A Missionary? YOU'RE CRAZY!

Missionaries coming and going. 18 months to two years. Listening to church music constantly, having a companion standing next to you 24/7.  Leaving your family to help other families see what this gospel is about. Skirts and suits all day, everyday. 6:30 am-10:30 at night. Learning a new language, becoming more accustomed to new and exciting cultures. It sounds exasperating, amazing, new, and most importantly an uplifting thing. You're 18 or 19 getting ready to leave. You are able to start your papers, able to put them in 121 days before the day you turn 18 or 19. Its amazing. Not only that, but the blessings the people you are serving are going to receive.

I never knew that I was gonna go on a mission. I always thought that it was always a guy thing and that the girls who went were just crazy. When the Prophet of the church changed the age, it changed for me too. When it changed I was still thinking that it was crazy for girls to go on a mission, but as I got older, things started looking towards that. All my dreams of going off to college started to fall through. Nothing seemed right. I needed guidance in my life, and going to church and seminary wasn't cutting it. I needed more. Friends and family left on their missions, both sisters and elders. Things in my life weren't good, they weren't right, but at my 17th "birthday" interview with the bishop, I knew I was ready. Ready for my Patriarchal Blessing. He said read this book. It was on Patriarchal Blessings. I started it, but I never finished it (I suck at reading/sticking to books). It took me a year and a half. I finished the Book of Mormon, my Personal Progress, and I finally finished the book. I was actually feeling more and more comfortable with receiving it. And let me tell you, it is such an amazing thing to have. To be able to have something come straight from your Heavenly Father. To have those blessings, and guidance in this life. With that Patriarchal Blessing, I knew exactly why things weren't working out. Why things were hard, and why Satan was and is still being so hard on me. Without doing Personal Progress, reading the Book of Mormon, and getting my Patriarchal Blessing, I wouldn't be going on my mission. It really has helped me guide my life and helped me fight my battles. I can't wait to leave and go on my mission. I am excited but super nervous. But if you're not nervous, you are NOT READY!
With the Lord on your side you can conquer anything. When things fall through, it was meant to happen.

I love you guys. Thank you to those who read this. It not only makes me happy to know that people are reading this (or at least skimming through it, cause who has time to read such a long blog entry.) But I am thankful for all the positive comments I receive back.

And I fail at adding pictures.

Love-
Hannah