Growing up I never thought about going on a mission period. Ever. In fact I was a little stubborn about the idea whenever people brought it up. I just always thought it wasn't something for me. I went to college young and then I knew that the mission age was too old to where I would already be graduated and it wouldn't make "sense" to go. I have used this reason as my excuse. I also thought that I would be married by then but if that didn't happen there was always the age reason that seemed reasonable enough :)
I am good at doing school. I love it. Seriously, I pride myself on how many midnight library dates I have a week. I know, its weird. Ever since beginning college, I have always thought about getting out into the working environment. I am definitely the type of person that always wants to move onto the next stage. For example, In middle school I wanted high school, in high school I wanted college... I guess since my eyes have been on the next "stage" of life I never truly saw what was important. I never let myself think about a mission because I didn't see how it would help me with the next "stage." What I didn't realize was that a mission would help me with the most important stage of my whole existence. It would help me come to know and love Christ. Not only personally can I come to know him but I can share that love with others. Now that sounds like a pretty good "stage" to me.
Weeks leading up to the announcement I was having a lot of questions. "Am I in the right major?" "Am I supposed to be at BYU right now?" "Should I even be in school right now?" "Am I too young for all of this?" I was just confused and felt alone. A mission was the last thing on my mind. I was still 18 and how would I know that Thomas S Monson would make this announcement
It was the night before conference and I remember praying that I would know what to do about my questions and that I would find answers. And then I woke up and heard the announcement and it was as if I was slapped in the face. I looked at my phone and saw five texts right after the announcement saying things like "Kirs, that was for you." People always ask me why I came to college so young and why I was so quick to get in the business program after only being at BYU for a year. My response was always, "I don't know." Really, I didn't. Most sixteen year olds aren't stuffing the business pre-reqs into their summers but are having actual "fun" haha. I think there was a reason I got out of high school so fast. I think their was a reason I wanted to get into my major so fast. I think there was a reason...and all of these reasons weren't to get myself into a different temporal "stage" but rather a different eternal "stage" that I knew needed to be in.
It was the night before conference and I remember praying that I would know what to do about my questions and that I would find answers. And then I woke up and heard the announcement and it was as if I was slapped in the face. I looked at my phone and saw five texts right after the announcement saying things like "Kirs, that was for you." People always ask me why I came to college so young and why I was so quick to get in the business program after only being at BYU for a year. My response was always, "I don't know." Really, I didn't. Most sixteen year olds aren't stuffing the business pre-reqs into their summers but are having actual "fun" haha. I think there was a reason I got out of high school so fast. I think their was a reason I wanted to get into my major so fast. I think there was a reason...and all of these reasons weren't to get myself into a different temporal "stage" but rather a different eternal "stage" that I knew needed to be in.
Being my stubborn self, I called my dad after the announcement looking for validation that it wasnt for me and that it wasnt my answer. He said that after he heard the announcement mom and him instantly thought of me and how my situation literally fits perfectly. I cried on the phone and about how it was a total shock. Even though the mission "fit" perfectly, I still needed an answer that I was supposed to go. I went to the temple after conference and the baptism line was over an hour long. I pulled out the scriptures and instead of asking if I should go on a mission, I asked "what should I do?" I was still being stubborn :) And the first scripture I flipped open to was D&C 88:77 "And I give unto you a commandment that ye should teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom" talk about another slap in the face answer. Silent tears came and there was no denying it. I knew I had to go. It took a couple months getting used to my answer and by the time my call came I felt comfort in knowing I was doing what The Lord needed me to do. I have been blessed to have had all of those things done in my life to allow the mission to fit so perfectly. So to all those texts and responses from everyone who said "Kirs, that was for you" it truly was for me and I am blessed to live in this time where the urgency to share the gospel is so great.
I can't wait to go to Bolivia and share with them this joy. As much as its for me it is more for them!! Bolivia here I come!
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