

4. Your mother? Superwoman

5. Your father? Legend

6. Your favorite thing? Family

7. Your dream last night? omen

8. Your favorite drink? Grapefruit

9. Your dream/goal? Joy

10. The room you're in? Cubicle

11. Your hobby? Music

12. Your fear? isolation

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? India (why not?)

14. Where were you last night? moving

15. What you're not? bitter

16. Muffins? deceptive

17. Where you grew up? bubble

18. The last thing you did? backpacked

19. What are you wearing? art

20. Your TV? never

21. Your pets? boys

22. Your computer? iphonezilla

23. Your life? Mission

24. Your mood? goofy

25. Missing someone? always

26. Your car? Europe

27. Something you're not wearing? ring

28. Last summer? nomad

29. Like someone? prohibited

30. Your favorite color? coral

31. When was the last time you laughed? currently

32. Last time you cried? noon

33. Who will resend this? clueless

Waiting for my rocket to come...

So, it's official. My mission papers have been sent! Well, actually they were sent last week, but I've been a lazy blogger. Anywho, I thought I'd make it publically known to all so you can start brainstorming brilliant ideas for MTC packages.

Does this all seem a bit sudden to you? Don't worry. You're not alone. The mission came up somewhat randomly in my life. I've always wanted to go, but honestly never felt like it would be right to go. I prayed about it a lot when I was 19, and again when I was 20, but didn't feel like it was an extremely pressing item of business that I needed to prepare for. Finally, when I was approaching 21, I prayed about it and felt again that it wasn't right, so I threw in the towel and set my course to graduate from the Y in the spring of 2009. End of story, right? Wrong. This past spring the mission came up in a conversation with a close friend. It sparked something inside of me. I decided to inquire one more time. This time around I felt shockingly different. I felt good about it. I kept thinking, "Are you sure God? Are you sure it's really ok for me to go? You're not playing any tricks on me?" I was so flippin' excited to feel that God was finally giving me his stamp of approval. Woot!

I'm excited to start a new chapter of my life. I know that I will be missing everyone and I'm only starting to realize how much I will be sacrificing (I've got a sweet little life set up here in P-town), but I am also excited to do something so challenging! Admitedly, I am also terrified, and nervous, and extremely anxious and impatient to receive my call. And all I can do now is wait for my call and learn a lesson in patience.

Anywho, I love you all and will let you know when I receive my call!